The Ecoparque of Mendoza (formerly, Mendoza Zoological Park) is a

park A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...

and former

zoo A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes. The term ''zoological garden'' refers to zoo ...

Mendoza Province Mendoza, officially Province of Mendoza, is a province of Argentina, in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders San Juan to the north, La Pampa and Neuquén to the south, San Luis to the east, and the republic o ...

Argentina. It's located on

Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza (, ), officially the City of Mendoza ( es, Ciudad de Mendoza) is the capital of the province of Mendoza in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern si ...

on the northeast slope of

Cerro de la Gloria The ''Cerro de la Gloria'' (''Glory Hill'') is a small mount located in the city of Mendoza, Argentina, at the General San Martín Park. It features a huge memorial monument to the Army of the Andes at the top. The monument is the work of Uruguaya ...

. It is bounded by the streets of San Francisco de Asis, Av Libertador and the descent vehicle of the monument to the Army of the Andes, and is part of General San Martin Park. It covers and has about of 1,100 animals. The only entrance is on Avenida Liberator.

History

The old zoo was established in 1903 as part of the project landscape architect Carlos Thays, who was also commissioned the design of the then West Park (now known as Parque General San Martin). Construction began the following year, during the government of Emilio Civit. The initial location of the project was to address the current school-home Eva Perón. There he built a building that would be used as a cage for lions. Ponds and roads were also built later. The first animals arrived on May 18, 1903 donated by the

city of Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South Am ...

. The group included a zebu, 6 dogs, 6 guinea pigs, and many rabbits. New animals (also donated by the city of Buenos Aires) came in 1905 while construction work continued. This time, joined a lion, a bear, two monkeys, a chimpanzee, two parrots, and a blue jay. In 1939 he commissioned architect Daniel Ramos Correa relocation of the zoo. He devised an ambitious project to place it on the northeast slope of Cerro de la Gloria. Taking inspiration from various zoos around the world, the architect designed semi open enclosures that simulate natural habitats and enough space for animals, without bars or cages, just with different levels and building stone walls of the curvature of the hill. This never became fully effective, as during the construction itself included certain dangerous animals cages. The zoo was officially opened in 1941, covering and including of paths and roads. Mendoza Zoological Park received a great deal of attention from animal lovers, activists and ordinary people around the world when the zoo's only polar bear 'Arturo' – known as the world's saddest polar bear – dies on July, 2016, despite many attempts to free and relocate the bear to Canada. The zoo declined.

Arturo (polar bear) Arturo (1985 July 3, 2016) was a polar bear living in Mendoza Zoological Park in Mendoza, Argentina, the only polar bear living in the country. He was born in the United States and transferred to Argentina in 1993. His companion, a female named ...

On November 3 of 2016 the zoo lost a now famous court case regarding chimpanzee Cecilia. The zoo was condemned for confining the animal to an unsuitable cage. Judge María Alejandra Mauricio granted Cecilia the status of 'legal person'. Since this was the first time an animal was granted this status, it caught the attention of biologist, philosopher, politicians and judges worldwide. Cecelia was sent to a shelter for great apes. The Zoo is now closed in 2019

References

External links

* {{authority control Zoos in Argentina Mendoza, Argentina Buildings and structures in Mendoza Province Tourist attractions in Mendoza Province Zoos established in 1903 1903 establishments in Argentina