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Zoo Lourosa
by Jonas Livet and Olaf Paterok |
| Date of publication : October 17st 2008 |
| Factsheet
Established: 1990
Member of AIZA
www.zoolourosa.com
Map of Zoo Lourosa in 2006
Zoological Collections in Portugal -
Situation in 2007
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entrance of the Zoo Lourosa - April 2007
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ocellated turkey - April 2007 |
This park was opened in 1990 mainly as a bird collection, though some
mammals such as gibbons
were also displayed during the first ten years. Some years ago, however,
the city authorities took
over the park and developed a new philosophy under which the small (only
two-hectare) park was
to be used exclusively for exhibiting birds. The first step was to
create a very professional website
and new signs in the zoo. It was very similar to what we saw some days
before at Maia Zoo – new
visitor barriers, new fences and very neat vegetation all along the
walkways and exhibits.
Visiting the park today gives a good impression about how it looked ten
years ago – nothing has
changed for the animals. All the numerous birds live in small cages and
some middle-sized aviaries.
The highlight is a row of five glass-fronted aviaries for hornbills and
pheasants. Some paddocks in
the middle of the park are used for keeping large birds like ostriches,
rheas and cassowaries.
Around a small lake some flamingo and waterfowl exhibits are sited, as
well as a row of really
old cages for owls. These cages in particular look very much like former
primate or carnivore cages.
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Due to a good climate and high humidity very nice vegetation with a lot
of bamboo has become
established.
From the aquarium in Arcozelo it is a 20-minute drive to Lourosa, which
is about 15 km south
of Oporto. The bird park is well signed and the entrance fee is €2.50.
On the sign giving the opening
times we found a rarity in zoos – something we had never seen before.
The sign said that 800 visitors
would be the maximum number of people allowed to enter the park.
Among the interesting species we saw at the park were two pairs of
western capercaillie (Tetrao
urogallus), blue-throated piping guan (Pipile c. cumanensis), great
argus (Argusianus argus),
and several different species of curassows including northern helmeted
curassow (Pauxi p. pauxi).
Many more beautiful species were on display. |
main place after the entrance - April 2007 |
row of cages for parrots - April 2007 |
cage for parrots - April 2007 |
cage for parrots - April 2007 |
aviary of the king vultures - April
2007 |
enclosure of the Egyptian geese -
April 2007 |
row of aviaries for curassows - April 2007 |
aviary for Western capercaillies - April 2007 |
row of aviaries for curassows - April 2007 |
aviary for gouras and other doves - April 2007 |
enclosure of the cassowaries -
April 2007 |
row of five glass-fronted aviaries for hornbills and
pheasants - April 2007 |
glass-fronted aviaries for hornbills and pheasants -
April 2007 |
aviary for black-casqued hornbills and Kenya guineafowls
- April 2007 |
row of aviaries for pheasants - April 2007 |
grey junglefowl - April 2007 |
green peafowl - April 2007 |
aviaries for curassows - April 2007 |
cages for owl - April 2007 |
cage for owl - April 2007 |
spectacled owl - April 2007 |
enclosure for waterfowls - April 2007 |
enclosure for waterfowls - April 2007
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enclosure for flamingos - April 2007
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