Guayllabamba Zoo, Quito is known all over Ecuador for its excellent collection of animals as well as birds. The main attractions of the zoo are the jaguars, pumas and the Galapagos tortoise.

Your tour of Quito would remain incomplete without a visit to the Guayllabamba Zoo, Quito. The Guayllabamba Zoo, Quito was opened for public viewing on August 18, 1997. The managing body of the Guayllabamba Zoo, Quito is now in the hands of Zoological Foundation of Ecuador from March 1999. The zoo of Quito boasts of having the biggest collection of native fauna in the country. Most of the collection of this zoo comes from the Zoo of the Military School. The animal collection of the Guayllabamba Zoo, Quito includes those animals who are recuperating after being victims of illegal fur trade.

You would find the Guayllabamba Zoo, Quito located in the town of Guayllabamba which lies about 29 kilometers to the north of Quito. The total area covered by the zoo is 12 hectares. Five hectares of area is covered by 24 confinements where you can find about 180 animals. The zoo is renowned for having 45 species of native fauna. Thus here you would find animals indigenous to the mountains and the tropical forests of the costal areas; from the Amazonian regions to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.

The Guayllabamba Zoo, Quito quickly became popular among the people of Ecuador. From the data collected from the zoo authorities, you can find that on an average about 17000 visitors from the cities and towns of Ecuador visits the zoo every month.

The Guayllabamba Zoo in Quito also offers both recreational and educational experiences to the community. Every year students from around 800 educational institutions come to visit the zoo. There is live laboratory also within the zoo complex where various projects for conservation of Ecuadorian fauna are carried on.

The most important species of fauna in the Guayllabamba Zoo in Quito are the following:

• The jaguar which is unique to South America
• Spectacled Bear, an endangered species
• Moor Wolf, which suffers from loss of habitat

Other species include monkeys, pumas, hedgehogs and the majestic African lion.

In the Guayllabamba Zoo, Quito you would find twenty one species of colorful birds. These birds are macaws, parrots, eagles and toucans. Another important avian species is the Andean Condor which is the biggest flying bird in the world. When you are in the zoo, do not forget to visit the Galapagos tortoise which is unique specimen in the world because of its size as well as its longevity.