I visited BioParque do Rio last Wednesday.
I had booked a backstage tour, named "Bastidores da Conservação". Sadly, this tour does not take visitors to the main behind the scenes area, where once were multiple rare species of primates and both native and exotic birds. However, I was still able to catch a glimpse of a few animals which are off-show.
We (I was with my father) arrived around 11:00 AM. After we renewed our annual membership, dad decided to ask a staff member about the backstage tour. He replied they began around 13:30 and those who had booked it were supposed to gather near the gates at 13:00.
Since we had two hours to spare, we decided to have a walk around the zoo.
The first place visitors are supposed to go is the African Savanna, though it's always the last place I go to anytime I visit the zoo. We instead went to the Cerrado and stayed for a few minutes at the bridge which goes through the enclosure, from where we could see the zoo's two capybaras waddling on the mud. We also saw the two rheas, which were lying under a tree near the shelter. Besides them were the two Collared peccaries, one of which is a thirty-three-year-old female. There is also a huge flock of wild Muscovy ducks.
After crossing the bridge, visitors see two exhibits which are part of the Primate Islands. The first one you come across holds a few Peruvian spider monkeys, which are mixed with a single white-lipped tamarin named Choin. The second one is home to a troop of white-cheeked spider monkeys.
The Cerrado, however, is not over yet. Turning right, we were able to see the three giant anteaters ((1.0) Bauru and (0.1) Gaia, as well as (0.1) Maria Cupim, their offspring), all of which were sleeping. I believe both females were outside the shelter, while the male was the one resting inside.
Next on sight were the capuchin monkeys. Their exhibit was once home to larger primates, I believe chimpanzees and orangutans, but baboons, Japanese macaques and mandrills also called these enclosures home. The zoo has two species in a single exhibit: brown (all of which, I believe, have been neutered) and yellow-bellied.
In the following enclosure, we saw Else and Xuxorango (now called Fiona), the zoo's two F2 Sumatran orangutans. The former is thirty-six years old, while the latter is thirty-three. Both sisters were born in Rio, but Xuxo lived most of her life at Beto Carrero World. Else was also temporarily moved to Santa Catarina when the new zoo was under construction. Along with her came Tanga, their mother, who sadly passed away during this time frame.
Mixed with the two sisters are two female crab-eating macaques, though I only saw one of them. The male was killed a year ago by one the orangutans.
Now we're back at seeing spider monkeys. There are four Primate Islands, two of which are on the left of a path while other two are on the right. All of them are surrounded by to lakes, which are home to both Arrau and yellow-spotted river turtles. There are more of them on the left lake.
Since we were running low on time (it was almost mid-day), we decided to have lunch at Restaurante dos Primatas, where one can eat with a view of the isles, though the closer island is the one home to the Peruvian spider monkeys and the white-lipped tamarin.
After having lunch, we headed to Fazendinha ("Little farm" in Portuguese). If one tours this area clockwise (the visitor path is surrounded by pens), the first animals they will see are a herd of five (1.4) cows, two of which were born at the zoo in the last three years or so. Next are a few poultry (chickens and turkeys), followed by rabbits, goats and even more poultry (mallards and more turkeys). The next pen is home to a pony and three (1.2) pigs: Scooby (arrived 2013), Daphne and Velma (yes, they were named after Mystery Inc.), the latter two being BioParque do Rio's most recent arrivals. Then, more goats.
The Carnivore Conservation Center is next. The first animal you'll encounter is a jaguar named Poty, which is one of the few remnants of the population in the Atlantic Forest. The following enclosure is home to two crab-eating foxes, which I did not see this time. Then, two male cougars, housed in the former spectacled bear enclosure. The ring-tailed coatis, which were next, were all resting, though I was able to catch a glimpse of one. Last but not least is the ocelot, which I have yet to see.
Time for Asiáticos ("Asiatics" in Portuguese)! There are only two enclosures in this area, one for the zoo's elderly Asian elephant cow, named Koala and another for a herd of domestic water buffalo. This area has been a massive improvement from the former pachyderm exhibit, having more than quadrupled in area since the zoo was refurbished.
