In May, I visited Ecuador. As it was an organized tour with a group, free time was limited, but I was able to visit two zoos in the country (actually three, but one doesn’t deserve to be named a zoo). Below I will give a brief description. A list of mammals and birds of prey in both zoos will follow later en I will try to upload some photos.
Ecozoo San Martín
This zoo is located in the San Martín Canyon two kilometers west of Baños de Agua Santa in the province of Tungurahua. All species kept in this zoo are native.
After the entrance, there are two walking routes through the zoo, with mainly mammals along the first and aviaries along the other one. The monkey enclosures and aviaries for parrots are average, but most of the other mammals are housed in quite spacious exhibits, as well as the birds of prey. Most notable are those of the spectacled bears and Andean condors.
Across the street a second “zoo” is located in the San Martín Canyon, the Acuario Serpentario. It a combination of an building with aquaria and terraria (many boa constrictors, some other snake species), a square with aviaries (mainly the average cage birds) and some farm animals, and on top of a hill an enclosure for lions. Compared to Ecozoo San Martín, it’s complete rubbish.
Bioparque Amaru
Before my journey, I read some good reports about Bioparque Amaru with claims like “the most beautiful zoo in South America”. I can’t tell if that claim is true, but is definitely a great zoo.
Bioparque Amaru is located outside the city of Cuenca. This zoo is located in a forest on quite hilly terrain and its divided in five ecozones: Los Andes, Mágico Bosque Seco, Amazonía, Islas Encantadas and África Salvaje. The first one is the largest with spacious enclosures for deer, spectacled bear and Andean condor among others. The second zone is dedicated to the dry forests en the smallest, with an enclosure for collared peccaries. Squirrel monkeys and macaws roam freely in Amazonía, that includes enclosures for other monkeys, felines and tapirs, a large aviary with parrots, whistling ducks and currasows, and buildings for crocodiles, snakes, turtles and frogs (including the Centro de Conservación de Anfibios that plays a crucial part in breeding programms for critically endangered frogs, like stubfoot toads). Giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies inhabit the Islas Encantadas, the area fort he Galápagos. África Salvaje is completely out-of-place in a zoo with otherwise only native animals. I guess the lions, ostriches and peacocks (not even African!) are mainly there to attract visitors.
Ecozoo San Martín
This zoo is located in the San Martín Canyon two kilometers west of Baños de Agua Santa in the province of Tungurahua. All species kept in this zoo are native.
After the entrance, there are two walking routes through the zoo, with mainly mammals along the first and aviaries along the other one. The monkey enclosures and aviaries for parrots are average, but most of the other mammals are housed in quite spacious exhibits, as well as the birds of prey. Most notable are those of the spectacled bears and Andean condors.
Across the street a second “zoo” is located in the San Martín Canyon, the Acuario Serpentario. It a combination of an building with aquaria and terraria (many boa constrictors, some other snake species), a square with aviaries (mainly the average cage birds) and some farm animals, and on top of a hill an enclosure for lions. Compared to Ecozoo San Martín, it’s complete rubbish.
Bioparque Amaru
Before my journey, I read some good reports about Bioparque Amaru with claims like “the most beautiful zoo in South America”. I can’t tell if that claim is true, but is definitely a great zoo.
Bioparque Amaru is located outside the city of Cuenca. This zoo is located in a forest on quite hilly terrain and its divided in five ecozones: Los Andes, Mágico Bosque Seco, Amazonía, Islas Encantadas and África Salvaje. The first one is the largest with spacious enclosures for deer, spectacled bear and Andean condor among others. The second zone is dedicated to the dry forests en the smallest, with an enclosure for collared peccaries. Squirrel monkeys and macaws roam freely in Amazonía, that includes enclosures for other monkeys, felines and tapirs, a large aviary with parrots, whistling ducks and currasows, and buildings for crocodiles, snakes, turtles and frogs (including the Centro de Conservación de Anfibios that plays a crucial part in breeding programms for critically endangered frogs, like stubfoot toads). Giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies inhabit the Islas Encantadas, the area fort he Galápagos. África Salvaje is completely out-of-place in a zoo with otherwise only native animals. I guess the lions, ostriches and peacocks (not even African!) are mainly there to attract visitors.
