Zoos in Mexico

[ericnielsenpdx]

Info for your upcoming trip

Hi Allen

I have been really overwhelmed by school but if you'd still like some impressions from Guadalajara I can give you some.
Just let me know.
You probably have made contacts at the zoos you are going to visit, but if not I have some at the Guadalajara Zoo that took us on an incredible behind the scenes tour of the zoo, including the nocturnal house, quarantine/holding areas ( where we got great pics of some unusual animals that weren't on exhibit - even played with a baby jaguar ), and they took us out on the African Savannah exhibit in a truck because a waterbuck had just given birth and was being molested by zebras - I got to pick it up and carry it onto the truck - dangling placenta and all. They opened all areas of the zoo to us. My partner assists the vet staff once a week at our local Zoo, and I was an intern at the zoo just before then.
Let me know if you need contacts there - I have 3 names- they don't check email often but it's worth trying.
I think I stil have a contact at Aragon too.
As far as Chapultepec goes, be aware that they start pulling animals in wel before closing in some areas. I recall that when we went, the zoo began pulling many smaller mammals in an hour before posted closing time. This may have been seasonal, but it occured both days we went to the zoo.
Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Eric

 

[ANyhuis]

Thanks, Eric! I've written (just a few days ago) both the Chapultepec and Guadalajara Zoos, asking for a little bit of assistance. Your personalized tour sounds great, but I'm not demanding such a thing, since our book reviews zoos as a common tourist. Still, I want to meet someone from both zoos. So if they don't respond soon to my email contact, I'll take you up on your offer.

Thanks also for the advice on Chapultepec putting their animals in early. I plan to go back to Chapultepec for a second visit, during my trip -- if necessary. It's the primary zoo I'm going to see.

Do you think the San Juan de Aragon Zoo is worth visiting? I've heard contrasting things about it. One thing I've heard is that the neighborhood it's in is not very safe. Is that true? Thanks again!

 

[ANyhuis]

Jose, EricNielsonPDX, or anyone else:
Does anyone know anything about the "Zoologico de Zacango"? It's supposed to be a small zoo about an hour west of Mexico City. A friend of mine down there told me it has a good reputation.

 

[ericnielsenpdx]

Hi Allen

I thought San Juan de Aragon was worth a visit, but we had four days in the area. We did hit Chapultepec twice and if is a compact space but packed with exhibits. I would say just wait until after you have seen Chapultepec for a day and see how much time you'd want to spend on a second day.
We took a cab to Aragon from our hotel and took the metro transit back. If you are concerned about the area, which seemed fine on the quiet afternoon we were there, but I can't speak for certain about it - take a cab both ways (the zoo is not far from the airport so it's not much more than cab to the airport anyway), especially if time is a factor.
I have traveled the world, and often go out of my way to check out a zoo, so asking me if it's worth it is a matter of opinion. My review summed it up for me- half is old school,some of it just fine, some ( well, I have seen a lot worse), but the newer half is in the style that they redid Chapultepec, just a lot fewer animals with more room and space for them and you. I enjoyed my visit there. Hope this helps a bit.