Upgraded Zoological Park to feature animals in Guyana’s eco-types

Feb 16, 2014 News

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The Guyana Zoological Park was established in 1952 and today serves as a sanctuary for injured wild animals and remains an important nature-based recreational facility. Situated in the heart of Georgetown – just off Vlissengen Road, between Regent Street and North Road, Bourda – the zoo is visited by an average of over 120,000 persons annually.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is moving to modernize the facility while ensuring that it retains much of its original design and infrastructure.
The zoo’s 45 species of animals are housed in enclosures that are not in line with current best practices, and are becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain. The amount of square footage of the Park is sufficient to build cage designs at international standards.
Damian Fernandes, Commissioner of the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), at a recent press conference provided an insight into the Zoological Park’s master plan to rehabilitate the facility. The master plan was developed last year with support from the Beharry Group of Companies and Conservation International.
According to Fernandes, the vision of the modernized zoo is to connect Guyanese and visitors to the country’s rich natural world that exists beyond the limits of Guyana’s urban landscape. The animal exhibits will be grouped to represent Guyana’s four eco-types: Coastal Wetlands, Savannah, Mountain Highlands and the Lowland Rainforest.
“Visitors will experience a virtual trek from the coast to the highlands progressing along a main visitor pathway with short loop trails into habitats,” he said.
Upgrade to the facility is being done in parts due to the high cost attached. The Ministry is hoping that the private sector would assist Government in rehabilitating the facility. Some private entities responded positively to a private sector outreach, while others have not yet come on board.
The first part of the rehabilitation process began last year. Under the Three Parks Initiative, with funding from the National Parks Commission, the bandstand, situated before entering the zoo, was upgraded.
And, according to Fernandes, the next step in implementing the master plan is the construction of the children’s zoo – which entails the Nature School and the petting zoo. This is currently underway and is expected to encourage patrons to revisit the facility.
He related that another step in making the zoo attractive is the construction of an entrance plaza comprising an information centre, modern canteen, souvenir shop, and welcome centre. In addition, a mural will be painted onto the building and parking area would be provided for patrons.
The first major zone visitors will encounter is the Coastal Wetlands. The existing wetland bird aviary will be refurbished with a new structure and new mesh for better visibility and a softer look.  The signature species for this zone is the Black Caiman, which will be seen relaxing on a sandy beach at the edge of a shady pond. Other associated animal species such as capybara, anacondas, and turtles will be displayed in open exhibits and the birds in aviary structures, he said. He explained that the intention is to build on large existing cages, converting them into walk through exhibits.
“And this immediately transforms the experience of the zoo. With that in mind we have already started to connect the bigger cages with these centre cages. Now we are raising funds with the private sector to help the transformation,” he added.
Besides, the visibly new environments and animal species, creative archways will alert visitors that they are entering another zone, following the Coastal Wetlands is the Savannah zone.
According to Hernandes, returning to the main pathway, visitors will pass through a transition zone between habitat zones that includes the existing Nature School building and the adjacent children’s playground and new petting zoo.
The present vet clinic building will be renovated as a small café and washrooms for use by parents and grandparents, overlooking the children’s area and general zoo visitors. Located about halfway around the main loop pathway this facility will give visitors a climate-controlled location for refreshment and relaxation.
The Savannah zone will feature exhibits such as the giant otters in a ‘peek-a-boo’ swimming area. And, off the main benabs, there will be a series of small enclosures featuring animals in their natural environment.
He said that the monkeys will be brought out of their cages and put in these outdoor enclosures which will cover trees. And for the smaller animals there will be an island in the middle of the manatee pond.
Fernandes enlightened that upon re-entering the main pathway, visitors would encounter the next gateway into the Mountain Highlands zone. This zone represents the Pakaraima Highlands, and the Kanuku Mountains, Iwokrama, and Kaieteur National Park.
It is largely rainforest habitat exhibiting the zoo’s collection of cats including ocelots, margays, pumas and small primates.
Meanwhile, the existing monkey enclosure will be converted to the Rainforest Centre where visitors will experience small insects, amphibians, and reptile exhibits. Small animals exhibited in “jewel box” containments include tarantulas, scorpions, golden frogs, tree frogs, emerald boas, and others.
The renovated building will also include exhibits of small primate exhibits and bats. The larger monkey species will be relocated to the new Monkey Island in the existing Manatee pond.

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