For over a century, Barcelona Zoo has stood as a gateway to nature's wonders and the wild, serving as an educational cornerstone for families, scholars, and researchers alike. The zoo's origins trace back to the site vacated after the 1888 World Fair. Snowflake aka Copito de Nieve, the iconic and the only albino gorilla and former city mascot, once enchanted crowds, leaving a lasting legacy. Although Snowflake's departure after battling skin cancer in 2003 left a void, Barcelona Zoo remains renowned for its vibrant primate community, which includes Borneo orangutans, marmosets, meerkats, and baboons.
Beyond its famed inhabitants, Barcelona zoo harbors a dolphinarium showcasing bottlenose dolphins and rarities like the Iberian wolf, Angola lion, and Dorcas gazelle. The 'Doñana bird center' champions regional waterfowl, fostering their growth before releasing them into Catalonia's preserves.
One of the ingenious innovations involve a unique natural habitats design that not only provides a natural habitat but also ensures animals are shielded from each other, all while offering excellent viewing opportunities for zoo visitors. The 'Land of Dragons' celebrates Asia Pacific's fauna, particularly the Komodo dragons. The 'Terrarium' boasts one of Europe's most diverse arrays of amphibians, while the primate enclosure, inaugurated in 2006, focuses exclusively on gorillas. The most frequented attraction is the Titi Monkey Gallery, which was crafted to accommodate a captivating collection of Titi Monkeys, the smallest primates from South America.
Set within the picturesque Ciutadella Park, a visit to Barcelona Zoo unveils a mosaic of over 400 mammal, reptile, and bird species. The zoo extends its mission beyond its gates, welcoming school trips to cultivate awareness about endangered species and biodiversity's significance.
