The Matecaña City Zoo (Zoológico Matecaña) is a zoo located in Pereira, Colombia. The zoo has a collection of 800 individuals from 150 different species, including birds,

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

s and snakes from the Americas, Africa and Asia, as well as endemic species. The design allows the surroundings of each species to closely mimic their natural habitat. The botanic gardens also have diverse native and non-native flora.

History

It was established in 1951 by the Pereira Society of Public Improvements on of land from the Matecaña farm. The original purpose had been to build a football stadium, but the ground was not considered suitable. In 1959 the first secure cages were built to lock the few captive animals, the project was made official and the purchase of animals was authorized. In 1961 was the chronological accuracy of its foundation and opened an item in the budget for food, maintenance and management of animals like condors (Andean Condor), Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris),

eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...

s and the Colombian Atlantic coast flamingos. In 1968 the park was visited by dignitaries from Mexico and made contact with the Chapultepec Zoo. The animals purchased were an Asian elephant, a zebra (male), two hippos,

sacred baboon ''Sacred Baboon'' is the second, and only officially released, album by the American progressive rock group Yezda Urfa. The album was recorded in 1976, but not released until 1989. In 1975 Yezda Urfa made a demo EP, '' Boris'', but since no int ...

s (Papio hamadryas) and

sable The sable (''Martes zibellina'') is a species of marten, a small omnivorous mammal primarily inhabiting the forest environments of Russia, from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, and northern Mongolia. Its habitat also borders eastern Kaza ...

antelope The term antelope is used to refer to many species of even-toed ruminant that are indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelope comprise a wastebasket taxon defined as any of numerous Old World grazing and browsing hoofed mammals ...

s. expanding the collection. The collection was maintained until 1993 when exotic African fauna arrived from Hacienda Napoles (

Pablo Escobar Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria (; ; 1 December 19492 December 1993) was a Colombian drug lord and narcoterrorist who was the founder and sole leader of the Medellín Cartel. Dubbed "the king of cocaine", Escobar is the wealthiest criminal in h ...

's country house). In 1999 the education department was established to coordinate environmental education programs for the conservation of biodiversity in Colombia and spread the importance of all species of wild fauna and flora.

Matecaña zoo sites

* Serpent * Clinic * Step Home * Bird place (aviary) * Museum of Natural Sciences * Lake * Education Department (Zoo Guides)

References

* http://zoopereira20.galeon.com/

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Matecana City Zoo Pereira, Colombia Zoos in Colombia Buildings and structures in Risaralda Department Tourist attractions in Risaralda Department Zoos established in 1959 1959 establishments in Colombia