Now, for Reis da Selva ("Kings of the jungle in Portuguese). There are three enclosures: one for Balu, the spectacled bear (though it has housed other species since 2021); another for the three (or four, I don't know how many are on-show) Neotropical river otters and the last one for the zoo's senile lion, sixteen-year-old Simba, born in Pomerode. Surprisingly, despite the heat, he was awake.
After seeing Simba, we crossed the main avenue and reached the Burle Marx Gardens. Firstly, I caught a glimpse of the lake, home to black swans, mallards (which I do not remember seeing this time) and ruddy shelducks. A few meters ahead is the tortoise enclosure. Both red and yellow-footed tortoises were signed, though I did not see any Chelonoidis denticulata. Then, going down a few steps and I was near the maned wolf enclosure, none of which were in sight this time. Then, I went to see the helmeted cassowary, which was hiding behind a fern. Next to this enclosure is the "turtle nursery" home to the hatchlings of the terrapins we'll see in a few moments. Two male great white pelicans call the last exhibit in the area home.
Since it was near 13:00, we headed to the gates. No one had gathered yet, so we decided to wait for a few moments. Then, I decided to have a chat with a staff member (who, to my surprise, was my namesake!). After talking for some minutes, a group of four keepers was heading to the entrace. One of them asked me if I had booked a backstage tour, and I said I did, so I was taken to the gates once again.
Around ten more people, mostly women, gathered around and at 13:30, an educator guided us to the Animal Welfare sector. We were presented to a few more staff members, who gave a speech to us about animal enrichment. Then, we entered the storage room, where items used for said enrichment, including a hose donated by the fire department, are kept.
Next, we headed to the zoo's nutrition sector, where the zoo's kitchen and food storage rooms are located. Near said building were a few enclosures. I saw residents of three of them: two seriemas (they were offshow because a few chicks had hatched), two oncillas (off-exhibit since 2021) and a yellow baboon (which I was most thrilled to see).
After the kitchen tour, we were taken to the veterinary clinic. On the way there, we also stopped at Centro de Educação Ambiental ("Environmental education center" in Portuguese), which is home to a few cold-blooded animals (a few tarantulas, ball pythons, "Amazon" rainbow boas and boa constrictors). A few animals were at the hospital, including a plain parakeet, a black-banded owl, a few black swan chicks and what I believe to be a Florida soft-shelled turtle.
Lastly, we were taken to the African Savanna. However, when heading to said area, I met André Sebastião, owner of a unofficial blog about BioParque do Rio and a long-time friend of mine. The tour ended after we finished watching the hippos being fed. André, who was playing the flute at the moment, also went to the hippo habitat, where we both had a chat with a few keepers. Then, we decided to end the zoo trip together, stopping through a few areas before finally leaving.
The first one was the enclosure home to a few Burmese and reticulated pythons. Next to it are two caiman exhibits, both holding Caiman latirostris, though the smaller one only holds the hatchlings. The larger one is home to the rest of the zoo's turtles, including Geoffroy's side-necked, Hillaire's toad-necked, red-eared and yellow-eared, as well as yellow-spotted. There is also at least one Acanthochelys turtle, though I have not been able to identify the species. Next to this enclosure is the current Chilean flamingo exhibit. In front of the are the king vultures, displayed in the former Lear's macaw aviary. Since we were running low on time, we skipped Centro de Educação Ambiental.
Last but not least is Imersão Tropical ("Tropical immersion" in Portuguese). The first exhibit is a walkthrough aviary packed with New World parrots, other birds, a few mammals and iguanas.
After walking through the aviary, there is an enclosure with two species (kelp gull and scarlet ibis) found in the Guanabara Bay. In front of it is an enclosure for dark-throated piping guans, which I suspect are off-show, because I did not see any. However, their roommates, some red-breasted toucans, were drawing a crowd. Next to this enclosure are the Uta Hick's bearded sakis, which are mixed with a razor-billed curassow and a guan I haven't been able to identify yet. The next exhibit is home to hyacinth macaws, red-billed curassows and toco toucans. The final enclosure has red-handed and Venezuelan red howlers, a bare-throated curassow and a dusky-legged guan as residents.
Then, André came back to where he played the flute and gathered his belongings (I had offered him a ride). After that, we had a nibble at the snack bar near the savanna. Lastly, we headed to the exit (which means going through the gift shop) and left the zoo.
