Eco-Lite: The Belize Zoo

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Tara

*Lots of photos are at the end of this post, some of which are actually in focus!

OVERVIEW

From their website: The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center was started in 1983, as a last ditch effort to provide a home for a collection of wild animals which had been used in making documentary films about tropical forests.

Shortly after the backyard “zoo” began, it was quickly realized that its Belizean visitors were unfamiliar with the different species of wildlife which shared their country. This very aspect fomented the commitment to develop the little zoo into a dynamic wildlife education center.

Today, The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center is settled upon 29 acres of tropical savanna and exhibits over 150 animals, representing over 45 species, all native to Belize. The zoo keeps animals which were orphaned, rescued, born at the zoo, rehabilitated animals, or sent to The Belize Zoo as donations from other zoological institutions.

I first became aware of the Belize Zoo by reading “The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman’s Fight to Save the World’s Most Beautiful Bird” about zoo owner Sharon Matola. This book is a great read and available now in Kindle form (my affiliate link below)!

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

Belize Zoo is easily reached by bus from Belize City, Belmopan or San Ignacio. The Zoo is located at Mile 29 along the Western highway. The bus drivers are used to dropping off and picking people up there.

It is approximately an hour’s drive from the main cruise-ship terminal at the tourism village and about an hour driving from the international airport following through Belize City and onto the western highway.

HOW MUCH IS IT?

Normal Daily Fees are $15.00 US for adults and $5.00 US for children (non-Belizean). Fees for Belizean adults and children are $5.00 BZ and $1.00 BZ respectively.

The cafe is very reasonably priced for snacks and drinks.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND THERE AND WHAT SHOULD YOU SEE?

The Belize Zoo is easily worth a couple of hours just to see all the gorgeous birds in very attractive aviaries and read the info-plaques on the exhibits. I love how the zoo educates both Belizeans and tourists about how the birds and animals are part of their cultural heritage and should be protected and treasured!

VALUE TO CONSERVATION

THE BELIZE HARPY EAGLE RESTORATION PROGRAM (BHERP)
WORKING TO EMPOWER THE MESOAMERICA BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR, MBC

You can support individual species by “adopting” an animal.

The scarlet macaw exhibit is designed to promote awareness of their need to keep their habitat free from destruction.

Conservation Camp is a great way for teenagers to experience the wild and learn more about how to preserve it.

WHERE TO STAY NEARBY ON POINTS

Hotel chains where points can be used are thin on the ground and covered in my general Belize post. Getting to Belize with airline miles is much easier!

PHOTOS

I think we went the wrong way on some of the paths so some of the signs may be after the species in that case. There are so many, I just did a bulk upload so enjoy!

Eco-Lite: Bloedel Conservatory, Vancouver, Canada

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Tara

OVERVIEW

Bloedel Conservatory is a domed lush paradise located in Queen Elizabeth Park atop the City of Vancouver’s highest point. More than 100 free-flying exotic birds, 500 exotic plants and flowers, and koi fish thrive within its temperature-controlled environment.

Constructed through a very generous donation from Prentice Bloedel, Bloedel was dedicated at its opening in 1969 “to a better appreciation and understanding of the world of plants.”

Designated at heritage building, it is jointly operated by Vancouver Park Board and the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association. Together, these partners also operate VanDusen Botanical Garden.

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

We made our visit during a layover after arriving on Air Canada and waiting for a red-eye to Houston enroute to Belize. We used the Canada Line from the airport to King Edward Station and walked from there. You can buy a Day Pass from the 7-11 in the domestic terminal for $9.75. A DayPass is handy for tourists who want unrestricted travel within all three zones for the entire day or who will be taking several bus trips to different tourist locations throughout the day. We also used it to go to the Waterfront after our visit, then to return to the airport.

Location of Bloedel Conservatory

HOW MUCH IS IT?

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND THERE AND WHAT SHOULD YOU SEE?

It’s not very large so we were only there for about 90 minutes. I enjoyed sitting and watching the birds fly around and it is a great place to relax. There are a lot of parrots including a few Macaws and the difficult-to-see Lineolated Parakeet (Barred Parakeet).

VALUE TO CONSERVATION

I couldn’t find any special programs to support conservation. The main value here would be a chance to observe the birds up close and get familiar with them so you may spot them more easily in the wild. It’s also a great place to take the family to get the kids interested in birds.

