Date opened 1981 No. of animals 1200 Memberships ALPZA Area 10 ha Number of species 180 | Land area 10 hectares (25 acres) No. of species 180 Opened 1981 Number of animals 1,200 | |
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Location Santiago de Cali, Valle del Cauca Similar El Gato Del Rio, Cristo Rey, Iglesia la Ermita, Mariposario Andoke, San Antonio Church | ||
Cali Zoo is located in the city of Cali in the country of Colombia. The Zoo belongs to a foundation that carries its name and whose mission, since it took the zoo's administration in 1981, has been to improve the animals' diet, their natural environment, and the medical care of the existing fauna.
Contents
Cali Zoo promotes and performs different educational, recreational and investigative programs.
The Cali Zoo's 10 hectares (25 acres) are home to about 1,200 animals, representing some 180 species - from lemurs to condors. The Cali River runs through the zoo's park-like grounds.
History
The zoo started with animals in narrow and dirty cages, with basic levels of care and feeding. With local government support and contributions from citizens, Cali Zoo began a transformation into a modern zoo. The old cages were replaced with new comfortable and spacious exhibits. Animals were relocated according to their species, rather than the prior indistinct organization. The Cali Zoo Foundation started focusing on each species requirements for diet. Finally, preventative medicine became a new focus. In the same way, the zoo's surroundings were redesigned and restored.
Later, Cali Zoo's administration started a complete medical collection of each animal's records, which allowed it to have accurate and organized information so it could provide better care. With these basic necessities satisfied, Cali Zoo could lead its objectives to research and preserve the different Colombian wild species.
Exhibits
The zoo has five sections for different kinds of species: primates, butterflies, ocean and river fish, amphibians and reptiles, and birds.
Services
Cali Zoo offers summer camps during school vacations where children between 4 and 12 years old learn how the animals live in the zoo, their behaviors and current habits. They also learn how veterinarians take care of them and how to prepare food for the animals. These activities are complemented with recreational activities as well. The zoo also offers Environment Formation Workshops for professors.
Animals
Birds at the zoo include ara Macao, ara ararauna, ara severus, ara ambiguus, Andean condor, black swan, brown pelican, emu, ostrich, greater rhea, keel-billed toucan, American flamingo, and cock of the rock.
Mammals at the zoo include giant otter, zebra, Parma wallaby, Bennets wallaby, giant anteater, cottontop tamarin, black-and-white ruffed lemur, hamadryas baboon, lion, Bengal tiger including a white specimen, howler monkey, white tailed deer, pacarana, mountain tapir, South American tapir, capybara, llama, two toed sloth, brown bear, spectacled bear, black bear, and jaguar.
Reptiles at the zoo include a red fer de lance (which are endemic to Colombia; the zoo has the only one in captivity), Jackson's chameleon, bearded dragon, and American crocodile.