Guess what Loboc town is unwrapping up to lure more tourists other than its legendary river boat cruise, tarsiers and lately the eco-adventure rides? True to his name which connotes “animal magnetism”, Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan unveiled Tuesday, the latest addition to the town’s many tourism allures. Dubbed as the ZooColate Thrills, Loboc’s animal park is the first in the Visayas which according to Mayor Calipusan will put the town all the more in the world tourism map. Mayor Calipusan along with Josephine Cabarrus, provincial tourism officer, presided over the opening of the theme park to usher in another innovative attraction to lure tourists in giving more time while visiting the town.

Loboc is also home to an eco-adventure facility that includes zip lines and cable cars, an overhead rides overlooking the magnificent Loboc River below. The lush vegetation above the Busay Falls is also another attraction that titillates the adventures of zip line and cable car riders. Ever proud of this latest feather to his cap, Mayor Calipusan who is now on his last term as town executive is racing against time to introduce more innovations in the municipality’s tourism program. It was during the mayor’s time that the fabled Loboc River Cruise gained traction from tourists after he introduced the night time cruise.

Mayor Calipusan made possible the river cruise after dark when he secured funding from a generous Loboc benefactor to provide lighting facilities along the banks of the Loboc River. Special envoy to China Carlos Chan, a close friend of the mayor, was convinced to unload millions in funds for use in the lighting route. It was this sterling accomplishment in his leadership that prodded Mayor Calipusan to cast a moist eye in the third district congressional derby in 2013. It was rumoured that he has already “herded” a stable of third district mayors who will rally behind his congressional bid in the 2013 congressional match. Commenting on his latest acquisition, the indomitable Calipusan said it must be that Loboc’s friendly business environment that motivated the Yupangco Group to venture into the zoo business in Loboc.

The latest addition to Loboc’s tourist spots known as ZooColate Thrills, a play of words involving the famous Chocolate Hills in Carmen, the town’s version is cut out of the same interior attraction where animals of different breed and kind can have for a souvenir picture. Belonging to the Zoomanity Group, other theme parks all over the country includes the Zoobic in Subic, Zoocology at the Manila Ocean Park, Animal Wonderland at the Star City in Masnila, Bird Park in Splash Island, Paradizoo in Mendez, Cavite, Zoori’s at the Enchanted Kingdom, Zoocobia in Clark, Pampanga and many others. Among the attractions in the animal kingdom are a miniature Loboc river, zoocolate pavillion, coffee shop, flower terraces, tiger habitat, theatre seats, buffalo pool, , restaurants, souvenir shops, clean rest rooms and many other amenities.