Parc Zoologique de Jerez Zoo de Jerez

The zoo and botanical garden of Jerez are one of the most interesting parks in Spain. Not only because its age, but also for the richness of its zoological collection. These have made it the most important zoo in Andalucia.

The history of this zoo began when a small collection of animals that arrived to Cadiz harbor without an owner or receipient. In the meantime, the animals were placed in the Tempul’s garden. In that time, Mr. Alberto Duran Tejada, who was the town councillor in charge of the City Parks and Gardens became the principal proponent of the idea. On February 10th, 1953, the zoo and botanical garden “ Alberto Duran” opened its doors

But before to continue with more information about this zoo, I have to say that it is impossible to put into words a day with the family in the zoo.

You have to live it! Not any multimedia would be able to show a child’s face the first time he sees the majesty and wild naturalness that this center contains.

The Jerez zoo has all the facilities to make your visit unforgettable.

The Tempul garden, where the park is located, dates from 1869, when this garden was created in order to decorate Jerez’s water reservoir.

From the original garden, with hundreds of different species from five continents, a heavy and old wooded area remain. It has been increased with new exotic and indigenous bushes and trees, gathering almost 400 different species.

Recently, a tour has been created to visit the more than 150 types of trees. These trees have been identified with a ceramic tag which has the species, scientific, and common enames, as well as some of their characteristics.

Along this path, one can contemplate the wonderful specimens of Pines, Cedar from Himalaya ,Araucanian trees … As well as the rare and scarce examples like the Araar, the Vignatigo, the Jabonero, and the Almiz from Mississipi and a great collection of Palm trees.

Since it’s inception, the number of animals at the zoo has increased to a present day size of over 1,300 animals from over 200 different species from five continents. It is important to mention the White tiger, unique in Spain and which has already given birth cubs.

Also, we have to highlight this zoo’s work and efforts towards developing projects on animal reproduction and conservation. Likewise, the Jerez zoo is known for the great number of threatened species that it shelters. Along the same lines, a series of animal reproduction projects have been developed in cooperation with other principal zoos in Europe. These projects are named E.E.P, and they try to find the right environment for the animal’s reintroduction into their natural habitat. At present, the zoo is participating in fifteen E.E.P projects. However, maintaining our indigenous Iberian fauna is important, so reproduction programs of the threatened indigenous fauna are a continued focus of the Jerez zoo.

These projects help make the Jerez zoo an institution that strives for the conservation of threatened fauna, and places the Jerez zoo as a forerunner of the most important zoos of Europe.