There’s a zoo/safari inside a mall!
SM City Bacolod recently opened its Zoofari, which is open from January 29, 2016 (Thursday) to January 31, 2016 (Sunday) at 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For an entrance donation of Php 50.00 (almost USD 1.00) per person, guests get to contribute to SM Foundation’s environmental projects. Interestingly, this is the 6th year that the Zoofari has been held in this mall. SM City is located at the reclamation area of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.
The Zoofari only runs for four days.
The four-day Zoofari is made possible in conjunction with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and El Toro Zoo de La Castellana. Trained zookeepers are at hand to make sure that guests do not disturb the animals and not in harm’s way.
The Zoofari welcome archway.
Upon entering the facility, which is the old SM Appliance Center across the SM Supermarket, visitors will get to view the artificial pond where the turtles are kept. It’s like a mini-oasis that features the iguana and the snakes suspended from the ceiling.
The mini oasis. Can you see the iguana and snakes hanging from the ceiling?
The miniature horses and the donkey can also be found near the entrance area.
Is this a pinata? Nope, it’s a live miniature horse.
Different kinds of birds lined up one part of the wall. Other fowl species and tiny pigs are found at the center area.
Cute piglets.
Birds of different kinds are found at the Zoofari.
Looks like…an ostrich? an emu?
Large pythons and various types of serpents and reptiles occupied a certain section.
Albino snake.
The iguana.
Interestingly, I saw a tokay gecko the day before in our house and I remembered the incident while viewing the reptiles.
Tokay gecko that I saw in our house.
Arachnids in small transparent cases are displayed at the end of the room.
Tarantula
The other side of the room had the crocodile, the bearcat, the leopard cat, the Asian civet cat, and the black apes.
Beautiful leopard cat.
The rest of the animals in the fowl family, such as the peafowl, the golden pheasant, and the egret, are found at the opposite end of the room, going towards the exit.
The Indian peacock.
All in all, the children had fun, though some were terrified by the animals. It was an educational experience for the children, and also for us adults.
Victoria crowned pigeon. My fave among all the animals at the Zoofari.
