New
at the Zoo
by J. Max Simon
The Aurora Zoo in Guatemala City recently celebrated the birth of three lion
cubs. The cubs, two females (Johana and Joseba) and a male (Guicho) are doing
well and can be seen at the zoo. The father was born in February 1996 and was
kept on a farm in the foothills of the Pacaya Volcano. He escaped and was later
picked up by the wildlife protection service and given to the zoo, where he
was nursed back to health. The mother was born at the Durango Zoo in Mexico
and was acquired in an animal exchange to breed and broaden the gene pool at
the zoo.
Sadly, the mama rejected the cubs and, in so doing, slightly injured Guicho.
The cubs, born in July, are now being raised by zoo staff and appear to be doing
quite well. Because of the rejection the lions must be fed enormous quantities
of very expensive milk. To offset this cost, the zoo is taking photos of visitors
with the cubs for Q15 per photo. (Larger donations and corporate sponsorships
and adoptions are needed as well. Call the zoo at 472-3934 or check out www.laurorazoo.centroamerica.com.)
Though the zoo is one of the "must sees" in Guatemala regardless
of the lion cubs, if one is planning a trip specifically for a photo with the
cubs a phone call may be in order, as the cubs need lots of sleep and may not
be available for photo ops. The zoo is located next to the airport (a one-minute
drive or a safe, 10-minute walk). Parking, admission and food at the zoo are
exceptionally inexpensive and support an organization that provides the best
of care and comfort to zoo visitors and animals alike. There are several other
points of interest nearby that should be seen in conjunction with a zoo visit.
Across the street is an arts, crafts and textile market, and 100 yards up the
street (Boulevard Juan Pablo 2nd) is the Children's Museum. Walk another
100 yards to the Museums of Archeology and Modern Art, which are in the same
complex. The archeology museum is considered to be among the best in the world
for things Maya, and the art museum has rotating expositions. •
