Schools can now make appointments for free visits
The São Paulo Zoo has installed a group of 6 Lear’s Macaws, an endangered species, in its visitor area for the first time. Public, state and municipal schools in the state of São Paulo can now request appointments for free visits. Each school can schedule a trip for up to 250 students per day.
The institution is the first in the country to breed the species in captivity from a pair of mothers rescued from animal trafficking. The Lear’s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari), which is on the National List of Endangered Species, currently has 2,200 specimens in the wild, according to the latest census by the Chico Mendes Institute for the Conservation of Biodiversity (ICMBIO).
The bird is native to the interior of Bahia, a region of caatinga with sandstone walls. The main threats to the species today are deforestation of its territories, animal trafficking, urban densification and forest fires.
Nursery
The birds were transferred to a vivarium built specifically for them. The site is home to six Lear’s Macaws: Felipe, Luca, Antonio and Benjamin, Amora and Romeu, children of Maria Clara and Francisco, also parents of Teobaldo, the first specimen born in a zoo in Latin America, in 2015.
To date, 19 chicks have been born at the institute and five of them have been started on the release program in Bahia, their original habitat, through a partnership with the Instituto Arara-azul-de-lear, part of the national network for the conservation of the species.
One of the institution’s concerns is the educational nature of the initiative.
“The place has signs with indications about conservation, in addition to the presence of environmental educators who talk to visitors about the importance of environmental conservation. The area is also an important educational hub for students who visit the place. It is worth mentioning that the São Paulo Zoo receives free of charge, three times a week, students from public schools of the municipal and state networks,” said Cláudio Hermes Maas, technical director of the São Paulo Zoo, in an interview with Brazil Agency.
Although the species does not share the aviary with others, the chosen space is installed in the avenues that make up the forest, together with other bird species. Some, such as the Jacutinga, are also among the threatened species that receive special attention in conservation programs.
According to Massa, the zoo intends to increase the number of birds of threatened species by establishing an educational circuit on animals at risk of extinction.
How to meet
Requests to schedule free school visits can be made by email agendas.escolas@zoologico.com.br – with the full name of the institution and the number of students who will participate in the visit. Node website from the zoo you can find step-by-step instructions for the request, as well as the annual calendar. Each school can book a trip with a maximum of 250 students per day.
Private tickets start at R$39.90. The establishment is open every day of the week. Other freebies, discounts and schedules are available at website.
Source: Terra
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