Valencia Bioparc

Bioparc Valencia is a 10-hectare (25-acre) zoological park located in Valencia, Spain, established in 2008. It is owned by the City Council of Valencia and managed by Rainforest, a company specializing in zoo design and operation. The park is distinguished by its "Zooimersion" concept, which aims to deeply immerse visitors within the animals' natural habitats.

Design and Concept

Rather than relying on traditional cages and railings, Bioparc Valencia employs naturalistic barriers such as rivers, ponds, streams, and rock formations to separate visitors from the animals. This approach is coupled with meticulous efforts to recreate the authentic ecosystems of the animals housed there, including a significant collection of African flora. The park's location within Valencia's Turia riverbed provides a unique setting for these recreated habitats.

Animal Collection and Notable Events

The zoo houses a large collection of African fauna. Bioparc Valencia gained recognition as the birthplace of Makena, the first elephant born in the Valencian Community. Many of the animals present at the park's opening in 2008 were transferred from the older city zoo.

Exhibits

As of 2022, Bioparc Valencia features distinct exhibit areas designed to represent specific environments. These include "Sabana," "Selva Ecuatorial," "Humedales," and "Madagascar." The "Madagascar" exhibit, for instance, hosts a variety of species such as black-and-white ruffed lemurs, fossa, mongoose lemurs, red-bellied lemurs, red-fronted lemurs, and ring-tailed lemurs. Other animals found across the park include African spoonbills, golden mantellas, hippopotamuses, Nile crocodiles, and great white pelicans.