Giant tigers wow tourists at ‘Mantianak’
Created 06/22/2009 – 20:35
MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Deep in the heart of Misamis Oriental lies the Mantianak Nature Park where the region’s famed giant tigers give visitors a thrill.
Located in the Sugbongcogon municipality, the park contains the only tiger collection in the area. Here, tourists flock to see the tigers, two of which are a year old and have Siberian tiger blood, and the other two which are 10 months old and descended from Bengal tigers. They even have sassy names like Alicia, Natasha, Samantha, and Carmelo.
Zookeepers said the tigers eat about 8 to 12 kilos of meat daily to keep them strong.
Aside from the tigers, the park also features birds, monkeys, and other animals. The area also sports a playhouse for children, cottages for weary travelers, and an intricate wooden pathway leading to various viewing areas.
The area, christened “Mantianak” by the late Cagayan de Oro Congressman Danny Lagbas, was reportedly donated to the local government by the Unsuan family since it had potentials as a nature reserve. It gets its name from a mythical creature, the “tianak” or the evil spirit of an unborn baby.
Today, it is part of the area’s eco-tourism hotspots and requires P1 million for upkeep annually. Tickets for the Mantianak Nature Park cost P80 for adults and P40 for children 12 years old and below.