WHERE TO STAY NEARBY ON POINTS

Most people who are staying for one or more nights in Vancouver would probably prefer to stay near the Waterfront and use the train or bus to get to the Conservatory. Here are a few suggestions:

SPG

Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre – 10,000 Starpoints

Westin Grand – 10,0000 Starpoints

Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Airport – 7,000 Starpoints

IHG REWARDS

11 Properties ranging from 15,000-25,000 points.

HILTON HONORS

Hampton Inn & Suites – 40,000 points

Hampton Inn Vancouver Airport – 20,000 points

CLUB CARLSON

Park Inn & Suites – 38,000 points

Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport – 38,000 points

PHOTOS

Eco-Lite: Birds Of Eden, South Africa

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Tara

BIRDS OF EDEN IS THE GARDEN ROUTE’S VERY OWN WORLD CLASS FREE FLIGHT BIRD SANCTUARY *

This is the most amazing walk-in aviary I have ever seen, I can’t even find the words to describe it! Heaven on earth doesn’t do it justice. I could have easily moved in here and pitched a tent! Hundreds of birds fly freely in this man-made rainforest environment free from predators and fear of any kind. What struck me most was how well the various species get along and I watched in amazement as turacos and conures shared fruit side by side.

The unique two hectare dome (the World’s largest) spans over a gorge of indigenous forest. The sanctuary has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates a walk-behind waterfall. Another feature is its amphitheatre, which has the ability to seat over 200 visitors. Like Monkeyland, the popular primate sanctuary next-door, Birds of Eden boasts its own canopy walk, while shorter than the 128m bridge at Monkeyland, it hangs above the clouds. The decision to develop Birds of Eden stems from the need to create a safe environment in which to release a large collection of free-flight African birds, miniature monkeys and the sanctuary also enables bird owners to apply to release their pet birds into the sanctuary, after undergoing rehabilitation.

Birds of Eden can be reached by car from either Cape Town (long drive) or Port Elizabeth. You can get to South Africa using airline miles.

BIRDS OF EDEN FACT SHEET

1. The area of the bird park is 2,3 hectare (23,000sq meters).

2. The structure comprises 27 masts of varying heights, between 34 meters and 2 meters.

3. While the tallest mast is only 34 meters high, the highest point of the dome above the ground is
50m as the canyon breaks away.

4. The masts are linked by a series of cables which are anchored to specially constructed
underground “plugs”, there are several 100 kilometres of cable used to create a grid of cable onto which, the bird mesh will rest.

5. The bird mesh has an area of 3,2 hectares and weighs 80 tonnes.

6 The sanctuary is the biggest single free flight aviary in the World.

7. Birds of Eden opened the 15th of December 2005 and can be contacted on info@birdsofeden.co.za

8. There are several special features about Birds of Eden;

• There is a walk behind waterfall

• The birds are in free flight – there are no cages.

• There is an amphitheatre, which can seat 200 people.

• The sanctuary is wheelchair friendly.

• There are 1,2kms of walkways of which 900m is elevated.

• 70% of the area of the dome encapsulates pristine indigenous forest.

• The main dam is bustling with koi fish.

• Birds of Eden incorporates several dams, the largest has an island lunch-deck with plenty of seating – light meals are served here.

• The snack bar and restaurant in Birds of Eden are both outsourced and comprises of 4 options for seating,

1) in the forest at the snack bar,
2) outside the forest near the snack bar
3) On the lunch-deck at the main dam
4) on the bank of the main dam.

• There are approximately 3,000 birds in the aviary, comprising over 220 species, note that these numbers increase constantly.

• The masts is made of wire mesh. It is painted green for a more natural ‘look’. 10 tons of paint (10,000 litres) was required to complete this paint job.

• The river running over the waterfall and through the length of the bird park (200m) is pumped back in a closed system. There is therefore no pollution of any water sources in the sanctuary.

For more information about Birds of Eden and details on how to get there, please visit their website.

* Originally published on our parent website Feathered And Free.

Join me on a wander through the magnificent Birds of Eden and enjoy my photos of these wonderful birds!

Do plan on having a meal here but don’t be surprised if the birds invite themselves to your lunch! It’s all part of the fun!

Eco-Lite: Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Tara

OVERVIEW

Rottnest Island is Perth’s premier Island destination and offers a smorgasbord of coastal activities including boating, fishing, swimming, surfing, diving and snorkelling so there is something to interest everyone in the family. But for eco-tourists, Rottnest Island is a haven for Western Australian flora and fauna. It is a protected A-Class Reserve which is home to many unusual animals and plants, particularly a small marsupial called the quokka (Setonix brachyurus). The quokka looks like a pint-sized kangaroo and is very popular with the tourists. It is also home to many birds. Coastal birds around Rottnest Island include the pied cormorant, osprey, pied oystercatcher, silver gulls, crested tern, fairy tern, bridled tern, rock parrot and reef heron.

