Junior Zookeeper Program in Bacolod City - Philippines
One of the things that has made the City of Smiles very attractive to visitors is the well kept environment and wildlife. Through efforts like the Bacolod Junior Zookeeper Program at the Negros Forest Ecological Foundation & Biodiversity Center, its value is imparted to kids too.
Location
The program is part of the many activities at the Negros Forest Ecological Foundation & Biodiversity Center, one of the leading zoos and animal wildlife reserves in the city. It is located at South Capitol Road in Bacolod City. It is open everyday from Mondays to Saturdays, starting from nine in the morning up to four thirty in the afternoon.
Cost
There is a small entrance fee. For adults it is about Php 30 and for students it is Php 10. The Bacolod Junior Zookeeper Program takes place every summer (in the Philippines that will be in the months of March, April to May, although it may be open during other times. You may want to check out its program lineup first.).
What to See
The program itself is at the Mini Zoo at the Negros Forest Ecological Foundation & Biodiversity Center. The place plays host to a host of different animals, but their specialty is the preservation and perpetuation of animals that are on the verge of extinction. The zoo itself is not that big, but it has a lot of different animals there for you to enjoy. One of the major attractions there is the spotted deer, which can only be seen in Negros and Panay.
The Bacolod Junior Zookeeper Program is one of the main activities here designed to get young kids involved in caring for animals and the environment. This includes not just looking after the birds, deer, monkeys, etc. but also the forests, rivers and lakes. After all, the places where the animals live are crucial to the life and development of the ecosystem in Negros and the country.
Apart from learning the basics of being a zookeeper, awards are also handed out, the highest being the National Geographic Award. The kids can also participate in other activities like playing the parts of the birds, so that they would get an idea of what it is like to live like it.
The Bacolod Junior Zookeeper Program is fun, but it is also a learning experience for the kids. At the same time, the adults should not lose sight of the fact that they, too, could pick up a lesson or two here as well.

