Safari Gallery: A Really Sad Place to Be
The first stop on our shuttle ride around the Baluarte Zoo was the Safari Gallery, an airconditioned building that houses a massive collection of Singson's "Trophies" of all the animals he hunted and killed from his trophy hunting trips overseas. Such an odd sport or hobby if I may say so. It just doesn't feel right even if it is legal in many countries.
We honestly didn't know what to expect because we didn't do any research before the visit. We were supposed to go to another place that morning but the youngsters of the family pleaded they wanted to see a lion and other animals in real life so we dropped by the zoo thinking it could be educative for them.
This photo below of the gallery building was captured while we were still on the shuttle and were just arriving at the hill where it is located.
Upon entering, we were met by this mural. I believe it's the portrait of the man himself (Singson) and some of the animals in his collection.
We took the door to the left and I found myself gasping and muttering "Oh my!" at the sight we had been presented with.
This huge polar bear was standing tall right there. One could hardly miss it, including the others - bears and such.
Or this Rhino which had been placed at the center front of the room. There were "Do not touch", "Do not enter" or "No entry" signages almost everywhere.
I saw a living Rhino years ago but not this size (this one is really big) so I thought it might have been fake when one of the gallery attendants confirmed that the animals were real, except that they were already dead and taxidermized.
Right behind the Rhinoceros are a buffalo and an African lion. It made me wonder what chemicals they used in preserving these poor mammals and that their skins and hairs are still intact. We were told that the gallery opened in 2019.
Then the African Elephant. It is so huge! Its tusk is still ivory-white despite some dust. A Nile Crocodile is displayed just in front of its feet. There were other people already when we went in which made it challenging to take photos without a head or two being included in the captures.
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Then there was a Hippo! I never thought Hippos was this big! I imagine it could easily swallow a person!
Like the others, there was a framed photo of Singson with his hunting gun. The man is truly a trophy hunter, huh? I was finding it hard to believe at first but well, he's got proofs!
Turning left, there were big cats - Amur Leopard, a tiger, and more lions. Other horned animals include gemsbok, different species of springbok, bulls, and big horned & painted sheep just to name a few. There's a Wolverine, and smaller cats too - cougar, lynx, etc.
And there's a wolf even! There is no further information like when and where most of the animals were hunted but this one looks as if it isn't that old. Or perhaps the taxidermist did a great job.
We saw bears (brown and black) as well as Wildebeest's, Kudu's, and Eland's heads on the wall plus Singson's framed photos.
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Walking further and turning left to the other side of the room, we see more deer, Impala, Reindeer, Sable Antelope, Wapiti, Russian Moose, Rams, Musk Oxen, Big Horned Sheep, Marco Polo, and what have you.
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Here are some more shots of the horned animals before we proceed to the upper deck.
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Up there were photos of the trophy hunter with some of the animals. At the center of the wall was a painting, a portrait of Singson in the form of a centaur. The sight of it sent chills down my spine and I left the space right after taking a few shots. I found out soon after that my family was already outside.
This photo was a collage of frame shots from a video taken by my nephew (forgive me for the poor edits).
Accordingly, Singson's purpose in bringing home all his hunting trophies was for his town folks to learn about the animals and what they look like, especially to those who haven't seen them in real life. Some people say he just wanted to show off his big E (ego)/pride, and excessive wealth.
One would also be asking "How the hell did he bring all those big animals?" Well, he has money and from what we heard, he's an influential politician so what would one expect?
Would we set foot in that place again?
That would be a big NO. And we would not recommend it either because it would surely break your heart, especially if you care for the welfare of animals.
All photos are my own. 07012024/19:00ph
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That is really sad for sure. He killed them all, preserving them with chemical and then put it on display for people to know about them?
But well, I guess money and power play a big part in it isn't it?
Yeah. I wished they were only sculptures then it would have been better.
Reading back on the history of Trophy Hunting, I learned that even Theodore Roosevelt had it as his hobby. I do hope it will no longer be allowed this time.
!PIZZA
I remember this was featured in some tv show before. It's actually pretty, but, I can't help but to feel sad for them. Why not just let their body go back to where they should be huhu. But well, we can't really stop them from doing it esp its legal na din aigooo. Pero parang gusto ko din sila makita ng malapitan sanaaaa haha. Pero di pa rin ako pabor sa ganito haha
Oo nga sis. Legal nga daw yon according to Wiki and matagal na, nakita ko pati si Roosevelt nagtrophy hunting din. Siguro mapapa-wow ka at first pero manghihinayang ka rin sa mga animals.
That's really sad, maigi sana if some of them did bad thing to them no, wala naman. Nananahimik yong mga hayoo, tas niha-hunt lang nila tsk tsk
A lot of animals really, I wonder what chemical they use to preserve them?
Yeah. I was just reading the processes of taxidermy and here's how it is done.
Thanks for the information, this is the first time I read about this subject.
Have a nice day!
Mr Singson sounds like the villain Kraven the hunter. He also hunts animal for pleasure and put them up for display. It's funny how in the comics when they do something like this, they are branded as villians but in real life their hunts are celebrated.
He sure is. I guess there are people like that. They take pride in the odd things they do, even when it is immoral.
I also wondered how he was able to bring those animals... He must have spent a lot of money... Although he has a purpose for collecting them, I feel pity though, they were taken from their real home just to be displayed in a gallery..
Yeah. From what I read, he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars.
they would have been better in a Zoo , ooops they're dead already . but then its just a sad thing to see
Yeah... I hope the sport of trophy hunting will no longer be allowed in countries that made it legal in the first place.
Damn!
I’ve never seen any of these in my entire life
The last time I went to the zoo, I was not able to see the lion because of fear…
We saw lions and other animals in the zoo, the kids even fed the giraffes and some deer.
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This is a very beautiful piece, I felt like I've been there physically, and I love history, I love nature and love to you take us on a virtual tour.
Thank you, Amie. I appreciate your kind remarks.
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I would love to visit there if those were sculpture but I just acknowledged about trophy hunting and so I prefer not to go there. It's indeed very cruel in my opinion 🥺.
!PIZZA
I was thinking the same thing, Inti. I would have been very impressed if they were wax figures or sculptures. Unfortunately, they were real animal skins, preserved and stuffed to look like that. While it is legal, it still feels cruel.
!PIZZA
Well, he could have brought the animals alive home. Rather than bringing them dead, I guess he was in Tropy Hunter many years ago when trophy hunting wasn't frowned upon. Well, while it mightvnot be a place to recommend to many people I think the pictures and the museum is nice and also the event are part of history
Yeah. I was surprised to learn that trophy hunting is a legal sport and that's probably why he was able to bring them home.
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https://twitter.com/jewellery_all/status/1744103900511449441
It will really be great someday to visit those types of places actually
I wonder if you would :)
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Oh wow, thank you lots :)
This place is very special for those who love animals as much as we are and I myself would definitely like to visit this beautiful place once in my life to increase my knowledge.
It's nice that you see it that way.
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Yeah.
You stories always sound realistic and fully visualized. It makes it look like one was actually there.
Good to hear it sounds like that. Thank you :)
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Wow this zoo actually looks so huge. First time I am seeing this type of huge place