Malabon zoo joins World Day of Prayer for Care celebration

A zoo in Malabon has joined the worldwide celebration of World Day for Care of Creation, with animals showing visitors various tricks, GMA News' Mark Zambrano reported on Balitanghali on Friday.

Two years ago, Pope Francis declared September 1 as World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, a day where everyone is encouraged to pray for guidance in protecting nature as well as for forgiveness for activities that are damaging to the environment.

"Pope rightly started this day of celebration in 2015 to [raise awareness] that we should take care of the world, the water, the animals and nature and everything, " said Father Jeyaseelan in the report.

Among the famous attractions in Malabon Zoo are Tiger Economy, a Royal Bengal tiger cub; Cheesecake, an albino python; and Pacquiao, an orangutan.

After the prayer, Pacquiao amused the people when he played on a monkey bar while eating a banana.

The visitors were also delighted to see in action the grizzly bear, Royal Bengal tigers, as well as the biggest saltwater fish Arapaima and biggest saltwater crocodile.

The Catholic church said it is important for the Church, international organizations, and private sector around the world to unite in protecting nature.

"There are 30 million species of animals and plants in the whole world po and only 1 million 500 thousand have been recorded and discovered. But sad to say about 30,000 species of plants and animals become extinct every year because of human destruction po," Manny Tangco, founder of Malabon Zoo, said. —Akari Nakano/KBK/KVD, GMA News