The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is delighted to welcome a new WAZA Institutional Member to the global zoo and aquarium community – the Guadeloupe Zoo. It is also known as the Mamelles Park, as the zoo is found next to twin mountains named Mamelles.

Located in the island of Guadeloupe, the Zoo is in the heart of a tropical rainforest in the middle of the Mamelles, the twin mountains of the island. Established in 1998, the institution is home to around 70 species that live in the middle of exuberant nature. They take care of mammals, birds, reptiles and arthropods from the Antilles and the Americas and their facilities are in an area of 3,5 hectares.

The Guadeloupe Zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (ALPZA) and the French Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AFdPZ), all three of them WAZA Association Members.

Our new member created a conservation association called SOS FauneSauvage, which has since its creation helped save endemic species. The association financially supports conservation programmes and manages three rescue centers in Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana.

“We felt ready to become a member of WAZA. It was the next obvious step for Mamelles Park to be part of the big zoos, despite its small size on a tiny island. Nevertheless, it is a hot spot of world biodiversity,” said Guadeloupe Zoo President, Angélique Chaulet.

Guadeloupe’s Zoo vision is to become one of the best zoos in the Caribbean, known for its values of conservation and safeguard towards the biodiversity of its environment and especially the pedagogy to be implemented towards society.

“We are very excited to have Guadeloupe’s Zoo as a WAZA member, especially since it is our only Institutional Member in the Caribbean and will bring diversity and richness to our community. We look forward to working closer with this fantastic organisation,” said WAZA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Martín Zordan.

To learn more about Guadeloupe Zoo, please visit their website.