Cali Zoo

Zoologico de Cali

Flamingos
Date opened	1981
Location	Santiago de Cali, Valle del Cauca
Land area	10 hectares (25 acres)
Number of animals	1200
Number of species	180
Memberships	ALPZA
Website	www.zoologicodecali.com.co

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.

The Zoo offers a unique experience of direct contact with nature and the culture of this South American country. Cali Zoo promotes and performs different educational, recreational and investigative programs to help preserve Colombian biodiversity and create an environmental social conscience. Cali Zoo is committed to quality in all its areas, processes, and research projects.

The Cali zoo's 10 hectares (25 acres) are home to about 1200 animals, representing some 180 species - from lemurs to condors. 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 caring and feed. However, 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.

• Primates: These species have six different environments with artificial trees, walls and elements that resemble own features of the ecosystems where primates inhabit. Colombia has more than 450 mammalian species - 7% of the world total. The country has 30 primates species, the second highest of any tropical country in the Americas. and the fifth most diverse country in the world.

• Butterflies: Cali Zoo has more than 800 different butterflies species. They are located in a special place called mariposario where they are free and the visitors can walk within the place and observe this amazing colorful spectacle. The mariposario also shows a video that depicts the butterfly's metamorphosis in all its stages.

• Ocean and River fish: This exhibition permits the visitors to know the wonderful aquatic world through 9 fresh water aquariums and 10 salt water aquariums.

• Amphibians and Reptiles: Serpents, crocodiles and poison frogs are a small sample of the extensive Colombian biodiversity. It is a unique opportunity to know and interact with these special and mysterious animals. Colombia has 520 reptile species, the third most of any country.

• Birds: Cali Zoo offers a real humid tropical forest that shelters diverse colorful Colombian species. Tourists can hear the birds' sounds and feel the fresh of these exotic places. The Country has more than 1.800 different bird species, some 20% of the world total and 60% of those that inhabit South America.

• Owls, and Pacaranas: this exhibit was opened in early 2011 and contains 5 species of owls and 1 specie of mammal which is the pacarana (Dinomys branickii) it has a education centre and a trail with binoculars and telescopes pointing at some owl nests and houses. it is also divided in 4 aviaries.

• Teatrino:The teatrino is an amphitheatre for roleplays and animal shows.

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 know how veterinarians take care of them and learn how to prepare their food. These activities are complemented with recreational activities as well. The zoo also offers Environment Formation Workshops for Professors.

Iconic animals

• Stap: Stap is an asiatic brown bear that was born in the Liepzik Zoo in russia, when he was only some months old he was sold to a russian circus in which he didn't learn so he was punished in a small cage until he was donated to the cali zoo. When he arrived he met Griselda a female grizzly bear who died after 3 years of company. Actually Stap was at the zoo training system and his diet is composed by chicken, fruits and a special bread that's made at the zoo.^{[citation needed]}

• Carlitos: Carlitos was a galapagos giant tortoise who lived at the cali zoo since its beginnings until the 29 of december of 2007 from a fractured jaw caused by a rock. Carlitos was donated by Rodrigo de la Puente an equatorian man that helped in the zoos construction. Carlitos was one of the main star animals at the zoo because it was a friendly tortoise towards children and it gave rides on his back.He was donated but for this to happen, the zoo needed to give 2 lions to ecuador.^{[citation needed]}

• Lluvia and Carolina: Lluvia and Carolina are giant otters that live at the zoo. Carolina was the first of the 22 otters that the zoo have had. Lluvia is his breeding pair and since they met for first time they have had 19 babies which 11 survived until adulthood. 5 of them were sent to europe and the U.S and some of them have had babies. Actually Lluvia and Carolina are not in exhibit but you can still see 3 other otters in exhibit. Unfortunatelly Carolina died of old age in may 2011.^{[citation needed]}

• Rino and Rina: Rino and Rina were a pair of white rhinoceroses that lived at the zoo since their opening until 1993 and 1998 when they died of old age. These rhinos were brought from South Africa at the 1970s. Unfortunately the passed away before having a baby. Actually the zoo has no rhinos.^{[citation needed]}

Animals

Birds include

Ara macao, 
Ara ararauna, 
Ara severus, 
Ara ambiguus,and
cock of the rock. 

Mammals 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, 
Brown bear, 
Spectacled bear,
Black bear and 
Jaguar

Reptiles include

red fer de lance,
endemic to Colombia, which is the only one in captivity,
Jackson's Chameleon, 
Bearded dragon and 
American crocodile.

The future

• Australian outback: this exhibit is in the design stage and it consists in an innmertion exhibit with parma and bennets wallaby, emus, kookaburras, cockatoos and black swan. It will have a gift shop at the end.

• Jaziquima: This new habitat is an Amazin themed area, with 6 species of primates, from woolly monkeys to capuchin monkeys, it will be elevated and for this the old exhibits will be demolished, the exhibit will be constructed in March 2012.

External links

Media related to Cali Zoo at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website