Hi! For anyone interested, I thought that it's a good idea to post a species list of the animals currently kept in the zoo. Years ago, there was a species list posted on ther website. However, since a redesign of the page, it dissapeared. The following list was made by me, based upon the signs across all the zoo and my recurrent visits during the past two years. It should be noted that some species may be outdated: the animal could be just out of display by now, or the taxonomy of the species changed and the sign was not updated. I'll list the species in the order of their exhibits, rather than by taxonomy. I want to give you an idea of how is the zoo, since I think many of you may have never heard of Guatemala and its main zoo
I look forward to reading it. I'm curious to see if they actually keep any unusual Guatemalan endemics.
Ok, so here we go: The first area of the zoo is the African Savannah. It holds mostly african ABC species, but also some species of different parts of the world.With the exception of the Plains Zebra, no subspecies are indicated. Exhibit 01: 01 - Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) Exhibit 02: 02 - Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) 03 - Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) - After the split of the giraffe, I'm not sure to which currently recognized species the animals belong (camelopardalis, reticulata, tippelskirchi or giraffa) 04 - Common ostrich (Struthio camelus) 05 - Ankole watusi cattle (Bos taurus) - Recently added to the exhibit Exhibit 03: 06 - Common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) Exhibit 04: 07 - Scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) 08 - Plains zebra - (Equus quagga burchelli) Exhibit 05: 09 - Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) - I'm not sure if the animals are true wild camels (Camelus ferus) or the domesticated camel Exhibit 06: 10 - Lion (Panthera leo) Exhibit 07: 11 - Leopard (Panthera pardus) Exhibit 08: 12 - African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) Roaming free across this area and the whole park: 13 - Green iguana (Iguana iguana) 14 - Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
After the african savannah, it is the turn of Oceania. It holds a small number of Australasian species and some african species. Exhibit 09: 15 - Red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) 16 - White cockatoo (Cacatua alba) 17 - Yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) Exhibit 10: 18 - Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) Exhibit 11: 19 - Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) Exhibit 12: 20 - Fischer's lovebird (Agapornis fischeri) Exhibit 13: 21 - Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)
Following Oceania, it is the turn of Asia. Despite its name, it holds both african and asian species: Exhibit 14: 22 - Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) Exhibit 15: 23 - Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Exhibit 16: 24 - White rhino (Ceratotherium simum) 25 - Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) Exhibit 17: 26 - Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Exhibit 18: 27 - Olive baboon (Papio anubis) Exhibit 19: 28 - Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata) Exhibit 20: 29 - Tiger (Panthera tigris) Exhibit 21: 30 - Painted wood turtle (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima) 31 - Northern giant musk turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus) 32 - White-lipped mud turtle (Kinosternon leucostomum) This last exhibit is mixed usually with a crocodilian species: sometimes Spectacled caiman or Morelet's crocodile. The three turtle species, however, seems to be off display since quite some time: usually, the exhibit only holds Mesoamerican slider (Trachemys venusta)
Following Asia, the zoo holds a little farm area with mostly domesticated animals, but also some wild ones. I'll list only the wild species: Inside the farm: 33 - European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) - Based on a comentary made on a stream on social media... Exhibit 22: 34 - Coyote (Canis latrans) Exhibit 23: 35 - Mute swan (Cygnus olor) Exhibit 24: 36 - Vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum) This area is one of the most abandoned ones of the whole zoo and also kind of a mess. Animals usually move from this area, but this three species are the ones holded the most in this area.
Following the mess of the farm area, it is the beggining of America. This area holds mostly neotropical species, and a little aquarium. However, the fish species aren't indicated, so I'll omit them. Exhibit 25: 37 - Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) 38 - Crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) Exhibit 26: 39 - Jaguar (Panthera onca) Exhibit 27: 40 - Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) Exhibit 28: 41 - Central american river turtle (Dermatemys mawii) Exhibit 29: 42 - Central american snapping turtle (Chelydra rossignonii) 43 - Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus)
Hmmmmm, so far lots of ABC's it seems, I was expecting there to be far more native / endemic species. The only species that really stand out for me on the list personally are the Central American river turtle and Central American snapping turtle. I find it somewhat strange that there are not any resplendant quetzals being kept considering that this is the National zoo and this bird is the National symbol and on the flag and currency. Afterall, there have been significant improvements made in terms of research of effective husbandry of the species in zoos in Mexico and this bird is now capable of surviving in captivity.
