The change of zoos in Brazil through time (Belo Horizonte zoo)

[David Matos Mendes]

I'm quite sure that here in BH the privatization issues of the city hall fortunately don't involve the zoo. I say fortunately because I honestly don't think we need an enormous amount of money to make the needed improvements in the institution, so it's not worth it to privatizate and run the risk of ruining the good conservation programmes and losing the good employees we already have. Not saying we have nothing to improve, cause I definitely think the small cats area needs to pass through a total renovation, and also continue some started renovations that never finished, but if you understand me, I think it would "cost" much less for the city hall to pay for the needed changes than to run the risks of bad administrations...

That's also what I think about São Paulo zoo... what do you think about it?

Ah, and also, unfortunately zoo BH is not open yet, corona cases in MG are quite increasing

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I'm quite sure that here in BH the privatization issues of the city hall fortunately don't involve the zoo. I say fortunately because I honestly don't think we need an enormous amount of money to make the needed improvements in the institution, so it's not worth it to privatizate and run the risk of ruining the good conservation programmes and losing the good employees we already have. Not saying we have nothing to improve, cause I definitely think the small cats area needs to pass through a total renovation, and also continue some started renovations that never finished, but if you understand me, I think it would "cost" much less for the city hall to pay for the needed changes than to run the risks of bad administrations...

That's also what I think about São Paulo zoo... what do you think about it?

I see what you mean, I would actually say that the situation at BH zoo that you have described is very similar to that of the Sorocaba zoo.

Sadly I would say that most small cat enclosures or areas in Brazilian zoos need to be renovated. The problem is that these changes often get put right at the bottom of priorities to be addressed and are typically secondary to changes made to big cat / exotic megafauna enclosures.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

That's really sad, isn't it? From what I know, Brasilia zoo is the only case of this kind in Brazil (in a zoo, of course, because circuses made even worse things) But in Belo Horizonte zoo, around the 1960's, there were circus presentation inside the zoo. See below a presentation of the Moscow circus in BH zoo's bird square:

View attachment 454168

Very contradictory for nowadays, and fortunately both Belo Horizonte and Brasilia zoo are now some of the most serious and respected institutions of their kind in Brazil.

Quite sad to see these pictures even with the knowledge that these events are no longer continued by Brazilian zoos.

However, it is worth mentioning (to put things in historic perspective) that during the 50's, 60's, 70's and even up to the 1980's zoos in capital cities in Europe (like Rome, London, Berlin, Paris, Madrid etc) were having events like "chimpanzee tea parties" and "penguin parades" and giving elephant / camel rides to children.

 

[David Matos Mendes]

Quite sad to see these pictures even with the knowledge that these events are no longer continued by Brazilian zoos.

However, it is worth mentioning (to put things in historic perspective) that during the 50's, 60's, 70's and even up to the 1980's zoos in capital cities in Europe like Rome, London, Berlin, Paris, Madrid etc were having events like "chimpanzee tea parties", "penguin parades" and elephant / camel rides for children.

Oh yeah, things like these were quite common in these times, right?

Now that you said, I realized that almost every small cat exhibit I've seen in our brazilian zoos are really forgotten... Not saying about maintenance, painting, nor fence integrity, but, as you said, the diserved atention is not often given to these animals... The only small feline enclosures that I have seen and considered proper were some at Brasilia zoo, and I know São Paulo zoo also has some good ones; but in general, our country doesn't pay enough atention to these small guys...


This is the small cat corridor in Brasilia zoo. Quite nice enclosures (compared to most of the others)



Now the Aracaju zoo small cat corridor. we can see a big difference. All right, zoo Aracaju is definitely not an object of comparison in general (it's the worse zoo I've ever been to) but we unfortunately know that this is the most common model of small cats exhibit in our country

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Oh yeah, things like these were quite common in these times, right?

Now that you said, I realized that almost every small cat exhibit I've seen in our brazilian zoos are really forgotten... Not saying about maintenance, painting, nor fence integrity, but, as you said, the diserved atention is not often given to these animals... The only small feline enclosures that I have seen and considered proper were some at Brasilia zoo, and I know São Paulo zoo also has some good ones; but in general, our country doesn't pay enough atention to these small guys...


This is the small cat corridor in Brasilia zoo. Quite nice enclosures (compared to most of the others)
View attachment 454263


Now the Aracaju zoo small cat corridor. we can see a big difference. All right, zoo Aracaju is definitely not an object of comparison in general (it's the worse zoo I've ever been to) but we unfortunately know that this is the most common model of small cats exhibit in our country
View attachment 454265

Yes, I think small cats and small cat areas/enclosures are definitely a forgotten group / focus in Brazilian zoos. This is such a shame in my opinion because Brazil as a country has one of the highest diversities of small cat species in the world and I think this is definitely something to highlight / generate interest in and to be proud of.

I agree that the small felid enclosures at the Brasilia and Sao Paulo (a couple of the small African cats like caracal and serval are kept there) zoos are definitely better than those at many other zoos in the country but in my opinion they are still definitely lacking some decent improvements and more attention.

To add a further comparison I think that most of the small cat enclosures in the three zoos of Mexico City such as San Juan de Aragon, Chapultepec and Los Coyotes are definitely better designed than those in Brazilian zoos (more well planted, more space, areas to hide away from public view, more enrichment and better information signs for public etc) but even these are lacking.

In fact the sad truth is that in zoos in most countries around the world small cats are just sort of forgotten about.

 

[AWP]

Thanks for the nice postings about Brazilian zoos!

Untill a few years ago, I had no idea how good South American zoos can be. I was surprised to see the high quality of the two zoos I visited in Ecuador and I have photos of beautiful enclosures here on Zoochat, that can truly rival those of well known zoos that are considered world class elsewhere in the world.

This is the small cat corridor in Brasilia zoo. Quite nice enclosures (compared to most of the others)

Which species are kept here?

In fact the sad truth is that in zoos in most countries around the world small cats are just sort of forgotten about.

In Europe there were a couple of zoos with a great collection of small cats, like Rotterdam Zoo, Tierpark Berlin and Zoo Wuppertal. Rotterdam Zoo had an huge collection with rare species like pampas cat, African golden cat and black-footed cat. They were kept in a long row of cages, more or less comparable to that on the photo of zoo Aracaju. Changed views on animal welfare meant a strong reduction in collection size and the cages for small cats are now replaced by a large enclosure for gelada baboons.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Thanks for the nice postings about Brazilian zoos!

Untill a few years ago, I had no idea how good South American zoos can be. I was surprised to see the high quality of the two zoos I visited in Ecuador and I have photos of beautiful enclosures here on Zoochat, that can truly rival those of well known zoos that are considered world class elsewhere in the world.



Which species are kept here?



In Europe there were a couple of zoos with a great collection of small cats, like Rotterdam Zoo, Tierpark Berlin and Zoo Wuppertal. Rotterdam Zoo had an huge collection with rare species like pampas cat, African golden cat and black-footed cat. They were kept in a long row of cages, more or less comparable to that on the photo of zoo Aracaju. Changed views on animal welfare meant a strong reduction in collection size and the cages for small cats are now replaced by a large enclosure for gelada baboons.

Yes, there are definitely a few decent zoos in this part of the world (lots of bad ones too unfortunately) and its a shame how many people automically assume that they must be of poor standards because of stereotypes of poverty or backwardness etc (not saying you currently do but many people do have this attitude).

Two of the species you mention that were kept at Rotterdam I would love to see: African golden cat and black footed cat. I know that the golden cats you mentioned eventually went to the Aspinall parks as I managed to find this out and post about it on zoochat quite some time ago.