I had booked a backstage tour, named "Bastidores da Conservação". Sadly, this tour does not take visitors to the main behind the scenes area, where once were multiple rare species of primates and both native and exotic birds. However, I was still able to catch a glimpse of a few animals which are off-show.
We (I was with my father) arrived around 11:00 AM. After we renewed our annual membership, dad decided to ask a staff member about the backstage tour. He replied they began around 13:30 and those who had booked it were supposed to gather near the gates at 13:00.
Since we had two hours to spare, we decided to have a walk around the zoo.
The first place visitors are supposed to go is the African Savanna, though it's always the last place I go to anytime I visit the zoo. We instead went to the Cerrado and stayed for a few minutes at the bridge which goes through the enclosure, from where we could see the zoo's two capybaras waddling on the mud. We also saw the two rheas, which were lying under a tree near the shelter. Besides them were the two Collared peccaries, one of which is a thirty-three-year-old female. There is also a huge flock of wild Muscovy ducks.
After crossing the bridge, visitors see two exhibits which are part of the Primate Islands. The first one you come across holds a few Peruvian spider monkeys, which are mixed with a single white-lipped tamarin named Choin. The second one is home to a troop of white-cheeked spider monkeys.
The Cerrado, however, is not over yet. Turning right, we were able to see the three giant anteaters ((1.0) Bauru and (0.1) Gaia, as well as (0.1) Maria Cupim, their offspring), all of which were sleeping. I believe both females were outside the shelter, while the male was the one resting inside.
Next on sight were the capuchin monkeys. Their exhibit was once home to larger primates, I believe chimpanzees and orangutans, but baboons, Japanese macaques and mandrills also called these enclosures home. The zoo has two species in a single exhibit: brown (all of which, I believe, have been neutered) and yellow-bellied.
In the following enclosure, we saw Else and Xuxorango (now called Fiona), the zoo's two F2 Sumatran orangutans. The former is thirty-six years old, while the latter is thirty-three. Both sisters were born in Rio, but Xuxo lived most of her life at Beto Carrero World. Else was also temporarily moved to Santa Catarina when the new zoo was under construction. Along with her came Tanga, their mother, who sadly passed away during this time frame.
Mixed with the two sisters are two female crab-eating macaques, though I only saw one of them. The male was killed a year ago by one the orangutans.
Now we're back at seeing spider monkeys. There are four Primate Islands, two of which are on the left of a path while other two are on the right. All of them are surrounded by to lakes, which are home to both Arrau and yellow-spotted river turtles. There are more of them on the left lake.
Since we were running low on time (it was almost mid-day), we decided to have lunch at Restaurante dos Primatas, where one can eat with a view of the isles, though the closer island is the one home to the Peruvian spider monkeys and the white-lipped tamarin.
After having lunch, we headed to Fazendinha ("Little farm" in Portuguese). If one tours this area clockwise (the visitor path is surrounded by pens), the first animals they will see are a herd of five (1.4) cows, two of which were born at the zoo in the last three years or so. Next are a few poultry (chickens and turkeys), followed by rabbits, goats and even more poultry (mallards and more turkeys). The next pen is home to a pony and three (1.2) pigs: Scooby (arrived 2013), Daphne and Velma (yes, they were named after Mystery Inc.), the latter two being BioParque do Rio's most recent arrivals. Then, more goats.
The Carnivore Conservation Center is next. The first animal you'll encounter is a jaguar named Poty, which is one of the few remnants of the population in the Atlantic Forest. The following enclosure is home to two crab-eating foxes, which I did not see this time. Then, two male cougars, housed in the former spectacled bear enclosure. The ring-tailed coatis, which were next, were all resting, though I was able to catch a glimpse of one. Last but not least is the ocelot, which I have yet to see.
Time for Asiáticos ("Asiatics" in Portuguese)! There are only two enclosures in this area, one for the zoo's elderly Asian elephant cow, named Koala and another for a herd of domestic water buffalo. This area has been a massive improvement from the former pachyderm exhibit, having more than quadrupled in area since the zoo was refurbished.
