Cebu Zoo And Its History

Cebu Zoo -the original zoo in the Queen City of the South was made possible through the creative ideas and conception by one of Cebu's official in the name of Raymundo Crystal. Crystal perceived the idea to have an official zoo in the city of Cebu in the 50's. A venue of the zoo was not still realized until the Cebu provincial government headed by governor Francisco Remotigue donated lot 1298 of Barangay Kalunasan,Cebu City with an area 222,110 square meters to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) on October 14, 1963. It was only on 1969 that the Cebu provincial government under Governor Espina set aside a portion of this land (which is situated above the Beverly Hills Residential area at the top of the Capitol Hills) with an area of 70,000 square meters or 7 hectares for a city zoo.

Fr. Eleuterio J. Tropa

When the concrete idea of the city zoo was established, the development of the Cebu Zoo began in 1973. After the finishing touches of the zoo came to pass, it was entrusted to Fr. Eleuterio Tropa who was known to be a long-haired priest which always carry a large python snake and walks barefooted. Fr. Tropa leans on his founded Lamplighters Foundation for the sustenance of the Zoo. He got the nod of the government to handle the city zoo due to his love of animals and his expertise of being a zoo keeper.

Before his life in Cebu Zoo, he ran a zoo in Zamboangita, Negros Oriental before moving to Cebu. He also ran and opened a zoo in Talisay City, Cebu. The zoo was later transferred to Fort San Pedro which gave added excitement and color to the city landmark in the 1970's. Fr. Tropa, continued to serve and maintain Cebu Zoo for a score of years until his death in 1993. After his departure, the Cebu Zoo's management was passed to the Cebu City authorities in which the later entrusted the city zoo to the Philippine Wetlands and Wildlife Foundation Inc. (PWFC) who, on that time hadn't had animal husbandry experience.

Rebuilding Cebu Zoo

After Fr. Tropa passed away, Cebu Zoo experienced trials. The existing animal pens and cages continues to deteriorate which later was unsuited on the animals contained. Financial challenges also began to take toll as entrance fee income gradually declines and sources of funding became scarce. Food sources and animal care were dependent on gate income. It was on 1997 when Quantum Conservation shed light on Cebu Zoo when new cages were built by the conceived idea of William Oliver of Fauna and Flora International (fauna-flora.org/). The help and support of city officials and concerned citizens through their donations rebuilt and stabilized the new Cebu Zoo.

A cage for Civets

A cage for local Philippine Macaque

Python Cage Extension

The current day Cebu Zoo already had central hundred-step concrete staircase with the inter-connecting terraces and an excavated road to facilitate movement around the place. This architecture gives limitless potential to put various well known species of animals and other zoo related activities especially to tourists and school children.

A facilitated road to tour the 7 hectare area of the Zoo.

In the bottom part of the zoo, you can find a Bengal Tiger on its cage which was donated by an American National to the present zoo manager,Giovanni Stephen Romarate, son of Victor Romarate which also was a close friend of Fr. Eleuterio Tropa.

A Tiger Cage in the bottom part of Cebu Zoo.