If you're a travel enthusiast, you
shouldn't miss the most recent one-of-a kind attraction found only in the
child-friendly city of Davao in the southern part of Mindanao island. Where in
the Philippines can you find a collection of bones from a wide variety of
animals.
Of course, kids will surely love it here
when they see the complete skeletons of dogs, reptiles, horses, ostriches, a
tiger, dolphins, even a 41-ft sperm whale. This museum, fast becoming popular,
is indeed one of the beautiful tourist places Davao could be proud
of.
An Eye-Opener For The Situation of Animals
It was founded by a son of American
missionaries now living in Davao, as he has married a Filipina with whom he has
two kids.
Darrell D. Blatchley, originally from
Idaho, USA, is opening everyone's eyes to the plight of animals and their
survival in this world. He is doing his best to help raise the public's
awareness on the conservation and preservation. He isn't limiting it to just
marine and airborne species, but for land-dwelling animals as well.
For example, studies show that most
aquatic animals die from consuming plastics. People who visit the museum will
be reminded of how often our negligent acts can have a devastating impact on
the environment. This where Blatchley's education and awareness drive comes in
helpful.
What To Expect
The museum is housed inside a three-storey building located in Bucana, San
Pedro Extension, Davao City. On the ground floor, you can see several preserved
remains – bones, skulls, even whole skeletons – of various species.
Horses, a deer, bears, a lion, monkeys,
birds, a dugong, dolphins, snakes, crocodiles, butterflies, armadillo, whales
and insects are some of those. There's even a Cambodian python which is one of
the longest snakes in the world.
You may wonder where in the world did all
that stuff come from? Well, it's from Blatchley's extensive collection since he
was a young boy.
At a tender age, he received a set of mule antlers from an uncle and that
spurred his interest in animals as well as their skeletal remains. Other
remains in his collection have been donated by friends and various
organizations around the world.
So, if you're around, drop by the place
which is open from Mondays through Fridays during business hours. Also, don't forget to explore other great Philippine tourist attractions while touring around Davao.
