Nature reserve and animal rescue centre near typhoon-devastated city of Tacloban flattened by Typhoon Haiyan. Full story: A nature reserve in the Philippines caring for rescued animals was not spared by Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest ever to hit land. When rangers returned to the reserve the morning after the typhoon struck, they found their forest gone and the animal shelter demolished. Head ranger at the Salvacion Nature Reserve, Roberto Villarino says out of the 11 animals they were preparing to release back into the wild, only three monkeys and a handful of birds survived. Villarino has worked at the sanctuary for four decades since local authorities started a reforestation program in 1973 in the hills near Salvacion village, about six miles from the city of Tacloban. About six years ago the city opened a rescue center inside the park, which cared for animals confiscated from private owners or found injured, before they are reintroduced back into the wild. The area was once a tourist attraction, teeming with monkeys, wild cats and eagles who inhabited the densely forested hills. Now there is little sign of life. Tacloban bore the brunt of Typhoon Haiyan, with strong winds whipping up tsunami-like storm surges that destroyed much of the city. As the storm approached, Villarino says his team tied animal cages to the ground under the tree canopy before fleeing to safety. Tacloban city authorities and local environment department officials say they plan to rebuild the center and replant trees over the years to come but have yet to visit the area since the typhoon. For more news and videos visit ☛ http://ntdtv.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C

• published: 28 Nov 2013
• views: 338