Zoo León Leon Zoo
- Thread starter Zooplantman
- Start date
After a conference at the local university I was able to make a visit to this zoo. Leon is a large city in central mexico. This zoo is supported by the state government of guanajuato. It celebrates 30 years now. In general the collection is good and has various species I had not seen in mexican zoos. The instalations are from good to adequate, only some of the bird aviaries and primate cages are too small. The leon zoo is not as modern or spectacular as Chapultepec, but comes in nicely at the second level of mexican zoos. I went on a weekday, had the zoo to myself and i have never meet a more friendly and collaborative staff and keepers.
After entering a entrance of 2 crossing oversized false tusks ( to me tacky) there is a large forest of pine and mesquite. First there is a long lake with muscovy and domestic ducks. In the center, an island with many trees holds an active breeding group of spider monkeys. Next an aviary with chachalacas and crested jays. After is the austrialian section with emus, a cassowary, tamar wallabies and dingos ( rare in Mexico). Then follows a group of capibaras with young. After a nice trio of red brockets share a nice exhibit with scooter, the most famous tapir on the planet. Scooter was featured on the terrible movie Apocalyptyo, where he is chased by hungry mayans in the opening sequence. Director mel gibson built a nice exhibit for scooter for his services according to a sign with the before mentioned human´s picture. Next a section of domestics, pygmy zebu cattle and african goats, sheeps and lambs. There is a small pool for a Morellett´s crocodile, then the african section. Hippopotamus also have a average size pool, 1 lone white rhinoceros is there and 2 female african elephants have a regular pen ( not large). 2 african porcupines next to canadian porcupines (odd). A very nice large pen for breding group of schmitar horned oryx.A small groups of cape buffalo, grant´s zebras and reticulated giraffe end africa. A nice space for a breeding flock of caribbean flamingos comes next. Next comes a free flight aviary with many species, peacock, golden and silver pheasants, gambel´s guail, crested currasow, giant rail, agapronis, wood ducks and mallard, cockatiels, green toucanet, green conure, cardinals, mockingbirds, orioles, and pair of crested sceamers with young. After a long kind of canyon appears. First a striped hyeana, next white lipped and collared peccaries,the only warthog in Mexico, then mexican and canadian wolves. A very active badger ( this was morning time). black bears were active too. Then come large felines, a bengal tiger, lions, puma, jaguar, amur leopard. A very large exhibit for a single european brown bear. An huge island for white tiger. kind of an area for asian species has muntjacs, trio of siamangs, pair of tonkeana macaques, and a big space for two orangutans. Behind there are a moated space for a trio of chimpanzees. Next are a pair of ocelots, bobcat, grey foxes and coati. More domestic species after, fowl, vietanamse pigs. Primates in cages are capuchins, guinea and hamadryas baboons, patas and vervet monkeys, a large group of ringtail lemurs and the only pair of mongoose lemur in this country. In the middle there are large pens for hoofed stock, bison, elk,sika, fallow and axis deer. 1 bongo with white tail deer. Eland with ankole cattle ( better) many, many mouflon. 2 male markor ( very rare in mexico) llamas, guanaco, yak,dromedaries and a bactrian camel. A mountain for barbary sheep. The highlight of the birds section is a huge aviary for a breeding pair of golden eagles. Andean condors and king vultures (with agutis) comes next. A breeding pair of horned guans, very rare. Ugly exhibits for hawks, owls and many parrots ( many have been confiscated from illegal trade and exhibits grew with no order). Breeding groups of scarlet and military macaws and the yellow headed amazon parrot, almost extinxt in mexico because of the pet trade. Touracos and blackbilled hornbills. This area has a cave for flying foxes ( why here, because of the wings,maybe but not educational).Surprise, no reptile house here, only some pools for slider turtles and alligators. I will post some photos later in the Mexico other section since this zoo has no gallery,
After entering a entrance of 2 crossing oversized false tusks ( to me tacky) there is a large forest of pine and mesquite. First there is a long lake with muscovy and domestic ducks. In the center, an island with many trees holds an active breeding group of spider monkeys. Next an aviary with chachalacas and crested jays. After is the austrialian section with emus, a cassowary, tamar wallabies and dingos ( rare in Mexico). Then follows a group of capibaras with young. After a nice trio of red brockets share a nice exhibit with scooter, the most famous tapir on the planet. Scooter was featured on the terrible movie Apocalyptyo, where he is chased by hungry mayans in the opening sequence. Director mel gibson built a nice exhibit for scooter for his services according to a sign with the before mentioned human´s picture. Next a section of domestics, pygmy zebu cattle and african goats, sheeps and lambs. There is a small pool for a Morellett´s crocodile, then the african section. Hippopotamus also have a average size pool, 1 lone white rhinoceros is there and 2 female african elephants have a regular pen ( not large). 2 african porcupines next to canadian porcupines (odd). A very nice large pen for breding group of schmitar horned oryx.A small groups of cape buffalo, grant´s zebras and reticulated giraffe end africa. A nice space for a breeding flock of caribbean flamingos comes next. Next comes a free flight aviary with many species, peacock, golden and silver pheasants, gambel´s guail, crested currasow, giant rail, agapronis, wood ducks and mallard, cockatiels, green toucanet, green conure, cardinals, mockingbirds, orioles, and pair of crested sceamers with young. After a long kind of canyon appears. First a striped hyeana, next white lipped and collared peccaries,the only warthog in Mexico, then mexican and canadian wolves. A very active badger ( this was morning time). black bears were active too. Then come large felines, a bengal tiger, lions, puma, jaguar, amur leopard. A very large exhibit for a single european brown bear. An huge island for white tiger. kind of an area for asian species has muntjacs, trio of siamangs, pair of tonkeana macaques, and a big space for two orangutans. Behind there are a moated space for a trio of chimpanzees. Next are a pair of ocelots, bobcat, grey foxes and coati. More domestic species after, fowl, vietanamse pigs. Primates in cages are capuchins, guinea and hamadryas baboons, patas and vervet monkeys, a large group of ringtail lemurs and the only pair of mongoose lemur in this country. In the middle there are large pens for hoofed stock, bison, elk,sika, fallow and axis deer. 1 bongo with white tail deer. Eland with ankole cattle ( better) many, many mouflon. 