The original article in spanish is quite good, but the english translation is not exact. I have the feeling that the text was written before the zoo -now Ecoparque - reopened. Still the article is usefull since the international press completely ignored the reopening of the Buenos Aires zoo, now Ecoparque.
Yes, they are good at that. A case of lost in translation or rather more a complete loss of memory and focus (only the easy story, not the in-depth). Perhaps, you can switch on another new story in Spanish on the current developments here? Plus: is the former zoo management and staff still in place? Could you clarify?
Buenos Aires lonely Asian elephant Mara moved to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil : How to Move Your Elephant During a Pandemic
I tried to check on the fortunes of the new Ecoparque and found their FB website along with a few newspaper clippings. The original zoo in the park was 16,7ha, of which currently a small portion was re-opened in 2018 and 2019. The 2019 video signals amongst their FB page signalled their achievements: 7.7 hectares reopened to the general public (entry is free ...), 4200m2 of green space recovered we "maintain" 820 animals 100% of the enclosures have been improved we rescued more than 1600 animals we added new conservation programs + than 500 volunteers 16,500 plant specimens replanted 750,000 visitors Source: Security Check Required I also attach a newspaper report from La Nacion here too. Source: Reabre un tercer sector del Ecoparque porteño, que ya suma ocho hectáreas Some of the exotics like giraffe and camels remain on site. The orang was to be sent to an US private facility in November 2019 (American Airlines flight!) and the Asiatic elephant Mara was sent over to the Brasil Elefantes Sanctuary. I will respond in more detail and with more actual zoo news shortly. BTW: I would appreciate the moderators rename this thread Ecoparque / Zoo Buenos Aires as another more ancient Zoo Buenos Aires thread confusingly also exists already.
The Municipality has a project page for Ecoparque which gives some impression what is being planned. What is clear is that a huge number of animals have been transferred (above the number was 820, it has since grown to 860+ or there-abouts). This includes elephants, orang utan, "brown" bear, pygmy hippo, various reptiles ..., the howler monkeys (where to ????) and et cetera. A huge operation. What strikes me is some very young staff. I do not see senior zoo management people communicating (like Buin Zoo in Chile does with its new inhabitants or zoo events). Source: Proyecto general I also include some tourist info on the Ecoparque here: Ecoparque
Transfering a large number of exotic species to other locations is not an easy operation. The number of transfers in 3+ years is staggering at 861. This video gives a good impression of the entire operation: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=300619210951773 It depicts and follows transfers of an hybrid Sumatran/Bornean orang utan F Sandra (to Center for Great Apes in Florida), a brown bear? (to US/Canada?), a lowland tapir (destination unknown ...), donkeys and goats, Hamadryas baboon, macaw, alligator, lions (???? - vet activity), the much publicised pygmy hippo female Frida, the deer and howler monkeys. What the short shot of toco toucan was for no idea whatsoever. Overall it seems a fair and objective video blog of goings at Ecoparque in Buenos Aires. Some things did stand out for me though: * For the tapir the destination is unknown to me (and since it is a native species made me scratch my head a little bit). To be fair, they do have 2.1 as founder animals on site at Ecoparque for a breeding for release scheme (probably in Sendero del Ibera, Corrientes Province) with Rewilding Argentina. * One I found peculiar is that they transferred out all domestic animals. Would that signal no mini zoo for kids to be able to touch and stroke animals? * Another item that I found puzzling is the transfer of non native deer (fallow deer to a free release???? - where????) as invasive deer have been a constant threat for the local Andino-paramo habitats of native pampas, marsh, brocket and pudu deer.
Lots of interesting bits and pieces from their social media - all reported in the past four months: last month, the zoo received a population of 55 El Rincon Stream Frogs Pleurodema somuncurense from a local university. They hope to establish a captive breeding initiative for this endemic, critically endangered species. the zoo recently received a pair of Bare-faced Currasows to establish a breed-for-release program, supporting the rewilding project in Argentina. their last chimpanzees Sasha and Kagoo will be moving to Monkey World in the United Kingdom later in the year.
Article about the planned move : The Last Two Chimpanzees From The Buenos Aires Ecopark Will Be Relocated To A Sanctuary In Great Britain