Current News

MZVG Spearheads Behavioral Enrichment Workshops – Zoom, October 2003

By Anne Villanueva

It is a packed schedule for MZVG’s South African visitors Mathew van Lierop and Laura Ewart-Phipps. The energetic couple has been traveling around MZVG’s volunteer centers in Manila Zoo, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, and soon, Cavite Zoo, to spread the word and create buzz on animal enrichment. Enrichment, as we know it, is building toys for captive animals to encourage them to express their natural behaviors, making them less stressed and healthier.

During the lectures mixed with regular and community service volunteers, Van Lierop cautions that before doing enrichment, it is important to get to know the animal first and find out what it does in the wild, how it interacts with its environment, and what its preferences are. He adds, "it is also important to check on the animal’s safety. Make sure that you don’t give the cattle bone to the lion because it wouldn’t know what to do with it.". Although van Lierop starts the lectures by saying that enrichment is a relatively new concept, he is also quick to point out that pet owners have been practicing it for years, probably without knowing that they are doing it. "Playing with your dog, throwing him a ball, that’s enrichment."

After the discussions, van Lierop and Ewart-Phipps proceed to lead the volunteers in demonstrating the core of enrichment: building toys. Items such as pipes are creatively turned into puzzle feeders for the primates. Holes are drilled in the pipes, but just the right size for the food to get out. Chunks of wood are tied with a rope, while wires are dug into cattle fish bone, both of which are for birds to chew and sharpen their beaks on. These toys are then given to the animals, which seemed aloof but well aware of the new object’s presence.

As much as the volunteers would like to hang around the enclosures and observe their behavior, they leave them to their peace and let them work out the toys on their own.

MZVG toasts to three years – Zoom, October 2003

By Therese Villanueva

The MyZoo Volunteer Group (MZVG) celebrated its 3rd year Anniversary last April 24 at the bahay kubo. Three years ago it all seemed that the group had only one common interest – protecting domestic as well as wild animals in any possible way they can. They never thought that it would last this long, for now, MZVG commits to a lifelong mission of preserving animal life and making sure that the ignorant and uninformed mass understands the rights of animals and their importance to our environment.

After the joyous mass, hosts and organizers Kitty Arce and Kathy Chua, together with core group members Andrew Galano and Louis Lopez presented the new volunteers their certificates officially stating their accomplishment from their two-month training and their membership with the MZVG. Special citations were given to old volunteers who have been actively participating for one year, they are: Nickson Ching, Arcy Salvacion, Gregg Rodil and Kendrick Tan. The last but definitely not the least award was handed to none other than the goofiest member of the group, Conrad "Coco" Cabornay who received Volunteer of the year award. Earlier on the program, "Coco" entertained the group by singing one of his signature True Faith songs. Of course no celebration would truly be a party without food and dessert, so after the awarding ceremony, volunteers as well as their friends and family dug in into some scrumptious grub, thanks to ever dependable, Aristo and Arce Diary.

The highlight of the celebration was the launching of Zoom, MZVG’s official publication arm. Art Director, Hrbs Valderia, took care of the introduction of Zoom’s contents while Editor-in-Chief Gen dela Cruz gave out the first printed copies, assisted by Publisher Tinky Cabanatan. Everyone anxiously flipped through Zoom’s crisp pages and eagerly discussed its remarkable layout and text. Cheers to the men and women who make up MZVG.

In a fishbowl – Zoom, October 2003

On my birthday, I was gifted a blue fighting fish with totally lovely tassles. Looking at my little fish friend, Sleetie, I felt an aching for a bigger home for him. Luckily, people in my office were such generous souls. Next day I came in, Sleetie was already happily swimming in a bigger bowl with his oxygen balls and new irator! Oh I was certainly ecstatic. A bigger place and more space. As much as generosity can allow, we can only wish the same for the Zoom. That’ll have to come soon. But for the moment, for this month’s Zoom, we packed it as much as we can despite limited space. Be abreast with the different events and programs of MyZoo as compiled by Louis Lopez – you’ll be surprised, MyZoo has such a wide array of activities you could choose from. Have a breather with Kitty Arce’s and Anton Paolo’s light and witty columns (you be the judge which adjective to match). Mark Ponce’s and Greg Yan’s comprehensive accounts of the Davao banana plantation and the Cartimar fish-vending, respectively, are a must-read for every Volunteer. Anne Villanueva’s and Therese Villanueva’s headlines share an equal fervor as well.

All these in a newsletter. Tightly placed in tiny space. Have they been fishes in a bowl, breathing wouldn’t be happy as it really is. It’s a blessing we’re not fishes, isn’t it?