Davao Crocodile Park now a SEAZA member

THE DAVAO Crocodile Park is now operating under the Southeast Asian Zoo Association (SEAZA) standards following its recent membership to the group composed of around 90 conservatories and zoos in the region. “We aim for the welfare of the animals in the park and as a member of SEAZA we are guided with proper procedures on taking care of the animals,” Brent S. Marquez, in charge of the park’s marketing, said in an interview. SEAZA prescribes standards on animal care, infrastructure, wildlife conservation campaign, and overall operations, among others. Mr. Marquez said they are looking at establishing an animal hospital inside the five-hectare park, owned by the family of businessman Philip S. Dizon, within the next 10 years. The Davao Crocodile Park caters to an average of 5,000 visitors a month. It also serves as a rescue center, where animals usually found in the city’s urban areas are brought for temporary care. — Maya M. Padillo