Now, for Reis da Selva ("Kings of the jungle in Portuguese). There are three enclosures: one for Balu, the spectacled bear (though it has housed other species since 2021); another for the three (or four, I don't know how many are on-show) Neotropical river otters and the last one for the zoo's senile lion, sixteen-year-old Simba, born in Pomerode. Surprisingly, despite the heat, he was awake.
After seeing Simba, we crossed the main avenue and reached the Burle Marx Gardens. Firstly, I caught a glimpse of the lake, home to black swans, mallards (which I do not remember seeing this time) and ruddy shelducks. A few meters ahead is the tortoise enclosure. Both red and yellow-footed tortoises were signed, though I did not see any Chelonoidis denticulata. Then, going down a few steps and I was near the maned wolf enclosure, none of which were in sight this time. Then, I went to see the helmeted cassowary, which was hiding behind a fern. Next to this enclosure is the "turtle nursery" home to the hatchlings of the terrapins we'll see in a few moments. Two male great white pelicans call the last exhibit in the area home.
Since it was near 13:00, we headed to the gates. No one had gathered yet, so we decided to wait for a few moments. Then, I decided to have a chat with a staff member (who, to my surprise, was my namesake!). After talking for some minutes, a group of four keepers was heading to the entrace. One of them asked me if I had booked a backstage tour, and I said I did, so I was taken to the gates once again.
Around ten more people, mostly women, gathered around and at 13:30, an educator guided us to the Animal Welfare sector. We were presented to a few more staff members, who gave a speech to us about animal enrichment. Then, we entered the storage room, where items used for said enrichment, including a hose donated by the fire department, are kept.
Next, we headed to the zoo's nutrition sector, where the zoo's kitchen and food storage rooms are located. Near said building were a few enclosures. I saw residents of three of them: two seriemas (they were offshow because a few chicks had hatched), two oncillas (off-exhibit since 2021) and a yellow baboon (which I was most thrilled to see).
After the kitchen tour, we were taken to the veterinary clinic. On the way there, we also stopped at Centro de Educação Ambiental ("Environmental education center" in Portuguese), which is home to a few cold-blooded animals (a few tarantulas, ball pythons, "Amazon" rainbow boas and boa constrictors). A few animals were at the hospital, including a plain parakeet, a black-banded owl, a few black swan chicks and what I believe to be a Florida soft-shelled turtle.
Lastly, we were taken to the African Savanna. However, when heading to said area, I met André Sebastião, owner of a unofficial blog about BioParque do Rio and a long-time friend of mine. The tour ended after we finished watching the hippos being fed. André, who was playing the flute at the moment, also went to the hippo habitat, where we both had a chat with a few keepers. Then, we decided to end the zoo trip together, stopping through a few areas before finally leaving.
The first one was the enclosure home to a few Burmese and reticulated pythons. Next to it are two caiman exhibits, both holding Caiman latirostris, though the smaller one only holds the hatchlings. The larger one is home to the rest of the zoo's turtles, including Geoffroy's side-necked, Hillaire's toad-necked, red-eared and yellow-eared, as well as yellow-spotted. There is also at least one Acanthochelys turtle, though I have not been able to identify the species. Next to this enclosure is the current Chilean flamingo exhibit. In front of the are the king vultures, displayed in the former Lear's macaw aviary. Since we were running low on time, we skipped Centro de Educação Ambiental.
Last but not least is Imersão Tropical ("Tropical immersion" in Portuguese). The first exhibit is a walkthrough aviary packed with New World parrots, other birds, a few mammals and iguanas.
After walking through the aviary, there is an enclosure with two species (kelp gull and scarlet ibis) found in the Guanabara Bay. In front of it is an enclosure for dark-throated piping guans, which I suspect are off-show, because I did not see any. However, their roommates, some red-breasted toucans, were drawing a crowd. Next to this enclosure are the Uta Hick's bearded sakis, which are mixed with a razor-billed curassow and a guan I haven't been able to identify yet. The next exhibit is home to hyacinth macaws, red-billed curassows and toco toucans. The final enclosure has red-handed and Venezuelan red howlers, a bare-throated curassow and a dusky-legged guan as residents.
Then, André came back to where he played the flute and gathered his belongings (I had offered him a ride). After that, we had a nibble at the snack bar near the savanna. Lastly, we headed to the exit (which means going through the gift shop) and left the zoo.
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