Mantianak Botanical Garden & Zoological Park: A Review

After our beach getaway, we stopped by Mantianak Park. The park is basically for kids as this is a zoo. They are home to about 30 different kinds of species. Mantianak Park is located at Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental. It’s easy to spot as it is located beside the national road.

How much are the entrance fees?

You can get inside for paying Php50 for the kids and a measly Php100 for the adults. It’s such a cheap price to pay for children to see different kinds of animals. Mantianak Park boasts of lush greenery, exotic animals, and a great ambiance.

Here are some of the animals you’ll find inside:

1. Ostrich
   The common ostrich, or simply ostrich, is a species of large flightless bird native to Africa. It is one of two extant species of ostriches, the only living members of the genus Struthio in the ratite order of birds. (Wikipedia)
2. Tiger
   The tiger is the largest species among the Felidae and classified in the genus Panthera. It is most recognizable for its dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with a lighter underside. It is an apex predator, primarily preying on ungulates such as deer and bovids. Wikipedia
3. Crocodile
   Crocodiles or true crocodiles are large semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. Crocodylinae, all of whose members are considered true crocodiles, is classified as a biological subfamily. Wikipedia
4. White Breasted Sea Eagle
   This White-breasted Sea Eagle is also known as White-bellied Fish-hawk, White Eagle, and Sea Eagle. – Project Noah
5. Philippine Serpent Eagle
   The Philippine serpent eagle is an eagle found in the major islands of the Philippines. It is sometimes treated as a race of the crested serpent eagle. This species is usually found in forest clearings, open woodlands, and sometimes in cultivated lands with scattered trees. It is endemic to the Philippines. Wikipedia
6. Brahminy Kite
   The Brahminy kite, also known as the red-backed sea-eagle in Australia, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. They are found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Wikipedia
7. Eurasian Eagle-Owl
   The Eurasian eagle-owl is a species of eagle-owl that resides in much of Eurasia. It is also called the European eagle-owl and in Europe, it is occasionally abbreviated to just eagle-owl. Wikipedia
8. Eurasian Sparrow Hawk
   The Eurasian sparrowhawk, also known as the northern sparrowhawk or simply the sparrowhawk, is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Adult male Eurasian sparrowhawks have bluish-grey upperparts and orange-barred underparts; females and juveniles are brown above with brown barring below. Wikipedia
9. Papuan Hornbill
   Blyth’s hornbill, also known as the Papuan hornbill, is a large hornbill inhabiting the forest canopy in Wallacea and Melanesia. Its local name in Tok Pisin is Kokomo. Previously, this hornbill was placed in the genus Aceros. Wikipedia
10. Palawan Hornbill
    The Palawan hornbill, known as Talusi in the Philippine language Cuyunon, is a largish forest-dwelling bird. Its plumage is predominantly black, with a white tail, a dark green gloss on its upperparts and a large creamy-white beak with a casque typical of the hornbill family. Wikipedia
11. Tarictic Hornbill
    The Visayan hornbill is a hornbill found in rainforests on the islands of Panay, Negros, Masbate, and Guimaras, and formerly Ticao, in the Philippines. It formerly included all other Philippine tarictic hornbills as subspecies, in which case the common name of the ‘combined species’ was shortened to the tarictic hornbill. Wikipedia
12. Victoria-crowned pigeon
    The Victoria crowned pigeon is a large, bluish-grey pigeon with elegant blue lace-like crests, maroon breast, and red irises. It is part of a genus of four unique, very large, ground-dwelling pigeons native to the New Guinea region. Wikipedia
13. Leopard Cat
    The leopard cat is a small wild cat native to continental South, Southeast and East Asia. Since 2002 it has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List as it is widely distributed although threatened by habitat loss and hunting in parts of its range. Wikipedia
14. Writhed Hornbill
    The writhed hornbill, also known as the Mindanao wrinkled hornbill, is a species of hornbill in the Bucerotidae family. It is endemic to humid forests on the Philippine islands of Mindanao, Dinagat and Camiguin Sur.Wikipedia
15. Ring-Necked Parakeets
    The UK’s only naturalized parrot – it is large, long-tailed and green with a red beak and a pink and black ring around its face and neck. In-flight, it has pointed wings, a long tail, and very steady, direct flight. Often found in flocks, numbering hundreds at a roost site, it can be very noisy. rspb.org.uk
16. Blue and Yellow Macaw
    The blue-and-yellow macaw, also known as the blue-and-gold macaw, is a large South American parrot with mostly blue top parts and light orange underparts, with gradient hues of green on top of its head. It is a member of the large group of neotropical parrots known as macaws. Wikipedia
17. Black Palm Cockatoo
    The palm cockatoo, also known as the goliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo, is a large smoky-grey or black parrot of the cockatoo family native to New Guinea, Aru Islands, and the Cape York Peninsula. It has a very large black beak and prominent red cheek patches. Wikipedia
18. African Grey Parrot
    The grey parrot, also known as the Congo grey parrot or African grey parrot, is an Old World parrot in the family Psittacidae. The Timneh parrot was earlier treated as conspecific but has since been split as a full species. Wikipedia
19. Sulfur crested cockatoo
    The sulfur-crested cockatoo is a relatively large white cockatoo found in wooded habitats in Australia, and New Guinea and some of the islands of Indonesia. They can be locally very numerous, leading to them sometimes being considered pests. Wikipedia
20. Electus Parrot
    The Eclectus parrot is a parrot native to the Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea and nearby islands, northeastern Australia, and the Maluku Islands. Wikipedia

These are just the first 20 species you’ll get to see coming here. The rest, you’ll have to find out for yourself. The best thing I love about the place is that I also get to enjoy and touch the birds. Not bad for a measly fee. If you ever get around the area, do come and visit. Your kids are going to have a grand time with these animals. Don’t worry about food as they have a snack bar for you. Don’t forget the saying, “Clean as you go”. Let’s help preserve Mother Nature.

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