Chapultepec Zoo zoological garden of Chapultepec : a review

[Jose]

First of all remember that Mexico is a developing country in need of much improvement in the humane treatment of both animals and human beings. With the exception of the bigger zoological gardens in the capital and a few others in the southern states very few have any interest in conservation and are primarlily commercial safari parks. I doubt there are any zoological gardens in Mexico which are the equal to any zoos in the USA or the fantastic zoos of the United kingdom so dont have big expectations. Here is one of the best zoological gardens in Mexico , located in Mexico city , near the capital , in Chapultepec park. The zoo is split into different zones which reflect the animals natrual habitats there is a tropical,temperate,savanha/desert and an arctic zone. The majority of the animals are Mammals but there is a beautiful walkthrough aviary towards the exit of the zoo which has many parrots,pelicans , ducks and cranes within touching distance , be careful of a particular sulphur crested cockatoo by a pond as it bites and chews through shoe laces. There is also a Reptile house located in the african/desert zone of the zoo which is displays a fantastic selection of reptiles including a huge and lethargic green anaconda. An insect house and a natrual history mueseum can be found near the Giant panda enclosure. The insect house is particulary impressive with a large butterfly house (wonderful blue morpho butterflies and also the famous Monarch )and other insects and archnids such as highly venemous scorpians , harmless praying mantids , and a huge goliath tarantula.Entrance to the zoo for foreigners and Mexicans alike is free , this is due to the zoo now under government ownership,not open on Monday, the zoo closes at 4:30 and is open from 7:00 in the morning. Giant pandas can be seen in the centre of the zoo in a large enclosure , they were originally given to the zoo as a symbol of "understading between the government of Mexico and the gov of China but the real reason was because of a lucrative trade agreement.If you visit you may find several of the enclosures and terrariums are too small but not drastically, in January 2009 theres has been enforced a massive enrichment programe in the Chapultepec zoo and things are steadily improving for animals living in captivity in Mexico.



here is a list of species that can be found in the chapultepec zoo:

Black bear
polar bear
Brown bear
himalayan bear
spectacled bear
Giant pandas (3 i counted)
red pandas
Bengal tiger (also a white tiger)
Sumatran tiger
african lion
leopard (black panther also)
Pumas
Jaguar
ocelot
jaguarundi
red lynx
Canadian timber wolf
Mexican grey wolf
spotted hyena
african wilddog
fennec fox
egyptian bat
grey fox
Chimpanzee
Bornean Orangutang
Gorilla
Siamang gibbon
Golden lion tamarin
Sacred baboon
Howler monkey
cotten top tamarin
common marmoset
Japanese maquaqe
ring tailed lemur
two toes sloth
patas monkey
pig tailed maquaqe
Mandrill
Capuchin monkey
Spider monkey
Binturong
coati
kinkajou
red kangaroo
wallaby
Peccary
agouti
eurasian otter
californian sealion
civet
skunk
racoon
Volcano rabbit
european polecat
african crested porcupine
prarie dog
Yak
Bufalo
Llama
Asian elephant
grevys zebra
Girafe
White rhinoceros
Hippotamus
antelope nyala
antelope blackbuck
antelope acuatic
fallow deer
elk
sika deer
Camel dromedary
Camel bactrian

Birds:

Scarlett macaw
blue and gold macaw
Amazon parrots
roadrunner
eagle owl
burrowing owl
millitary macaw
sulphur crested cockatoo
pelican
commorant
african crowned crane
raven
golden eagle
tawny eagle
californian condor
white crane
ring necked parakeet
toucans
peacock
flamingo
night heron
humboldts penguin
european heron
white egret
various ducks and geese
andean condor
king vulture
turkey vulture
peregrine falcon
ostritch
emu
european swan
black swan

Reptiles and amphibians:

Cane toad
Poison dart frogs
green tree frogs
Axoltl
Nile monitor
Tegu lizard
Gila monster
escorpion lizard
Green anaconda
green tree python
bahia california boa
red tailed boa
reticulated python
burmese python( 1 normal , 1 albino)
rat snake
false coral snake
kingsnake
royal python
green mamba
black mamba
indian cobra ( 1 normal , 1 albino)
mangrove snake
diamond back rattle snake
yucatan cantil
copper heads
copper mouth
sonoran sidewinder
mocassin viper
tzontil montane pitviper
Mexican west coast rattlesnake
mojave desert sidewinder
snapping turtle
japanese terrapin
caiman
puff adder
gabon viper

Hope this serves anyone who is interested , well.................

 

[okapikpr]

Thanks for all the great information about this zoo...it would be great to learn more about Mexican zoos, no matter what condition they are in. Would you be able to elaborate on the zoo's elephants (ie name, age, where they came from, and when they arrived at the zoo, any breeding?).

Thanks!

 

[Jose]

In reply to Okapirs comment , yes i can find out somemore information about any of the species kept in this particular zoo for anyone who is interested. I visit the zoo every 2 weeks as it is free entrance. There are 2 asiatic elephants both cows ,i dont know their origins but i remember the same pair were in the zoo when i first visited in the early 80s,their ages i can find out also when they first arrived. Their enclosure isnt particulary impressive, nothing compared to American and Brittish zoological standards, but i geuss it could be described as being spacious.

 

[mstickmanp]

Thanks for the review Jose! I used to live in Mexico before for about ten years and the only zoo I was able to visit was the Guadalajara Zoo, but I was too small to remember.

 

[Jose]

Mstickman gracias y mucho gusto ,you used to live in Guadalajara ? hablas Español amigo ? It is a very fine and beautiful city and its zoo is decent. I feel that my country , Mexico, is unfortunatley not very well represented in zoochat and Mexican zoos have a terrible reputation (which in many cases i admit they deserve) so i have decided to share all the information about the zoos i have visited and the species i have seen in these establishments. If you have a question please ask me and i will try to answer it.........

 

[mstickmanp]

Mstickman gracias y mucho gusto ,you used to live in Guadalajara ? hablas Español amigo ? It is a very fine and beautiful city and its zoo is decent. I feel that my country , Mexico, is unfortunatley not very well represented in zoochat and Mexican zoos have a terrible reputation (which in many cases i admit they deserve) so i have decided to share all the information about the zoos i have visited and the species i have seen in these establishments. If you have a question please ask me and i will try to answer it.........

Much gusto! Si ablo Español, pero muy poco. I used to live in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco but I had family in Guadalajara so I got to visit the zoo once or twice. I don't remember much about the zoo because I was too young. And I agree that Mexican zoos are not well represented in Zoochat.

I have heard good things about Africam Safari in Puebla, is it as good as some people say?

 

[Jose]

Jalisco is beautiful place my friend,nice to meet another Mexican on this site we seem to be an endangered species though compared to all the other nationalities here,hahaha. African lion safari hmmm......well it has no shortage of species,but they are all common types that can be seen at any zoo or safari park, and it is also extremely commercial with little interest in conservation. I dont really have too high opinion of it, but there is a very impressive acuatic enclosure for Nile hippos and some attractive enclosures for antelopes.