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The Matecaña Zoo is a heritage of the Pereira people, and the work of the s.m.p (Society of Public Improvements of Pereira) who, on January 26, 1951, bought through its own management, the 17 hectares of land of the Matecaña farm. Its initial objective was to build a soccer stadium, but the land was not considered useful for this project and it was decided to use it as a Botanical garden and children's games. Later, some farmers in the region donated animals from the area, which were placed in cages, becoming the attraction of visitors.

In 1959 the first safe cages were built to house the few existing animals, the zoo project was made official and the acquisition of animals was authorized. In 1961 the chronological certainty of its foundation was given and an item was opened in the budget for feeding, maintenance and handling of the animals. In 1968, the visit of high personalities of the Mexican Republic was received and our zoo contacted the one in Chapultepec. Thus, animals such as: an Asian elephant, a zebra (male), two hippos, sacred baboons and sable antelopes were acquired, expanding the collection of exotic animals.

His collection was generally maintained until 1993 when some African fauna animals from the Naples farm arrive on loan.

In 1999, the educational department was established in order to generate environmental education programs aimed at the conservation of Colombian Biodiversity and the way in which all species can help to conserve species of wild fauna and flora.





Via to Pereira airport.



Currently the Matecaña Zoo is in its master plan for the renovation of facilities that aim to change the cages for natural habitats that disguise the conditions of the ecosystems from which the wild animals originate, thus allowing a better quality of life for the animals and a better knowledge of the community that visits us daily.

The zoo currently has a collection plan of 150 species, 800 individuals represented in wild fauna of birds, mammals and reptiles of America, Africa and Asia, most of them are native.

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