2 male markor ( very rare in mexico) llamas, guanaco, yak,dromedaries and a bactrian camel. A mountain for barbary sheep. The highlight of the birds section is a huge aviary for a breeding pair of golden eagles. Andean condors and king vultures (with agutis) comes next. A breeding pair of horned guans, very rare. Ugly exhibits for hawks, owls and many parrots ( many have been confiscated from illegal trade and exhibits grew with no order). Breeding groups of scarlet and military macaws and the yellow headed amazon parrot, almost extinxt in mexico because of the pet trade. Touracos and blackbilled hornbills. This area has a cave for flying foxes ( why here, because of the wings,maybe but not educational).Surprise, no reptile house here, only some pools for slider turtles and alligators. I will post some photos later in the Mexico other section since this zoo has no gallery,
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Final comments, there is a safari park next to the zoo, it is the same administration. Most of the species are also at the zoo, zebras, giraffes, camels, ankole cattle, elands and lions. I had to catch a bus back to mexico city, so i did not see it very long. There are plans to build an aquarium at Leon Zoo, but the economic and political crisis in mexico is very strong and this is not likely to happen soon. Also there is a severe water shortage in this region of the country, which also complicates construction of an aquarium here. ( The plans for an aquarium in mexico city have the same complications).
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Excellent contribution, @carlos77
Thank-you!
I look forward to the photos
Thank-you!
I look forward to the photos
Adam Khor
Active Member
I've never been to the Leon zoo, but I've heard some really nasty stuff about it- including that they have sold some animals to a mafia boss known for killing animals for their gall bladder or bones (he consumes Chinese-style "remedies" and "aphrodisiacs") and for controlling the entire wildlife trade in the country. 
If you check the AZA homepage on accreditation it states the Leon Zoo recieved a renewal of its AZA accreditation on September 2011. On the 2 of December the results were acknowledged publicly in Leon by an AZA representative and reported by Milenio news and local newspapers.Only Zooleon and Africam Safari Puebla are the AZA accredited animal collections in Mexico. I do not know why Guadalajara zoo and the mexico City zoos are not accredited. Accreditation standards are on the AZA page. Adam, i think that the rumours you heard are not correct.
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Adam, correct accusations, wrong zoo. The Profepa (mexican enviromental government agency) has detected illegal animal trafficking in the zoologico del altiplano, tlaxcala.IF you google profepa zoologico tlaxcala the news from 2011 appears there. I find it hard to believe that zooleon would be active in animal trafficking and still recieve AZA accreditation. Still what should PROFEPA do with the nasty tlaxcala zoo incident?
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Adam Khor
Active Member
Close the zoo? If they're selling the animals to people who kills them and drinks their body parts, there's no other way around it...
Any news on Leon Zoo?
¿Sabes que hay nuevos inquilinos en el Zoo de León? ¡Te van a encantar!
Leon zoo recieved 14 humboldt´s penguins from Acuario Veracruz and Parque de las Leyendas in Lima. The former polar bear exhibit will be their new home.
Leon zoo recieved 14 humboldt´s penguins from Acuario Veracruz and Parque de las Leyendas in Lima. The former polar bear exhibit will be their new home.
I assume the said polar bear has gone or passed away some time ago?
Murió 'Shiver', el oso polar consentido de León
Yes, Shiver the only polar bear Leon zoo had died 2 years ago. He came from the US and was 30 years old. There are only 2 other polar bears in Mexico now, Agata at Guadalajara zoo and the famous Yupik at Morelia zoo. Both are elderly now.
Yes, Shiver the only polar bear Leon zoo had died 2 years ago. He came from the US and was 30 years old. There are only 2 other polar bears in Mexico now, Agata at Guadalajara zoo and the famous Yupik at Morelia zoo. Both are elderly now.
El Zoológico de León será el primer espacio en Latinoamérica donde se exhiba un okapi
ARMANDO the okapi came from DAK and has adjusted well to Leon zoo.
ARMANDO the okapi came from DAK and has adjusted well to Leon zoo.
Belatedly, but sure enough Zoologico de Leon has achieved breeding Morelett's crocodile for the first time in 2019.
Link:
Logra Zoo León por primera vez nacimiento de cocodrilo mexicano
Link:
Logra Zoo León por primera vez nacimiento de cocodrilo mexicano
Mexican puma born in 2019.
The female Kayra was a rescue from Sierra de Santa Rosa and the male Nahari is from a breeding line going back to Guanajuato wild caught pumas. It is quite rare for the origins of pumas in captivity to be well known. These are from the local ssp.
Link:
Nacen pumas guanajuatenses en el Zoo León
The female Kayra was a rescue from Sierra de Santa Rosa and the male Nahari is from a breeding line going back to Guanajuato wild caught pumas. It is quite rare for the origins of pumas in captivity to be well known. These are from the local ssp.
Link:
Nacen pumas guanajuatenses en el Zoo León
mmpanterra
Member
Does anyone have any information on the lions at the zoo? Sisters Alohi and Iolana were sent to Zoo Leon on a breeding recommendation in 2015. I'm looking for info on the sisters, any cubs born, and their father(s) if applicable. I see a cub, Samburu, was born in 2018, but can't find any info on parents/siblings.