Municipal Fauna Zoo Noel Kempff Mercado - Holy Cross

Municipal Zoo of South American Fauna Noel Kempff Mercado – Holy Cross

The Noel Kempff Mercado Municipal Zoo of South American Fauna is located in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, It is the most important in the country and in South America, due to the extensive biodiversity of native species, besides, It is one of the main tourist attractions in the city.

Its founder was Prof.. Noel Kempff Mercado, who at the beginning of the decade of the 60, He already had a career as a naturalist and creator of the Hortus Amazonicus Tropicalis Boliviensis Botanical Garden., located on the banks of the Piraí River. As a result, he conceived the idea of building a zoo dedicated exclusively to South American fauna.. It should also be remembered that, simultaneously and as Municipal Director of Parks and Gardens, It was he who initiated the process of urban arborization that has given the city an unmistakable appearance.

At the entrance to the zoo, You can see a statue of the aforementioned naturalist, in which, his figure holds several animals with his hands,8 9 This sculpture was made in tribute to the great work he carried out, for the conservation of the fauna and flora of South America.

In 1974 the Prof. Noel Kempff Mercado took a trip to Europe during which he had the opportunity to observe old and new Zoos. Implementing your own initiative, with scarce municipal resources but with broad support from civil society, was finally able to inaugurate the South American Fauna Municipal Zoo on 19 of August of 1979, The initial collection was made up of approximately 20 species and 150 individuals.

Due to the seizure of illegal trade in species and the destruction of their habitat due to anthropogenic factors, the zoo has been forced to house these animals, This situation has resulted in the collection increasing considerably over the years. 190 species, counting on 30 reptile species, 121 species of birds and 40 mammal species.

The state, in order to regulate activities with wildlife in its natural environment and those that are subject to semi-captivity and captivity, two Ministerial Resolutions have been promulgated, the R.M.. 049/00 of the 8 of March of 2000, that puts into effect the Regulation for the Conservation and Use of the Lizard (Caiman, alligator) and the R.M.. 065/00 of the 17 of March of 2000 that puts into effect the National Zoo Regulations.

In the years 2001 until the year 2003, critical period occurs for the South American Fauna Zoo, as a result of internal changes and inadequate management of the species, The functional and social role of the Zoo in the city is questioned, expressing diverse opinions, from its transfer to the outskirts of the city to the most radical ones such as its closure.

Based on these opinions, in the year 2004, the South American Fauna Zoo requests the Cali Zoological Foundation and the Latin American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (ALPZA) that a diagnostic evaluation be carried out at our institution.

The final report, indicates that the notable strengths of the Fauna Sudamericana Municipal Zoo in addition to its strategic location of the terrain park and the staff with experience in practical animal management, is the fauna collection 99.9 % native. The most notable weaknesses are the lack of a fundraising plan and high dependence on box office., the absence of a basic service structure for visitors, the absence of a solid and liquid waste management plan the absence of constant training, professionals in other areas of knowledge and the existence of a union at the zoo. Lack of technological equipment, kitchen and laboratory. Reference was also made to the non-existence of a General Management Plan.

Giving corresponding part to the results of the diagnosis, the Zoo's technical team, I take actions to carry out the Functional Strategic Plan, detailing in it all the plans according to the areas of action, that is part of our institution, but, due to constant political changes in the technical-administrative staff, The coordination and realization of the Five-Year Functional Strategic Plan for the South American Fauna Zoo is hindered.

In the year 2007, The Zoo Aquarium is inaugurated with 60 mostly native fish species.