Master Plan

The Zoo's Remodeling Master Plan was developed under three major guidelines:

1. 1. Grouping animal species by ecosystems (natives) and geographic regions (exotics) as follows:

a. Tropical Rain Forest

b. Cloud Forest

c. Wetlands and Swamps

d. Savannah

e. African Continent

f. Asian Continent

2. 2. Creating a sequential organic pathway through the different ecosystems and geographic regions, with frequent variations on its topography and changes in shape, texture and color of finishing materials.

3. 3. Naturalistic exhibit design, replicating as much as possible the environmental conditions of the natural habitat of each animal species.

As a complement, the following thematic exhibits were included in the Master Plan:

a. Herps Exhibit

b. Nocturnal House

c. Tamarins

d. Aviary (Not built yet)

e. Petting Zoo

This Master Plan was designed at the end of 1995, and since then it has been implemented in different stages, according to the Zoo's available space and the Foundation's available financial resources. Currently 85% of this Master Plan has already been implemented.

NEW EXHIBITS AT THE ZOO

Based on the stated guidelines for the Zoo's Remodeling Master Plan each exhibit has been designed using as efficiently as possible the available space, and they all share the following characteristics:

- Each project has three areas: and exhibit area for the animal species, an observation area for the visiting public and a service and handling area with access limited only to Fundazoo's staff.

- The enclosures of these exhibits have been designed based on the safety requirements for the handling of each one of the species, considering both animal welfare as well as safety for the visiting public and for the Zoo's staff in charge of feeding and the welfare of the animals.

- In most cases exhibit walls have been covered with artificial art work resembling rocks, trees and cliffs, along with decorative murals illustrating the natural environment of each species' habitat.

- Exhibit areas that need to be covered for safety reasons have been designed with high mesh structures, generating larger vertical and horizontal areas, giving a lot more space to the animals exhibited.

HANDLING AREAS

- Each new exhibit has a handling area, out of sight for the visiting public, and with access limited only to the Zoo's staff. These handling areas have circulation halls connected to cages where the animals eat and sleep. These isolated areas allow for the development of control routines and preventive medical interventions, within a safe and private environment, especially for the application of medical treatments and procedures to aggressive or dangerous species.

- Also, in these handling areas hydraulic and electric systems for each exhibit are controlled in pump rooms and service areas where there is also space for cleaning and maintenance equipment and supplies.

OBSERVATION AREAS

- Observation areas for the visiting public have been designed to reduce as much as possible the captive image of the animals exhibited. Glass panels have extensively been used to allow for a closer encounter of the public with the exhibited animal species, also contemplating safety specifications for the safety glass, according to each species.

- Each observation area has been complemented with new signs including illustrations, texts and interactivities to convey the educational message which is part of Fundazoo's institutional mission.

PATHWAYS

- The Zoo's circulation paths and walkway areas have been progressively conditioned with abundant ornamental vegetation to offer the visiting public quiet, shaded and comfortable settings, connected to resting areas placed throughout the walking pathway.

- Additionally, service areas for the visiting public have been included such as restrooms, food court, playground, environmental education center, and gift shop, among others.

- And finally service areas for the Zoo staff were built including kitchen, locker rooms, storage and garbage processing areas.