Tamaraw Gene Pool Farm

The Tamaraw Gene Pool Farm is a wildlife conservation and captive breeding facility in Barangay Manoot, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. Established to protect the critically endangered tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), an endemic dwarf buffalo found only on Mindoro Island, it is managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The farm maintains a small herd for research, breeding, and education, serving as a key ex-situ conservation site complementing the in-situ protection in nearby Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park.

Visitors can expect a small, fenced conservation facility set in a rural, forested area of Barangay Manoot. The main attraction is viewing tamaraws kept in enclosures and paddocks at a safe distance, often with a DENR staff member or caretaker providing information. The site includes basic holding pens, grazing areas, and simple visitor and caretaker structures. Visits are typically guided and educational, focused on observation, photography from designated areas, and learning about tamaraw conservation. It is a low-key, managed facility rather than a developed zoo or park.