What’s Up Doc?
The first item that caught my eye in the stark white office is a framed picture that looked oddly out of place. It was a photograph of a punk rock band. I studied the picture and came to the startling realization that one of the punk rockers is sitting just in front of me.
Meet Dr Christopher Torno – my new friend here at Subic Bay, and an ex-punk rocker turned veterinarian.
Dr Chris, as he’s more commonly known as, is no stranger to animal healthcare. A father of four, he prides himself as being the first marine mammal vet to be recognized in Philippines. With 18 years of experience under his belt, his dealings in this field span across a wide spectrum, from wildlife conservation on various species like reptiles and primates to rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of stranded marine mammals in the Philippines.
So what sparked his passion in animal healthcare? The doc sheepishly confessed that it actually had links to childhood mischief.
“When I was a kid, I enjoyed playing with the slingshot. My target, believe it or not coming from a vet – was animals. I usually missed but one day…I struck down a bird!
I felt so guilty and though my granny managed to nurse it back to full health, I think the guilt never left me. Come to think of it, that’s could be one of the main reasons why I got into this line.”
Well, it’s a good thing he’s outgrown his “wayward” ways. His passion for the marine life is obvious- there’re pictures of him with the marine mammals he treated dotted around the office.
And then there’s the picture of the punk rock band. “Yup, that’s me alright. I was the lead singer and that slim then”, he declared. His punk rock days may be long behind him, but the singer in him still remains. Dr Chris is also known to be the resident singer at the facility, and according to some, a really good one too. Here’s what Dr Chris has to share about being a vet at the Subic facility:
“Healthcare for the dolphins is a team effort – not just within the medical team but between them and the marine life specialists”, Dr Chris summarized.
“They (the specialists) are working with the dolphins for the bulk of the day and would naturally be more sensitive to any health related changes. Dolphins often mask any change as they are very social creatures, and any display of such change could jeapordize their social standing amongst the rest. So it’s very important for us to work together with the specialists to ensure the dolphins are well cared for from a veterinary point of view.”