Nakarating sa kaalaman ng Baluarte Zoo Foundation ang viral video ng isang male white lion na naispatang sinisipa raw ng caretaker sa binti para lamang makapagpa-picture sa mga namamasyal at gustong magpakuha ng litrato kasama niya.
Pinalagan kasi ng Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) ang mga natatanggap na ulat tungkol sa white lion ng zoo sa Vigan, Ilocos Sur, na bukod sa paninipa raw ay hinihila rin ang buntot nito, o kaya naman ay pinapalo ng kamay ang mukha.
Ibinahagi ng AKF sa kanilang Instagram page ang ilang screenshots sa kalagayan ng white lion na si "King."
"We have been receiving tons of messages, reports, tags and even RESCUE REQUESTS of 'KING,' a White Lion in BALUARTE in VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR, who appears to be mishandled as shown in a recent viral video," mababasa sa pahayag ng AKF.
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"UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT RESCUE HIM. BUT TODAY WE WILL BE HIS VOICE AND WE WILL SPEAK FOR KING."
"In the recent viral video, King looked very tired, sleepy and uncomfortable. In other videos, there are some practices of the caretakers that we find inappropriate - such as tail pulling, pushing and kicking his leg so he would look good in photos. Others say King was drugged considering his docile, groggy look and unnatural behavior… definitely not the King of the Jungle!"
"Worldwide campaign against Wildlife Selfies and Photo Ops have been around to raise awareness about the mistreatment/ cruelty involved, the drugging issues, the safety concerns, ethical considerations surrounding this practice among others. The list could be long."
"There is only one solution to end this. STOP the Selfies as you are also financing the cruel practice.."
Kaya naman nanawagan ang AKP kay dating Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson patungkol dito. Si Chavit, ang may-ari at operator ng nabanggit na zoo sa Norte.
"WE CAN ONLY APPEAL TO BALUARTE’S OPERATORS and OWNER, FORMER GOV. CHAVIT SINGSON, WHOSE LOVE & FASCINATION FOR ANIMALS GREATLY INFLUENCED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS FACILITY, TO PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS IS A PRIORITY."
"Stop the Wildlife selfies and photo ops!!" anila pa.
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Mistulang naging mabangis naman ang mga netizen sa kanilang nasaksihan, at kaisa ng AKF, nanawagan din silang alagaan nang mabuti si King o kaya naman, pakawalan na lamang at hayaang mamuhay sa kaniyang habitat.
Samantala, naglabas naman ng opisyal na pahayag ang pamunuan ng Baluarte Zoo nang makarating sa kanila ang tungkol sa viral video ni King. Maging sila ay kinokondena ang ginawa ng kanilang staff kay King.
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Sinabi nilang walang ikabahala ang mga tao dahil inaalagan nila nang maayos ang lahat ng hayop sa zoo.
"We are deeply saddened to learn about the video circulating on social media showing King, our male lion, being kicked to get up and take a position for photos. This is not representative of our values or the standard of care we uphold at our zoo, and we want to address this issue directly and transparently."
"First and foremost, the behavior displayed in the video is completely unacceptable. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any mistreatment of animals, and we are taking swift action to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Immediate measures have been implemented to prevent any recurrence, including additional staff training and stricter supervision during all animal interactions."
"Male lions, like King, naturally spend much of their day resting. This behavior is an essential part of their life in the wild, where they conserve energy for key activities such as hunting and defending their territory. Forcing King to move in a manner that is uncomfortable or distressing is not only against our ethical standards but also counter to the understanding of his natural behavior."
"Let’s be clear—no one wants to work with a distressed animal, and we certainly do not condone such actions. Our staff is dedicated to the well-being of all our animals, and we are committed to ensuring that their interactions with the public are conducted in a safe, respectful, and humane manner. The incident shown in the video is being thoroughly investigated, and we are reviewing our procedures to prevent anything like this from happening again."
"While we can explain the natural behaviors of male lions, we recognize that this incident raises serious questions about our practices. Our zoo's core mission is centered on animal conservation and education, and we deeply regret that this incident has overshadowed that commitment."
Nagpasalamat ang pamunuan sa nag-viral na video dahil naging aware sila sa mga nangyayari.
"We are also grateful for the virality of this video, as it has brought important issues to light. This situation gives us the opportunity to re-examine our methods and improve, making our zoo a better place for the animals in our care and for the visitors who come to learn about them. We invite constructive dialogue as we work to ensure that our practices align with our mission of fostering respect and understanding for wildlife."
"Lastly, we acknowledge the moral concerns regarding photo opportunities with animals. We do not take these concerns lightly, and we are continuously evaluating how these activities can be conducted in the most ethical manner possible. It’s important to note that proceeds from such activities are crucial for the zoo’s operations, including the care of the animals, educational programs, and various environmental conservation efforts."
Sa huli, humingi ng tawad ang pamunuan ng zoo sa lahat ng mga naapektuhan sa video. Ipinapangako nilang naka-commit sila sa pangakong irespeto at alagaan ang lahat ng mga hayop na nasa kanilang balwarte, at titiyakin daw nilang magkakaroon ng mga kinakailangang pagbabago para mas matiyak ang seguridad ng mga hayop, hindi lamang si King.
"We sincerely apologize for this incident and the distress it has caused. Please know that we are committed to making the necessary changes to ensure that our zoo remains a place where animals are treated with the utmost care and respect."
