I thought this would be interesting to do on a regional level, because latin america is sometimes neglected on zoochat, i understand since this is an english language forum. yet i at the same time various members have visted latin america and are very interested in our zoos. So i thought of evaluating the most visited zoos which are in the capital cities. Now there are excellent regional zoos in latin America, like temaiken, argentina, sorocaba, brazil and leon, mexico. But most visitors get only to the zoos of the capital citys, so this seems to be to be the logical starting place, I will place the zoos i personally know from at least 1 visit, using also wikipedia and the galleries on zoochat. Also, i included mexico, my country, because mexico should really be compared to other latin american institutions, since the US zoos are really on another level.
Also, i know that the capital of Brazil is Brasilia, but most visitor still only see the original capital of the country, Rio de Janiero.
Parque de las leyendas, Lima, Peru. This zoo is really outstanding considering Peru is a country with so many economic problems. Founded in 1964, the collection emphasized native animals, which is needed. It is divided into regions, La Costa, Selva, Sierra, and Internacional. Great work on enviromental education is evident on the best graphics and signs in a latin american zoo i have seen. Also a botanical garden, aquarium and the only prehispanic pyrmadid actually in a zoo.The zoo continues to renovate, there is excellent new facility for south american sea lions and new section for felines. Among the endagered native fauna breed here are
andean bear, andean condor, jaguar, vicuña, huemul deer, and oncilla (off exhibit).
Chapultepec Zoo and Aragon Zoo,Mexico City. Both zoos are run by the direccion general de zoologicos del Distrito Federal and they really one large collection. Chapultepec Zoo was founded in 1920 and Aragon in 1964. Chapultepec zoo was completely renovated in the mid 1990's, aragon´s renovation began in 2002 and is unfinished. The old section at Aragon is bad and lowers the collection´s living conditions. Chapultepec is organized in ecological regions,desert, Bosque templado (woods), sabana, selva (jungle). Apart there is a large bird section, a small and inadequate reptile house. The newest exhibit is an excellent butterfly house and insectarium.
Aragon is organized as mexican desert, jungle ( with a huge free flight aviary) africa ( with asian elephants), a decent reptile house and the old zoo. the newest exhibit is the birds of prey section in mexican desert. Together the mexico city zoos have very good breeding programs for endagered native species, for example volcano rabbit, axolotl, mexican wolf, desert bighorn sheep, jaguar, ocelot, mexican brocket deer, mexican spider monkey and carribean flamingo. Also, Chapultepec was the first zoo to sucessfully breed giant pandas outside of China
Buenos Aires Zoo Buenos Aires Argentina, I think this is the oldest zoo in Latin America, founded in 1875. This is its problem, many of the buildings are historical monuments and cannot be torn down. A similar situation to the Jardin des Plantes menagerie in Paris.For example, here on zoochat the bad conditions of the old elephant house and exhibit have been mentioned.Some spaces have been renovated, but too much is a historical monument.The collection is good, with many native species, but then including both white tigers and white lions seems excessive to me. The aquaruim and reptile house are adequate. Breding programs for native fauna include great anteater, andean condor, jaguar, maned wolf and vicuña.
Rio Zoo Rio de Janiero, Brazil It was inaugurated in 1945 on very hilly terrain in the old imperial park. The conditions for the collection are outdated with many wire mesh cages everywhere, though there are some spacious pens here and there. The newest exhibit is the pasarela do fauna which is a mixed species space which is riverine grassland with deer, rheas , waterfowl and turtles. It also a includes a small aquarium. fortunately, complete renovation of the rio zoo is promised by the government before the olympics are held in rio in 2016. The breeding programs for endagered native fauna are strong in RioZoo, among the animals bred here are bearded and monk saki, 2 species of titi monkey, yellow breasted capuchin, 2 species of spider monkeys, various species of marmosets and tamarins, including all 3 species of lion tamarins, hynacinth macaws, golden conures, 3 species of yacare caimans and tamanduas.
Zoologico de la Habana, La Habana, Cuba The oldest zoo in Cuba, founded in 1935. I have visited zoos in Europe, U.S. and latin America and this is the worst zoo i have ever seen. Truly a nightmare of wire mesh, steel and concrete. Very small spaces for animals. I hated this place. True, cuba is a poor country but so is peru. Breeding programs for carribean flamingos and cuban crocodiles which have the only good enclousures, along with a island for chimps. very ugly and depressing.
