Quito Zoo
-
Ecuador Destinations
Quito Zoo is strangely
named since it
is not actually in Quito... However, it is definitely a zoo well worth
a visit and it's not too far from the city. The zoo is at
Guayllabamba and is run by the nonprofit Fundación
Zoológica de Ecuador. If you have at least a couple of weeks to spare, there are zoo volunteer opportunities and internships at Quito Zoo.
The zoo's animal
collection focuses mostly on Ecuador's native fauna.
Since many
of these
animals are either rare or very shy, or both, the zoo is a
good chance
to get a close up look at creatures you are unlikely to even catch a
glimpse of in the wild. Obviously, these are zoo animals and
behave a little differently to animals in their natural
habitat,
but take a look at how they move, their size, colour and shape and you
will have more chance of spotting their wild cousins in the rainforest
or paramo when you get out there.
At
Quito Zoo you can see several endangered species including rare mammals
and much
more besides. Even
if you spent weeks in some of Ecuador's more remote areas you would
still be very lucky to see an ocelot (Leopardus pardalis),
a jaguar (Panthera onca)
or a spectacled bear (Tremarctos
ornatus),
but
you can't miss them here at the zoo.
Ecuador's national bird, the endangered Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), is
represented at the zoo and in fact has bred successfully
here. There are also other large birds of prey and
endangered birds including colourful parrots. The lowland
tapir (Tapirus terrestris)
has also bred at the Zoo.
Zoo
exhibits
change
from time to time. In 2011 there is an excellent
display of
frogs. Don't miss the nocturnal animals part of the
zoo
where you walk, with a guide, through a cage containing some beautiful
owls, a porcupine and a two-toed sloth.
Zoo
welfare standards can be a worry in some developing
countries, but do not fear. Quito Zoo is a member of ALPZA
(Latin
American association of zoos and aquariums) and is represented on their
managing committee, adheres to international standards set by WAZA
(World Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and provides its animals
with
reasonably spacious enclosures, most of them with space for hiding away
from the public if the animal so chooses. Efforts have been
made to replicate the relevant natural habitat and the zoo animals look
healthy and well cared for. Almost all of the animals at the
zoo have been rescued from traffickers or abandoned by the public and
many would not be able to survive in the wild.
Quito
Zoo's impact goes far beyond what you see on display. The Zoo
plays a major role in
educating
the citizens of Ecuador about the wealth of wildlife in their
country, the need to conserve it and the importance of not trafficking
wild animals. The Zoo is involved in conservation projects
to help save the endangered Andean condor and the mountain tapir.
In addition to the animals on exhibition, there are probably
as many again in quarantine or under veterinary care after being
rescued from illegal captivity, confiscated by wildlife traffickers or
abandoned by irresponsible "pet owners". The zoo works with a
network of rescue centres around the country to try to find suitable
homes for these animals and birds, or liberates the very few (mostly
birds) that are suitable. The modest entry fee has
to
finance all of this work, so your visit to the zoo is a great way to
support conservation in Ecuador.
To
get to Quito Zoo, first head to Quito's La
Ofelia Bus Station (to get there, take a bus ($0.25) or taxi (perhaps
$6 to $8) along Avenida
America and La Prensa). Then take a bus for
Guayllabamba. This
will cost around $1 and take less than an hour. Let the
driver know that you want to go to the
"zoológico" and you will be dropped where the road splits
just before Guayllabamba. From there, take the right fork for
about 150 yards and then turn right up the well signposted road to the
zoo, about a half hour walk. Alternatively, take a camioneta
(pick-up) which function as taxis - they charge around $1.25 for the 5
minute journey to the zoo and are usually quite quick to spot tourists
alighting from the buses. There is sometimes a free bus
service at
weekends.
Entry
to Quito zoo is $4 for adults.
Keep hold of your ticket as it will give you a discount on
entry to the excellent Vivarium back in Parque La Carolina in Quito
New Town.
Quito Zoo is closed
on Mondays, the rest of the week it is
open until 5pm, with the last ticket sales at 4pm. Weekday
mornings you can usually enjoy the sight of primary school classes
watching the animals with much enthusiasm - the zoo works with local
schools and offers some excellent educational materials.
Weekday afternoons are usually quiet at the zoo, but weekends
and bank holidays get very busy and are worth avoiding if your travel
schedule is flexible enough.
Information
at the zoo is mostly in Spanish, but there are sometimes
English-speaking
guides available. There is little cafe at the zoo which
offers snacks, but is not
always open, so don't rely on being able to lunch there.
There is a picnic area. More information (in Spanish) at www.quitozoo.org.
An
excursion to Quito Zoo can easily be done in half a day from Quito, or
a side trip on the way to or from Otavalo
or Cayambe.
It
won't take more than a couple of
hours to enjoy what the zoo has to offer. When
you're finished, you can either walk back to the junction, or
wait and hope that
a camioneta turns up, or pay one of the ladies at the little shops by
the exit to phone for a camioneta for you. Take
sunscreen, a
hat and water, as the weather in Guayllabamba is usually hotter and
drier than Quito.
The
road junction
is often crowded with stalls selling tropical fruits and this is
renowned as one of the best places to buy chirimoyas (custard apples) -
the perfect finish to a trip to the zoo!
Useful
Spanish Vocabulary for an excursion to Quito Zoo, Ecuador:
parque zoológico: zoo
oso: bear
mono: monkey
tortuga:
tortoise
Ecuador
Destinations: Quito Zoo
Half-day excursion from Quito to see some of the native birds and
animals of
Ecuador, including various endangered species. Zoo pictures
of native fauna and
more common zoo animals.
Website www.ecuadortravelsite.org, text and photos by Sarah Clifford.
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