THE BARRANQUILLA BOTANICAL AND ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION - FUNDAZOO

In 1993, a group of business people from Barranquilla, committed to the development of the city and worried with the problematic of the Zoo, presented a proposal to the city's government to create a non-profit Foundation, which would administer the Zoo for an initial period of 10 years, with the possibility of extending the time period, if agreed among both parts.

That same year the city's mayor approves the proposal. The Barranquilla Botanical and Zoological Foundation - Fundazoo is created and it starts operating the Zoo in August 3, 1993 as a non-profit organization. Fundazoos's founder members are:

• Cámara de Comercio de Barranquilla (Barranquilla's Chamber of Commerce)
• Fundación Mario Santo Domingo (Mario Santodomingo Foundation)
• Fundecaribe
• Probarranquilla (Pro Barranquilla Foundation)
• Comité Intergremial del Atlántico(Atlantic Inter-sectorial Committee)

At the time the Barranquilla Zoo's animal collection had 140 species and close to 551 individuals.
The Executive Director of Fundazoo begins a remodeling process of the Zoo to improve habitat conditions for the animal species and also the hygienic conditions for the visiting public. Based on this the Director:

• Hired professionals to develop a Remodeling Master Plan for the Zoo
• Brought together and interdisciplinary team of professionals to implement this Master Plan
• Hired a landscape architect to supervise the implementation process
• Started the remodeling process
• Started an environmental education program

The first few stages of the Master Plan begin with the improvement of the services for the visiting public such as the Cafeteria and the public restrooms, among others. It followed the construction of the new wetlands exhibit and later the new elephant exhibit.

Then follows the relocation of the Zoo's entry gate, the lion exhibit, the petting zoo, the remodeling of the veterinary clinic, which has also been equipped to take good care of the animal collection.

The herps exhibit, the small mammal exhibit, and the new exhibits for the manatee, the baboons, tigers, bears, otters, jaguars, eagles, spider monkeys, curassows and tamarins, were one by one built as part of the remodeling process that took place between 1997 and 2002.
Currently Fundazoo is working on the design of the new Chimpanzee exhibit, which will complete 85% of implementation of the Barranquilla Zoo's Remodeling Master Plan.

Besides, Fundazoo currently develops projects for the conservation of the Colombian wildlife, through environmental education programs and scientific research projects, to concentrate its efforts in the near future, on the conservation of native species of the Colombian Caribbean region.

Somos herederos del espíritu cívico de Don Roberto Puyana, quien podría sentirse orgulloso de que su promesa está en manos de un equipo comprometido en el desarrollo de un espacio para la conservación, la educación ambiental, la investigación y la recreación de los habitantes de la costa caribe colombiana.

MISSION

To support conservation of the biodiversity on the Colombian Caribbean region: animals, plants and ecosystems, through reproduction of endangered species, research, environmental education, development and adaptation of new technologies, and in situ work; integrating the work of environmental authorities, non-governmental organizations and the community, in order to maintain the balance of nature and protect biodiversity, helping people develop healthy relationships with their surrounding environment.

VISION

We will be recognized as facilitators of change, promoting a sense of respect towards the natural environment; we will become one of the leader institutions committed to the conservation of the biodiversity of the Colombian Caribbean region, and we will actively participate on processes of environmental character which develop in our country. We will widen our horizons to in situ work and for ex situ work we will have larger and more comfortable areas to meet the needs of the animal species, and places where the visitors can appreciate our animal collection on better environmental settings.