Paramaribo Zoo
Entrance of Paramaribo Zoo
5°50′50″N 55°09′36″W / 5.84718°N 55.15988°W / 5.84718; -55.15988
Date openedMay 1972[1]
LocationParamaribo, Suriname
No. of animals197 (2004)[2]

The Paramaribo Zoo is the only zoo in Suriname. The zoo opened in May 1972, and was an initiative of prime-minister Jopie Pengel.[1] It is located adjacent to the Cultuurtuin in Rainville, Paramaribo.[3]

History

Prime-minister Pengel privately kept many animals in his garden. When he added lions to his collection in 1966, he thought it would be better to share the animals in a zoo.[2] In May 1972, the Paramaribo Zoo opened next to the Cultuurtuin.[3] Unlike most zoos, about 75% of the animals are local wild animals who had been either confiscated or were former pets.[4] Except for the tigers, all the animals are native to Suriname.[2]

In the 1980s, during the military dictatorship of Bouterse, a large part of the collection was lost.[3] In 2003, the Paramaribo received support from Diergaarde Blijdorp in Rotterdam.[2] In 2004, a benefit evening was organised by Blijdorp and Natura Artis Magistra in Amsterdam. The zoo was renovated and was reopened on 28 May 2006 by president Venetiaan.[3] Two monkey islands were constructed. Up to then, there were no births of spider monkeys, and as 2020, six monkeys have been born.[1]

In March 2020, a reconstruction program started to mimic the native conditions for the animals.[5] In April 2020, a water park for children was constructed in the park,[6] and then the COVID-19 pandemic started. In February 2021, the zoo reopened, but is in serious financial problems.[7]

The collection of the zoo includes several species of monkeys, caymans, a jaguar, snakes, vultures, a tiger, and scarlet ibisses.[3][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dieren in dierentuinen "Dieren worden niet meer gehouden voor slechts het plezier van de mens"". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nieuwe kans voor Paramaribo Zoo". Reformatorisch Dagblad via Digibron (in Dutch). 20 October 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Zoo Paramaribo". Suri Vision (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  4. ↑ "Paramaribo Zoo: "Op World Wildlife Day zullen de dieren ook goed verzorgd worden"". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Paramaribo Zoo wordt flora- en faunacentrum". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "Foto's: Nieuw kinderwaterpark in dierentuin Suriname bijna af". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Paramaribo Zoo opgelucht". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 March 2021.
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