I wondered about how many zoos kept the turtles. The stand out species for me was the neotropical otter
Ah but the neotropical otter is not kept in Europe but here in the Americas it is quite a standard species commonly kept by zoos. I suppose that this could explain why the otter was a stand out for you but seen as quite mundane by me. I think the Central American river turtle stands out specifically for me because it is an EDGE species and one of Guatemala's most endangered species. Unfortunately, it is very overhunted by people in many rural areas as a source of food. I really hope that the zoo has an ex-situ program for this species and is actively breeding them because they have disappeared from so many areas of the wild.
Following the first animals from the neotropical realm, it is the turn of one of the best places in the whole zoo, which was just recently redesigned: the reptile house. The reptile house is called “Reino Kan y sus reptiles” (Kan Kingdom and its reptiles), and houses species of snakes and lizards from all over the world. Each species is kept in its own exhibit inside of the reptile house, so I’ll just list them as part of one big exhibit. Exhibit 30: the reptile house 44 - Middle American gopher snake - Pituophis lineaticollis gibsoni 45 - Yellow-blotched palm pit viper - Bothriechis aurifer 46 - Godman’s montane pit viper - Cerrophidion godmani 47 - Merendon palm pit viper - Bothriechis thalassinus 48 - Guatemala jumping pit viper - Atropoides occiduus 49 - White-lipped island pit viper - Trimeresurus insularis 50 - Green bush viper - Atheris chlorechis 51 - Variable bush viper - Atheris squamigera 52 - Undetermined kingsnake - Lampropeltis sp. 53 - Neotropical whip snake - Coluber mentovarius 54 - Ringed tree boa - Corallus annulatus 55 - Western indigo snake - Drymarchon melanurus 56 - Red cornsnake - Pantherophis guttatus 57 - Eyelash pit viper - Bothriechis schlegelii 58 - Chicken snake - Spilotes pullatus 59 - Garden tree boa - Corallus hortulanus 60 - Brongersma’s short-tailed python - Python brongersmai 61 - Rainbow boa - Epicrates cenchria 62 - Guatemala palm pit viper - Bothriechis bicolor 63 - Reticulated python - Malayopython reticulatus 64 - Burmese python - Python molurus 65 - Green anaconda - Eunectes murinus - Aldabra giant tortoise - Aldabrachelys gigantea - briefly kept inside the reptile house. Because of its size, the animals were relocated to a different part of the zoo, so I’ll not count them here. 66 - Rock monitor - Varanus albigularis - African spurred tortoise - Centrochelys sulcata - same as the Aldabra giant tortoise. Relocated to a different part of the zoo. 67 - Frilled lizard - Chlamydosaurus kingii 68 - Slender hognose viper - Porthidium ophryomegas 69 - Black-and-white tegu - Salvator merianae 70 - White-bellied carpet viper - Echis leucogaster 71 - Guatemalan beaded lizard - Heloderma charlesbogerti 72 - Northern crag lizard - Pseudocordylus transvaalensis 73 - Naked mole rat - Heterocephalus glaber 74 - Central bearded dragon - Pogona vitticeps 75 - Common bluetongue - Tiliqua scincoides 76 - Veiled chameleon - Chamaeleo calyptratus 77 - Common kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula brooksi 78 - Ball python - Python regius 79 - Northern caiman lizard - Dracaena guianensis 80 - Nile monitor - Varanus niloticus 81 - Fer-de-lance - Bothrops asper 82 - Boa constrictor - Boa constrictor - I’m not sure if it is a true boa constrictor, or a Central American boa (Boa imperator) 83 - Middle American rattlesnake - Crotalus simus 84 - Central American jumping pit viper - Atropoides mexicanus 85 - Monocled cobra - Naja kaouthia 86 - Gaboon viper - Bitis gabonica 87 - Rhinoceros viper - Bitis nasicornis Jus outside the reptile house Exhibit 31: 88 - American crocodile - Crocodylus acutus Exhibit 32: 89 - Morelet’s crocodile - Crocodylus moreletii Exhibit 33: 90 - Mesoamerican slider - Trachemys venusta
I think there is a cultural issue with keeping the national bird in captivity. It is believed by a lot of people that quetzals belong to the wild, and that the animals die when captured. And because it is a symbol of liberty for the country, some people are against to the idea of keeping them in a zoo
