Crocodile Jaws

I happened to watch tonight's edition of TV Patrol World and I was shocked at the last news that they had. A certain zoo in Negros is feeding live animals to their crocodiles. Preying on live animals can be an inevitable scene in the wild but having it in a zoo is another thing.

The culprit is the so-called Zoo Paradise World in Zambuanganita, Negros Oriental. (Oh, I never though there is a little Zamboanga in the Visayas.) The zoo was started years ago by the Spaceship Foundation which calls themselves as the "Barefoot Apostles". In 1993, the group's founder died and the administration of the zoo was transferred to the remaining members.

The news was brought about by a group concerned on animal welfare which had a video of actual feeding of the crocodiles with live goats and cats. TV Patrol crews disguised as a group of tourist and after making donation of P500.00, another live goat was dropped inside the crocodiles' lair. One crocodile immediately seized the defenseless prey.

The zoo staff denied the allegations but the video footage is such a loud cry. The administrator, in turn, blamed some policemen shooting stray dogs and forwarding the dogs to them as food ration.

I couldn't bear watching the crocodile devour the still crying goat. The reptile, the goat still between its teeth, brought the wailing animal into the water. The poor goat was still crying in pain in the water.

Oftentimes, goats were contrasted to sheep and were portrayed as the bad animals yet this particular video was so disgusting that I didn't finish watching the show. This incident is a clear violation of Republic Act 8584 or the Animal Welfare Act stating that no live animal should be subject any torture and pain. I hope the poor animals get the justice they deserve soon.