A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden (CenTrop)

The A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden is a simulated natural habitat of Philippine wildlife. It has about 23 species of trees and 16 species of various mammals, reptiles and birds. The faculty members of the Silliman University Biology Department started the Garden in the 1960s as a tree-planting project and field laboratory studies area. It was officially named the A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden in 1996, in honor of the late Professor A.Y. Reyes, a botanist, who along with other professors helped start and develop the Garden. It was also in 1996 that the Silliman University Center for Tropical Conservation Studies, also known as CenTrop, was established and the conservation breeding programs for the Philippine Spotted Deer and the Visayan Warty Pig were started.

AY Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden

CENTROP: The Center for Tropical Conservation Studies manages the Garden and its staff members and volunteers focus research and studies on wildlife conservation, and do awareness campaign among surrounding communities and throughout the Philippines through its project-funded activities. Since 1996, CenTrop has been conducting community-based biodiversity conservation programs among upland communities in the Mt. Talinis and Lake Balinsasayao area, where the major remaining natural forest in southern Negros can be found.

Centrop’s activities can only be carried out through the support of donor institutions and environment conscious individuals. Your contribution will go a long way towards conservation of the wildlife and forest of Negros Oriental.

Please stop by the CenTrop office and Spotted Deer Information Center before entering the Garden, so you will have a chance to learn more about the animals housed inside the zoo.

Funded by the Rotary Club Abingdon, USA, the A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden is open from Mondays to Saturdays at 8:00am to 5:00pm. It is situated in Ipil Street, Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Donation fees is only P5.00 for 12 years and below while 13 years old and above pay P10.00.

How to get there

Ipil Street is a few kilometers away from the Airport of Dumaguete or Dumaguete’s Seaport. You can take a taxi (about P100, up to 4 persons) or tricycle (P10/person) and tell the driver to bring you to CenTrop, which is a much recognizable name than A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden.

For more information about CenTrop and A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden, you contact them at Tel Number (035) 422-6002 local 314 or you can email them at biology@su.edu.ph. You can also reach them through CenTrop’s Official Facebook Page.

A young Philippine Spotted Deer

Adult Philippine Spotted Deer

CenTrop’s Affiliates

Iguana

Indian Coral Tree

Kabog

Mark, Lisa and Sam at CenTrop

More Birds

One of the Birds

Sam and Lisa at CenTrop

Visayan Warty Pig

Crocodiles

About the author

Mark Anthony Maranga is an Educator-Parent to his 3 Homeschooling Kids. He sells Ice Cream and Balloons in Mandaue City, Cebu. Exploring the Philippines tourist attractions together with his family is his passion; they are learning without borders.