I believe that a day spent outdoors is any day better than spending it in the mall or at home with some electronic gadgets. My family loves nature and recreational outdoor fun! Daddy Jaze and I ALWAYS bring Ysha with us on all our travels, local or international, since she was 1 week old! π
So to end our 2017, we wanted to take her somewhere special that’s just around the city. Ysha loves animals and could not stop talking about Singapore Zoo since our visit! So we booked passes online that cost only P400 (Regular Rate is P700) and drove for only around an hour (Quezon City to Rodriguez, Rizal) to checkout Avilon Zoo!

Avilon ZooΒ is currently the largest zoological institution in the Philippines in terms of collection of live animals. The 7.5 hectare facility houses more than 3,000 specimens of exotic wildlife representing more than 500 species of birds, mammals reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes and invertebrates.Β The zoo has a diverse collection of Philippine native and endemic fauna, most of which have been bred successfully in captivity through AVILON’s ex situΒ conservation programs.

Aside from the animals and exhibits, guests are encouraged to experience feeding animals like Arapaimas and interact with the zoo’s bunch of talented and friendly creatures!



Avilon Zoo’s goal is to be one of Southeast Asia’s premiere wildlife facilities.
Here are my thoughts about Avilon Zoo based on our personal experience.
POSITIVE:
- Wide variety of animals. Click here to see them!
- Bird show and photo op with the birds
- Feeding the animals is only P50/cup
- Entrance Fee of P400 is worth it
NEGATIVE:
- No zoo map provided
- More signages to point people to the right directions would be a big help
- Not very well maintained (glass cages are blurry and you can’t see some animals clearly, some water basins or man-made ponds for the animals are full of algae and dry leaves)
- Most animals leave alone in the cages, I am not an animal expert but I think they need companions in order to survive

A zoo is one place where every kid can learn about animals, irrespective of his/her learning style. Active animal behaviour serves the sight, to feel animals is kinaesthetic and listening to the wonderful animal sounds serves auditory faculties.

Well-maintained zoos have enough flora and fauna to replicate a mini jungle and that is great also a great experience for them!
Zoo visits help kids differentiate between animated caricatures and the real form of the animals they love. It kind of informs children that their toy animals, what they read in books, and see on the television really exist.
I think it also offers my daughterΒ an opportunity to see animals for what they really areβremoving the fear of tigers, lions, leopards or tarantula and understanding the real beauty in them. I am so amazed of how brave Ysha is getting real up close to animals and not getting scared at all! She even wants to touch them!

Check our Youtube Video to explore Avilon Zoo and see how the little girl enjoyed her tour! π
