At the heart of Silliman University (SU) stands a paradox. The Filomeno Cimafranca Ballfield is alive with cheers, and celebration—hosting intramurals, college acquaintance parties, ROTC formations, and the recently-concluded Sillimusika, one of Hibalag’s biggest events. Yet for the animals in the nearby conservation center, the loud noises are far from festive, causing noticeable disturbances and disrupting their normal behavior.
On the other side of the wall lies the SU Center for Tropical Conservation Studies (CENTROP)—home for some of the rarest and most threatened species in the country. The Philippine Crocodile, the elusive Philippine Spotted Deer, the Negros Bleeding-Heart Pigeon, and the Visayan Warty Pig.
While the ballfield celebrates tradition and community spirit, the Silliman Zoo is caught in a dilemma. Caretakers shared what they observed as distressing effects—pigs panic and dash into barriers amid loud events, birds flutters in alarm, sometimes shedding feathers in distress, and even the deers, though farthest from the ballfield, retreat into hiding at the height of the noise.
This, in turn, poses a pressing question: does the university truly value the life it seeks to protect, when these animals are subjected to the deafening sounds of human festivity?
These observations are not mere anecdotes. In fact, a study shows that loud, chronic noise disrupts animal behavior and physiology. Birds exposed to traffic-like noise reduce their abundance by up to 25-percent, while chronic disturbance is linked to smaller clutch sizes, lower hatching success, and survival declines in wild populations.
Moreover, the disparities between captive-bred and wild-caught animals heightened the concern. Captive-born animals often lose natural caution, making them more sensitive to noise and human presence. Wild-caught animals keep these instincts but stress more when forced in noisy environments. Both groups suffer, but in different ways.
Meanwhile, SU CENTROP coordinator Leandro Cabrera noted that shutting down campus activities for the sake of protecting the animals is unrealistic since it is located in the middle of the city. Their response? Working on practical solutions to minimize wildlife stress such as improving enclosures, adding visual barriers, and creating safe spaces for animals to retreat.
Despite initial efforts to slowly relocate some species to a more secluded facility in Palinpinon, Valencia, SU CENTROP is currently stuck with limited resources. Another reason why part of their population is still placed near the campus is for educational purposes.
These raised the real challenge for SU. Can we continue to celebrate our traditions at the expense of the very creatures we are sworn to protect? Or can we find a middle ground where conservation and celebration coexist without harm?
The solution is not to cease campus life, but to rethink how campus events are managed. Student organizers must consider implementing simple measures when conducting activities near the zoo like setting sound limits or orienting speakers away from the enclosures.
At the same time, the university administration must coordinate with CENTROP to seek realistic solutions and funding in completing the relocation of these animals without compromising its efforts to raise public conservation awareness.
The Weekly Sillimanian’s call is clear: Silliman must ensure that its celebrations do not drown out the silent cries of its most vulnerable residents. After all, how can we speak of protecting the environment beyond our campus if we cannot protect the very lives entrusted to us?