This is my list. I hope other zoochaters have been to other countries in latin america ( bolivia, trinidad) will comment as well as anyone interested.
Also, i know that the capital of Brazil is Brasilia, but most visitor still only see the original capital of the country, Rio de Janiero.
Parque de las leyendas, Lima, Peru. This zoo is really outstanding considering Peru is a country with so many economic problems. Founded in 1964, the collection emphasized native animals, which is needed. It is divided into regions, La Costa, Selva, Sierra, and Internacional. Great work on enviromental education is evident on the best graphics and signs in a latin american zoo i have seen. Also a botanical garden, aquarium and the only prehispanic pyrmadid actually in a zoo.The zoo continues to renovate, there is excellent new facility for south american sea lions and new section for felines. Among the endagered native fauna breed here are
andean bear, andean condor, jaguar, vicuña, huemul deer, and oncilla (off exhibit).
Chapultepec Zoo and Aragon Zoo,Mexico City. Both zoos are run by the direccion general de zoologicos del Distrito Federal and they really one large collection. Chapultepec Zoo was founded in 1920 and Aragon in 1964. Chapultepec zoo was completely renovated in the mid 1990's, aragon´s renovation began in 2002 and is unfinished. The old section at Aragon is bad and lowers the collection´s living conditions. Chapultepec is organized in ecological regions,desert, Bosque templado (woods), sabana, selva (jungle). Apart there is a large bird section, a small and inadequate reptile house. The newest exhibit is an excellent butterfly house and insectarium.
Aragon is organized as mexican desert, jungle ( with a huge free flight aviary) africa ( with asian elephants), a decent reptile house and the old zoo. the newest exhibit is the birds of prey section in mexican desert. Together the mexico city zoos have very good breeding programs for endagered native species, for example volcano rabbit, axolotl, mexican wolf, desert bighorn sheep, jaguar, ocelot, mexican brocket deer, mexican spider monkey and carribean flamingo. Also, Chapultepec was the first zoo to sucessfully breed giant pandas outside of China
Buenos Aires Zoo Buenos Aires Argentina, I think this is the oldest zoo in Latin America, founded in 1875. This is its problem, many of the buildings are historical monuments and cannot be torn down. A similar situation to the Jardin des Plantes menagerie in Paris.For example, here on zoochat the bad conditions of the old elephant house and exhibit have been mentioned.Some spaces have been renovated, but too much is a historical monument.The collection is good, with many native species, but then including both white tigers and white lions seems excessive to me. The aquaruim and reptile house are adequate. Breding programs for native fauna include great anteater, andean condor, jaguar, maned wolf and vicuña.
Rio Zoo Rio de Janiero, Brazil It was inaugurated in 1945 on very hilly terrain in the old imperial park. The conditions for the collection are outdated with many wire mesh cages everywhere, though there are some spacious pens here and there. The newest exhibit is the pasarela do fauna which is a mixed species space which is riverine grassland with deer, rheas , waterfowl and turtles. It also a includes a small aquarium. fortunately, complete renovation of the rio zoo is promised by the government before the olympics are held in rio in 2016. The breeding programs for endagered native fauna are strong in RioZoo, among the animals bred here are bearded and monk saki, 2 species of titi monkey, yellow breasted capuchin, 2 species of spider monkeys, various species of marmosets and tamarins, including all 3 species of lion tamarins, hynacinth macaws, golden conures, 3 species of yacare caimans and tamanduas.
Zoologico de la Habana, La Habana, Cuba The oldest zoo in Cuba, founded in 1935. I have visited zoos in Europe, U.S. and latin America and this is the worst zoo i have ever seen. Truly a nightmare of wire mesh, steel and concrete. Very small spaces for animals. I hated this place. True, cuba is a poor country but so is peru. Breeding programs for carribean flamingos and cuban crocodiles which have the only good enclousures, along with a island for chimps. very ugly and depressing.
This is my list. I hope other zoochaters have been to other countries in latin america ( bolivia, trinidad) will comment as well as anyone interested.
