Green is a constant in this place, also known as the Night House, as it is the only park that exhibits animals that preferably develop their life at night. Get to know it!
Walking through the walkways of this zoo is to be transported to a trip to the jungle in the middle of the city, where you will find countless plants, animals, sounds, smells, shapes and colors. Green is the common denominator of ZooMAT, a zoo that has a peculiar history since it opened its doors in the small ecological reserve of Zapotal, east of the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez in Chiapas. This zoo is known as the Night House, for being the only one that exhibits nocturnal animals.
ZooMAT belongs to the department of zoology of the Institute of Natural History (IHN), an institution created in 1942 and directed by the zoologist and conservationist Miguel Álvarez del Toro since 1944, who arrived in Chiapas at age 22 attracted by the exuberance of the tropical forests . Don Mat, as he was called, designed and coordinated the construction of the new regional zoo between 1979 and 1980, since the previous one was located almost in the downtown area of the city. By decree of the state government and in honor of Don Miguel, the zoo is now known as ZooMAT and is considered one of the best in Latin America due to its original design.
One of its characteristics is that it exclusively exhibits animals from the state of Chiapas. It has more than 800 animals that represent around 250 species in the low jungle of Zapotal, a reserve of 100 hectares, of which 25 are occupied by the zoo and the rest in the ecological buffer zone. Some animals are found in open spaces, taking advantage of the natural condition of the terrain, which makes them develop in their natural habitat. Animals of great ecological importance are exhibited, among which the harpy eagle (Harpia arpija), the tapir (Tapirus bairdii), the river otter (Lontra longicaudis), the saraguatos or roaring monkeys (Alouatta paliata and A.pigra), three species of crocodilians from Chiapas, the jaguar (Phantera onca), the quetzal (Pharomacrus moccino), the ocellated turkey (Agriocharis ocellata), and the peacock bass (Orepahasis derbianus), a bird that is the symbol of the IHN.
In Chiapas, almost 90% are animals in danger of extinction, so one of the main tasks of ZooMAT is to contribute to the reproduction of threatened species such as the scarlet macaw (Ara macao), the zenzo (Tayassu pecari), the goat deer (Mazamaamericana), the swamp crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii), the river crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), the fishing bat (Noctilio leporinus), the tigrillo (Felis wiedii) and the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), among others.
You can also see species such as the rare naked-tailed armadillo (Cabassous centralis), and the cacomixtle (Bassariscus sumichrasti). Do not miss the vivarium, home of spiders and insects.
The route covers 2.5 kilometers, and you can see the guaqueques and squirrels running, flying and singing a great variety of birds, and when you are lucky you can see the white-tailed deer and listen to the two groups of brown howler monkeys.
HOW TO GET
This zoo is located on the south side of the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Arrive through the southern bypass taking the Cerro Hueco road. You will recognize it by the tropical forest where it is located.
