APART from the physical development of Guyana’s Zoological Park, there have been also efforts to increase the animal population as well.These initiatives all fall under the Three Parks Initiative which is geared towards enhancing the biodiversity conservation in urban areas for the protection of Guyana’s ‘green’ space.

Minister of Natural Resource and the Environment, Robert Persaud at the opening of the Zoological Park’s Petting Zoo disclosed that just recently they concluded a zoo-to-zoo exchange programme “which will see us having new animals and species which can’t be found in Guyana or South America; emphasising that these animals are expected to come from as far as Africa and Asia.”

AGREEMENT SIGNED
He added that the animal population at the zoo will increase in the coming months because the agreement in the zoo-to-zoo exchange programme was already signed.

Meanwhile, according to Commissioner of the Guyana Protected Areas Commission (GPAC), Damion Fernandes on Sunday at the opening of the Zoological Park’s Petting Zoo, preparations are underway to develop the cages, in order for them to determine the breed of animals which will be housed there.
Fernandes further stated, when the preparations are concluded, that the animals will be imported from Asia and Africa.
“Apart from just featuring foreign animals, the zoo tries to teach Guyanese about the animals which are found right here in Guyana, for example, instead of housing a lion who lies around all day, we have seven active pumas,” he said.
FLOOD PROTECTION
The Commissioner of the GPAC emphasised that the newly-opened Petting Zoo is a portrait of what the new zoo is expected to be like.
Highlighting that the Petting Zoo is 3 feet above the normal zoo level, which is higher than the 2005 floods, he said that 3 feet will be the lowest point in every exhibit, so in the event of another big flood, the zoo won’t be affected.
Fernandes stated that although “it might cost a little more; we’re willing to take the risk because the GPAC is planning in the long term.”
“Mostly concrete and metal will be used to build the new facilities and infrastructure so that the maintenance cost is as low as possible,” he said.
Apart from that, the long lost aquarium will now be spread throughout the zoo because the plan is to install a waterfall and filtration system to form a more eco-friendly design.
OUTSIDE SUPPORT
Aside from the support of the Government, corporate persons and individuals have also been contributing towards the development of the Zoological Park. This contribution came as the donors share the same vision for the future of the Zoological Park as the GPAC.

According to Fernandes, just recently the design of the new outlook of the zoo which was done by professionals from Seattle, USA, was funded by the Beharry Group.
FINANCING AND SUSTAINABILITY
He noted that the Petting Zoo now contributes to the financial income of the Zoological Park. There is income through the food bar which is set up in the Petting Zoo, so that persons can purchase food to feed the animals, since they’re not allowed to feed them anything else.
The revenue gathered from the food bar on the weekends is equivalent to that acquired from the entrance fee of the Zoological Park all week; therefore, it comes as a major benefit for the financial aspect of the zoo.
Meanwhile, he alluded to the fact that although the zoo was built in the 1950’s, some of the structures are still standing strong and this is due to the proper maintenance which is practised at the Zoological Park.
In closing Fernandes noted that although “we’ve taken major steps in developing the Zoological Park, we have a long way to go, and with the support of corporate Guyana we can take it a far way.”