Davao Crocodile Park

Shame on me... Had it not been for friends from Cagayan de Oro wanting to see the sights of the city, I wouldn't have set foot on the new Crocodile Park. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Me, being a native Davaoeña at that!

Oh, well. There's a reason for that, see. I visited the park a long time ago and was dismayed by its conditions. It was called Crocodile Park - but a park it was not. It was more like a large backyard where the owners bred crocodiles. It was also like a so-so zoo where a number of different animals where caged and displayed. I thought back then, "So, this is it, huh? I'm never coming back to this place."

Years passed, news of the park's renovations and new attractions spread on to ears from far away. It was with this fame that my CDO friends egged us Davao locals to accompany them to the park. Though I was hesitant at first, I was soon caught up in their excitement to see the famous Pangil, the park's resident giant croc. And was I ever surprised! The place was transformed! Now, I can truly say, Davao Crocodile Park is a park! Lol!

We thoroughly enjoyed the place. The park was clean and the animal exhibits very orderly. The animal shows were fascinating as well as amusing (thanks to the playful orangutan, Vivian). The Crocodile Dance was quite frighteningly mesmerizing. I didn't think heavy, short-legged crocs could jump and lift its whole body out of the water to snap at the dangling dressed chicken! But it did! It was awesome. I wish I had taken a snapshot of that exact moment. Oh well, maybe next time.

For more information about the Davao Crocodile Park, do visit their site here. Picture credits to the Davao Crocodile Park site.