The National Zoo of Nicaragua is home to over 650 different animal species, from tiny hummingbirds to awe-inspiring African lions. A majority of our species are wild but the zoo also cares for a few abandoned pets and domesticated animals like chicken, ducks and geese.

The zoo is a popular place for tourists, families and student groups – people of all ages enjoy a day with the animals. One of the most recent additions to the facility are the orchid and butterfly gardens; closed, interconnected areas providing visitors with a tranquil refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This is a place filled with lush tropical plants, exquisite butterflies and nectar-sipping colibris and it comes as no surprise that those who enter these gardens tend to linger.

The focus of the National Zoo is the fauna of Nicaragua and Central America and the zoo carries out extensive health- and rehabilitation programs for wild animals seized by local authorities.

Exotic species from Africa, Asia and Australia are also living here, such as Bengal tiger, Mandrill monkey and Emu bird.

Many of the species you can encounter at the zoo are threatened with extinction in the wild and difficult to find throughout Central America. The zoo is actively working with out-reach projects to local communities involving issues such as habitat destruction, poaching and maltreatment of animals. The zoo serves as an educational facility for students of all ages and zoological researchers work together with the staff to carry out various research projects.

The National Zoo has breeding programs in place for many of its residents and throughout the years numerous youngsters has seen the light of day here, including animals currently threatened by habitat destruction such as pumas, jaguars, tapirs, ocelots, tigers and King vultures.

Use the navigation menu on your left hand side to find out more about what the National Zoo has to offer the public and how you can become involved in our mission.