Fresno is a city deeply connected to Latin America. More than half of Fresno County's residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, and the region's culture, history, traditions, and communities have helped shape the Central Valley for generations. Yet despite these strong connections, Fresno Chaffee Zoo currently lacks a dedicated area celebrating the wildlife, ecosystems, and cultures of Latin America.

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a great zoo with amazingly immersive areas themed to Eastern Africa and South-East Asia that show off the animals of those regions and also the cultures of those regions. The zoo is also planning to add an area based on California, which will include Sea Lion cove, and will open in the next few years alongside its new entrance. Other plans may include an Aquarium, Conservation Corridor which is themed to endangered animals, and Valley Farms. 

But one region of the world is heavily underrepresented in the Zoos future plans and that is Latin America. It is very surprising that a zoo in the city of Fresno does not have any section themed to Latin America with the only area today being the Tropical Rainforest Aviary, but that is scheduled to permanently close on July 5th losing the last remaining representation of Latin American at the zoo. After that closes the American Flamingos, Chacoan Peccaries, Galapagos Tortoises, King Vultures, and Andean Condors will be the last animals in the zoo not in the reptile house to represent Latin America.

Given Fresno's strong cultural ties to Latin America, the lack of a dedicated Latin America exhibit presents a unique opportunity for future growth and community engagement. Hispanics make up large percentage of the cities demographic with recent studies putting it at 50.9% of the city. For Fresno County studies put it at 56.38% of the total population. And that doesn't even account for the rest of the Valley and surrounding counties. Showing the iconic Wildlife and Culture of Latin America in a Zoo based in Fresno should be built to reflect its local community who helps support this zoo.

Originally in 2018 the zoo had planned for a South American area in the area where Valley Farm and the Tropical Rainforest with Jaguars, Giant Otters and Freshwater Fish. That plan eventually got scrapped with a shift in Zoo management but definitely should not have. This area is still suitable for a Latin American exhibit even with the recent announcement of the closure of the Tropical Rainforest Aviary. Going of recent plans in the last couple of years released by the zoo it would be a 2 acre plot available.

Latin America is a large region that stretches from Mexico all the way to Chile and Argentina,  so it has a wide and large variety of animals located in all types of different environments and habitats.  Areas include the Sierra Madre of Mexico, Jungles of Central America, The Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, and Pantanal Of Brazil, The Andes, The Desert Coasts of Peru, The Atlantic Forests, The Gran Chaco, The Pampas, and Patagonia. 

If the zoo does decide to build a Latin America experience it shouldn't just be based on the Amazon or Jungles like many South American or Latin American exhibits in other zoos do nowadays, it should be unique and show off more than just one region of Latin America. It should also show the different cultures throughout the regions of Latin America and relationships they have with the animals. 

Some animals the zoo could include are, The Jaguar which is an icon of Latin America, Chacoan Peccaries which the zoo have currently and represent the Gran Chaco of Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia, Macaws which are another icon of Latin America, Humboldt Penguins which isn't an animal many people think of when they think of South America but inhabit the coasts of Peru and Chile and could represent an area of Latin America that is heavily underrepresented. Other animals could be Monkeys which are very diverse so examples are Golden Lion Tamarins, Other Tamarin Species, Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Sakis, Capuchins, Uakaris, and Spider Monkeys.  Other animals are Bush Dogs, Rhea, Maned Wolves, Mountain Viscacha, Sloths, Coati, Mara, Guinea Pig, American Flamingo, Armadillos, Manatees, Caimans, and many Reptiles and Amphibians as well as Birds. There are just many animals that could be represented this area  that I couldn't list them all but there are a lot that could be chosen to represent the region.

I encourage and hope that others will encourage the  Fresno Chaffee Zoo to explore the development of a Latin America region in future master plans and expansion projects. By doing so, the zoo can continue its mission of conservation, education, and community engagement while creating an exciting new destination for visitors of all ages.

Please, if you believe that the Fresno Chaffee Zoo should add a Latin American exhibit and experience to its already great zoo, then please sign and share this petition.