Manila Zoo debunks viral photos showing 'malnourished' lions

The management of Manila Zoo has denied that their lions are underfed amid a #BoycottManilaZoo social media campaign stemming from photos of what looks like a pair of malnourished lions.

In Raffy Tima's report on Balitanghali on Wednesday, zoo director Jas Garcia confirmed that the images were taken from the zoo but blamed the animals' "malnourished" look to the "angle" of the camera.

"Kung titignan mo talaga 'yung litrato, parang sa anggulo or dun sa wrinkle ng balat," Garcia said, adding Manila Zoo spends P20 million a year for the food and medicine of its animals.

GMA News was allowed to watch zookeepers feed the lions up close as the zoo's administration explained that the female lion in the picture may be a 12-month-old cub and not a full adult aged three years and above.

Though they did not deny deficiencies in their zoo, officials insist that animals in their care are well taken care of.

"Kung hindi maganda ang condition dito sa Manila Zoo, I don't think magbi-breed sila," said zoo veterinarian Dr. Chip Domingo, referring to three new cubs by one of the tigers in their care.

"Kung hindi maganda ang pinapakain, hindi sila magbi-breed. Yun na lang indication na talagang nakapag-adopt sila sa environment dito," Domingo said.

Instead of criticizing Manila Zoo, the administrators asked the public to support it so it can continue to provide the public an easy way to access, learn, and care about wild animals.

"Ibahagi nila yung kanilang oras at panahon para ho tulungan ho kami sa ikaayos pa ng Manila Zoo," Garcia said.

Manila Zoo is Asia's only government-owned zoo. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News