| Zoo Name: | Paramaribo Zoo | ||||
| Location: | Paramaribo, Suriname | ||||
| Date Opened: | May 1972[1] | ||||
| Num Animals: | 197 (2004)[2] | ||||
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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 in Rainville, Paramaribo.[3]
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 .[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]