Manila Zoo Reopens to the Public on Nov. 21 After Rehabilitation

The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, more commonly known as Manila Zoo, has finally reopened its doors to the public today, Nov. 21, after years of rehabilitation.

Locals and tourists can now visit the 63-year-old zoo from 9 AM to 8 PM daily, with a cut-off every 6 PM. Among its residents are a female Asian elephant named Ma'ali and a white Siberian tiger named Kois. Apart from mammals, reptiles, and other animal species, visitors may also check out its botanical and butterfly garden.

Tickets are sold via Manila Zoo’s website. The admission fees, which slightly increased from previous rates, are as follows:

• Adult and children – P150 (Manila resident), P300 (non-resident)
• Student – P100 (Manila resident), P200 (non-resident)
• Persons With Disability (PWD) and Senior Citizens – 20% discount
• Children two years old and below – Free of charge
• Government employees and Manila teachers – P100

To explain the ticketing process, the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) has released a video guide on Facebook.

They also went live for about 30 minutes this morning as Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan inspected the reopening of the zoo.

The Manila Zoo first opened its doors on July 25, 1959. It was temporarily shut down on January 2019 after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) tagged its sewage system as a major pollutant of the Manila Bay. In 2020, it was reported that the zoo will remain closed until early 2022 to undergo rehabilitation with a P1.8 billion budget from the city hall. Late last year, former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno led the zoo’s soft opening in an event exclusive to special guests including the attraction’s construction workers and their families.