The Guyana Zoo strives to offer three services to zoo visitors and the public at large: 1.) Recreation, 2.) Education, and 3.) Conservation. When you come for a visit to the Guyana Zoo, you can expect to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere with family and friends while learning more about the wild animals of Guyana. Awareness of wildlife enables us to protect them into the future.

ZOO HISTORY

The zoo officially opened its doors to the public on 1st January 1952. Even before the zoo opened, animals were already being housed on the zoo grounds. The manatees living in the botanical gardens ponds have been there since 1895! (Of course the ones currently living inn the ponds aren’t the original manatees! They are the offspring.).  The other long-term residents of the zoo include two harpy eagles living in the larger cage. These raptors are the very same eagles that came here in 1952!! Those are long living birds!

ANIMALS

There are approximately 30 species (kinds) of mammals, 40 species of birds, 15 species of reptiles and 20 species of fish currently housed at the Guyana Zoo. Some exciting representatives of these groups include the following species:
Mammals: jaguars, pumas, tapirs, giant otter, white-faced saki monkeys, a tayra and a family of two-toed sloths.
Birds: eagles and hawks (raptors), parrots, toucans and owls
Reptiles: rattlesnakes, spectacled caiman, anacondas, matamata turtle, and emerald tree boa.
Some endangered species (animals with low population numbers in the wild) can also be found at the zoo. For example, we have four harpy eagles, three jaguars, a giant otter and West Indian manatees.

NATURE SCHOOL

The Nature School became fully operational in 1992 to offer students from local and outlying schools the opportunity to learn more about wildlife. The Nature School employs one schoolteacher who lectured on a different animal topic every term. Examples of topics taught in the past include the following: jaguar, giant otter, harpy eagle, predators, turtles, snakes, manatees, bats, and the rain forest. Each class includes a nature film and a conservation message.

Volunteers are used to conduct study tour guides. If you are interested in becoming a zoo volunteer please contact us.

PARTNERSHIPS

The Guyana Zoo has established working relationships with several North American zoos. Through these sister zoo partnerships we are able to gain assistance and access to resources all aimed at improving our zoo for your added enjoyment. Experts have come from the National Zoo in Washington D.C., the San Diego Zoo in California, the Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania, the Calgary Zoo in Canada and the Metro Toronto Zoo in Toronto, Canada.

OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR ZOO VISIT

 We hope you will thoroughly enjoy your visit to the Guyana Zoo. We would request that you adhere to the following zoo rules with your school students:
1. No touching, teasing or interfering with the animals – no one will like to be treated this way and the animals may harm you.
2. No feeding of animals – they are fed very well by the zoo staff and your feeding them will result in fighting and injury to animals.
3. Remain behind the safety barriers – those barriers are designed for your protection!

HOURS OF OPERATION

The Guyana Zoo is open to the public from 7:30a.m to 5:30p.m every day of the year.

 
 GUYANA ZOO SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME

 Here is an inside look at how sponsorship and financial support is generated from North American Zoos and wildlife organizations: This story features a collaboration between the Philadelphia Zoo, the Tapir Preservation Fund, and the Zoo conservation Outreach Group, and their efforts at assisting the Guyana Zoo to create a new Bush Cow enclosure…NOW THAT’S A LOT OF WORK!!! Let’s set the stage: Here is a series of advertisements featured in the Tapir Preservation Fund Newsletter. Sheryl Todd, who is the President of the Fund is an American charitable corporation aimed at supporting tapir projects around the world.
 
 

ADOPT AN ANIMAL

Do you have a favorite animal?
Would you like to be more involved in the care of that animal at the Guyana Zoo?

Your financial contribution can go directly towards the daily care of the animal of your choice!
Find out more about our ‘ANIMAL SPONSORSHIP’ Programme by calling 225 – 9142. or emailing guyanazoo@sdnp.org.gy

Visit the website at http://www.guyanazoo.org.gy