Several meters away, BooBoo, a female black bear, was impatiently climbing on the bars and the roof of her quarters. Near the entrance, Tasha, a female Bengal tiger kept pacing back and forth, baring her fangs. Only Ozzie the male leopard seemed indifferent to the noise around. He didn’t seem hungry and only got up from his corner after an animal handler sprayed a blast of water on him.
These four exotic animals are the main attractions of the Saipan Zoo in As Mahetug, but very soon, a female leopard will be added.
The animal handler arrived with a bucket and two chicken quarter legs which he placed on Lambert’s plate after opening two barred gates. Lambert glared at us through the bars. The handler said Lambert was at his meanest when he was given food, because he thought we would grab it.
The animal handler gave BooBoo his meal of fruits and vegetables before feeding Tasha and Oozie with their chicken quarters.
The three cats alone consume beef and a 33-pound case of chicken every day.
At the other cages, all the other animals were making their own brand of noises sending messages to the handlers in their own language that they too, needed their food.
Aside from Lambert, Ozzie, BooBoo and Tasha, the zoo has monkeys, genet, foxes and Bobbie the bobcat, kinkajous, parrots, cockatoos, owls, emus, iguanas, coatimundi, turtles, peacocks, fruit bats, deer, goats, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and more.
Zoo owner Frank and wife Ursula Aldan said the zoo opened in 1996 when some people started donating birds, and other indigenous animals. The exotic animals came in 10 years later.
Aldan said the zoo does not only serve as a display area for animals but students can do their research there.
“The zoo is one place where students can study indigenous animals or endangered species such as the fruit bat and turtles,” Aldan said.
Whenever students hold parties or field trips, they invite somebody from Fish and Wildlife to come and conduct lectures on animal protection and conservation and other relevant issues, he added.
Aldan said Dr. Edgar Tudor, a veterinarian, regularly comes into the zoo to check the animals and perform surgery when needed.
Aldan is urging the community to support the CNMI’s only zoo by donating their extra fruits and vegetables for the animals.
The zoo is planning to hold a lot of activities for the children this summer. In partnership with tour operators such as Tasi tours and Pacific Development Inc., the zoo will entertain students from other countries by offering hands-on experience in petting and feeding some animals.
The Saipan Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except holidays. Local rates are $10 for adult and $5 for children 3 to 12 years old. Children below three years old can come in free. Aldan said they also offer special discounts and group rates. For more information, call 322-5711 or -5118.
