D' Bone Collector Museum | Davao City

Information

Landmark: D' Bone Collector Museum
City: Davao City
Country: Philippines
Continent: Asia

D' Bone Collector Museum, Davao City, Philippines, Asia

D' Bone Collector Museum is a unique natural history museum located in the Poblacion District of Davao City. It is known for its extensive collection of animal skeletons and its focus on environmental education.

Visual Characteristics

The museum is housed in a multi-story building where the interior is densely packed with over 700 specimens. It features skeletal remains ranging from small birds and reptiles to massive marine mammals and terrestrial animals. The displays are organized by ecosystem, with specimens articulated in lifelike poses. A dominant visual feature is the collection of whale and dolphin skeletons suspended from the ceilings or mounted on large platforms.

Location & Access Logistics

Address: 76-A San Pedro St, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur.

Access: Located near the Davao City Hall and the San Pedro Cathedral.

Transport: Easily accessible via any jeepney route passing through San Pedro Street. Taxis and ride-sharing services provide direct access to the entrance.

Entry: Admission requires an entrance fee used to support the museum's operations and conservation efforts.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The museum was founded in 2012 by Darrell Blatchley, an American resident and environmentalist. The collection began as a personal hobby and grew into a massive educational facility. Many of the specimens, particularly the marine mammals, were recovered from the shores of the Davao Gulf and surrounding areas, often serving as evidence of the impact of plastic pollution and human activity on marine life.

Key Highlights & Activities

Whale Skeletons: Features the skeletons of various whale species, including a 41-foot Sperm Whale and a rare Stejneger’s Beaked Whale.

Diverse Species: Displays include skeletons of horses, ostriches, tigers, monkeys, and a wide array of fish and reptiles.

Educational Tours: The museum provides guided tours that emphasize the causes of death for the animals, specifically highlighting environmental hazards like plastic ingestion.

Life-Size Replicas: Some sections include replicas of extinct or rare animals to provide context on biodiversity loss.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The museum is an indoor facility with multiple viewing floors. It includes a small reception area and public restrooms. Due to the nature of the displays, the interior is climate-controlled. 5G cellular coverage is excellent.

Best Time to Visit

Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:00. Closed on Sundays.

Quiet Experience: Weekdays during school hours are typically less crowded than Saturdays.

Group Visits: Ideal for students and families interested in biology and environmental science.

Facts & Legends

The museum houses one of the largest collections of bones in Southeast Asia. It has gained international recognition for its grim but necessary documentation of marine mammal deaths caused by stomach-clogging plastic waste found during necropsies.