Wild Life : Avilon Zoo

"Wild Life : Avilon Zoo"

Far away from Manila is a place or rather a zoo and/or wildlife conservation called Avilon. It is located in Montalban Rizal far beyond expected distance. You’ll pass by rough, dusty and muddy roads to get here. I suggest that you take Commonwealth avenue then turn right to sandigan bayan right after the wet markets. Go straight then turn right to Litex road or formerly known as Payatas road. Take this road up to San Isidro up to the Ultramega supermarket. Just around the right corner of Ultramega is a tricycle terminal where you’ll turn right to this road.  Just follow the road and take mostly right turns and exit the Eastwood Residences. There you’ll find signs of Avilon Zoo and find it until you reach the offroad again.

When you reach the zoo, there will be an entrance of Php400 per person. If you’re bringing you cameras, you’ll have to register it with the guard on duty. You can eat lunch in the area right after the entrance. Pack lunch starts @ Php150 and there are group lunch that costs @ Php1,500. From here you’ll see different kinds of ducks, goose and the infamous supersized fish called the “arapaima” I don’t know if I spelled it right but the mere sight of this fish will definitely make you remember their name. It is about 1 meter long and 1 foot wide big meat eater fish, the ones that you can see in the discovery channel.

Moving on to the inner park you’ll see the big sign of Avilon Zoo with its slogan “Celebrating Life”. You have a choice on what to see first, wheter go to the birds, aquatic animals or the more “domesticated” animals. In my watch, you can roam the whole park in around 2 ½ hours depending on your excitement on each animal you see.

I took some shots of the much known animals alive and wished I had the skills of a wildlife photographer. Though I enjoy taking pictures of them, what I failed to do is list their names / types of families they belong to. Well, I’ll probably go back here since there are places in the zoo that are still being renovated and built for a bigger and more animals to inhabit.

I’m pretty sure that if you love animals or your kids do, you will definitely enjoy going here. Just be sure to bring a big car with plenty of gasoline because it is not your ordinary zoo that’s lying around the corner. What to bring? Water, towel, camera, tripod, and power bars. Enjoy!:)