And now, the newest area of the zoo: Terra America. This whole area has just been completely remodeled and open to the public since less than a year ago. Before that, the animals were holded inside small cages with little or no vegetation at all. However, since last year, the animals are now holded in completely new exhibits, no more cages for them. They are surroanded by vegetation and some even have small rivers connecting to a lake in the middle of the whole area. Exhibit 34: 91 - American flamingo - Phoenicopterus ruber Exhibit 35: divided in two areas separated by a gap in the ground 92 - Ocelot - Leopardus pardalis 93 - Margay - Leopardus wiedii Exhibit 36: an island in the middle of the lake. 94 - White-faced capuchin - Cebus capucinus Exhibit 37: 95 - Northern racoon - Procyon lotor Exhibit 38: 96 - Gray fox - Urocyon cinereoargenteus Exhibit 39: 97 - Tayra - Eira barbara Exhibit 40: 98 - White-nosed coati - Nasua narica Exhibit 41: 99 - Jaguarundi - Herpailurus yagouaroundi Exhibit 42: 100 - Central American tapir - Tapirus bairdii Exhibit 43: another island in the middle of the lake. 101 - Central American spider monkey - Ateles geoffroyi Exhibit 44: 102 - Northern tamandua - Tamandua mexicana Exhibit 45: 103 - Kinkajou - Potos flavus Exhibit 46: 104 - Opposum - Didelphis sp. Exhibit 47: 105 - Aldabra giant tortoise - Aldabrachelys gigantea Exhibit 48: 106 - Capybara - Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Exhibit 49: 107 - American black bear - Ursus americanum Exhibit 50: 108 - Gray wolf - Canis lupus Exhibit 51: 109 - White-tailed deer - Odocoileus virginianus 110 - Striped skunk - Mephitis mephitis Exhibit 52: 110 - Central American agouti - Dasyprocta punctata 111 - Central American red brocket - Mazama temama Exhibit 53: 112 - Axis deer - Axis axis 113 - Lowland paca - Cuniculus paca* * This species was exhibited before the redesign of the whole area. However, I don't remember seeing it last time I went to the zoo. Maybe it is just out of display by now, or I just missed it. I decided to tentatively list it here.
Following Terra America, it is the turn of the first of four aviaries in the zoo. This area is devoted to birds of prey and owls. Each species is kept separately, but I'll just list them as part of a big complex of exhibits (same as the reptile house). Exhibit 54 - Birds of prey and owls aviary 114 - King vulture - Sarcoramphus papa 115 - Harris's hawk - Parabuteo unicinctus 116 - Central American pigmy owl - Glaucidium griseiceps 117 - Great black hawk - Buteogallus urubitinga 118 - Red tailed hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 119 - Broad-winged hawk - Buteo platypterus 120 - Mottled owl - Ciccaba virgata 121 - Spectacled owl - Pulsatrix perspicillata 122 - Roadside hawk - Rupornis magnirostris 123 - Grey-lined hawk - Buteo nitidus 124 - Striped owl - Asio clamator 125 - Common barn-owl - Tyto alba 126 - Great horned owl - Bubo virginianus 127 - Bearded screech-owl - Megascops barbarus 128 - American kestrel - Falco sparverius
Following the first aviary, a small interlude of mammals: Exhibit 55: divided in two areas separated by a gap in the ground 129 - White-lipped peccary - Tayassu pecari 130 - Collared peccary - Pecari tajacu Exhibit 56: 131 - Puma - Puma concolor Exhibit 57: 132 - Cotton-top tamarin - Saguinus oedipus Exhibit 58: 133 - Black-tailed prairie dog - Cynomys ludovicianus
Yes, actually you are absolutely right and its hard to see now how I could have overlooked that in my first comment. Why would the living symbol of the liberty of the nation be caged ( and especially potent symbol when it has died so frequently in captivity) in the zoo of the Capital ? Better free in the montane cloud forests in the remote highlands of the interior of the country in most peoples minds I guess. I really can't disagree with those kinds of opinions as I much prefer it that way too. However, I do feel concerned about the future of the habitat of the quetzal in Guatemala and I've seen at first hand the illegal logging and clearance going on. Moreover, I dont think ex-situ conservation would ever really work in the case of this particular species either. Even though zoos now have greater knowledge of how to keep these creatures alive in captivity at their disposal they are still not the easiest bird to breed and are quite high maintenance animals in terms of requirements.
So, I’ve decided to finish the list of the animals from La Aurora Zoo after some months since the last post. What is left of the zoo are practically three more aviaries. However, this list may change a lot in the future, as the last time I went to the zoo before COVID-19 happened, they started a whole project of updating all of their aviaries. There are three aviaries in the zoo. The first one is an aquatic aviary, where mostly ducks but also other birds are kept. The species are: Exhibit 59: 134 - Black-bellied Whistling-duck - Dendrocygna autumnalis 135 - Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 136 - Blue-winged Teal - Spatula discors 137 - Black Swan - Cygnus atratus 138 - Wood Stork - Mycteria americana 139 - Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja 140 - Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis 141 - American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 142 - Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis 143 - Grey Crowned Crane - Balearica regulorum This exhibit is mixed usually with a Capybara.