Quokka

Detailed information is available on the Rottnest Island website.

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

Coming from overseas, you can easily get to Australia using frequent flyer miles and base yourself in Perth.

Location of Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is an easy day trip from Perth or Fremantle using the Rottnest Express. Bookings are easily made online and you can choose between simply the round-trip ferry or day trips that include various guided excursions around the island. This is an example of fares for adults, concession (pensioners) and children.

Rottnest Ferry

If you would prefer a tour, you can simply choose one from their tour page. If this is your first trip to Rottnest Island, I would advise getting one of the 90 minute tours to get orientated to the island, then spend more time in the areas of most interest to you. But don’t miss your ferry back!

HOW MUCH IS IT?

It varies based on which tour package you get. Here is an example of the Discovery Tour. Other tours are available and you can stay overnight if you wish. More information is available on the tour page.

Discovery Tour

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND THERE AND WHAT SHOULD YOU SEE?

How long you spend is largely determined from the ferry schedules so plan on dedicating a full day to your Rottnest Island adventure. Since I am blogging for eco-travelers, I’ll concentrate on the wildlife. The quokka is possibly the most well known animal on Rottnest Island. A marsupial the size of a hare or domestic cat, the quokka is the sole representative of the genus Setonix. As with other marsupials, such as the kangaroo, wallaby, wallaroo, bettong and potoroo, the females suckle their young in a pouch. Quokkas congregate under dense shrubs for shelter, and are less active during the day. They give birth in late summer, after a gestation period of twenty-seven days, and the young quokka remains in the pouch until August or September, and is then suckled for a further two months. The quokka reaches maturity at about one-and-a-half to two years of age, and lives to be ten years old.

Rottnest Island is home to many birds. Coastal birds around Rottnest Island include the pied cormorant, osprey, pied oystercatcher, silver gulls, crested tern, fairy tern, bridled tern, rock parrot and reef heron.

About ten percent of the eastern end of Rottnest Island is made up of salt lakes, containing brine shrimp. Brine Shrimp support a large number of birds such as the red-necked avocet, banded stilts, ruddy turnstone, curlew sandpiper, red-capped dotterel, Australian mountain duck, red-necked stint, grey plover, white-fronted chat, caspian terns and crested terns.

Red-necked Stint

The red-necked stint (which weighs only 30 grams) – as well as the grey plover, ruddy turnstone, grey-tailed tattler and curlew sandpiper – is a transequitoral migrant which breeds in the Arctic Circle and flies to the southern hemisphere during the non-breeding season.

There are many sea birds around Rottnest Island, including the yellow-nosed albatross, the cape petrel, Wilson’s storm petrel, Australian gannet, great skua and wedge-tailed shearwater. Of these only the wedge-tailed shearwater lands on the Island to breed in colonies of burrows at Cape Vlamingh and Radar Reef.

The birds of the Melaleuca and Acacia woodlands include the tree martin, welcome swallow, silvereye, spotted turtledove, laughing turtledove, fan-tailed cuckoo, red-capped robin, golden whistler, western warbler, singing honey eater and Australian raven.

Birds commonly found around the settlement area include the silver gull, Australian raven, sacred kingfisher and the banded plover (or lapwing). Peafowl, an introduced species released onto the Island in about 1915, can also be seen around the Settlement.
The osprey, nakeen kestrel and ring-necked pheasant favour the heath on Rottnest Island. The two to four pairs of osprey resident on Rottnest Island breed there every year, returning to their nests which are among the most durable structures in the world – one located at Salmon Point is estimated to be approximately 70 years old. The osprey nests are located at the highest point of a stack or headland, giving the birds a great vantage point.

The brackish swamps are home to the black duck and grey teal duck.

Eco-Lite: King’s Park, Perth

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Tara

OVERVIEW

Kings Park and Botanic Garden is visited by nearly 6 million people each year. With its remarkable expanses of unique bushland, tranquil parkland and botanic garden, the park is the most popular visitor destination in Western Australia.

The total area of the park is 400.6 hectares and is located adjacent to the Swan River, approximately 1.5 km from the Central Business District of Perth.

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

If you aren’t already in Perth, see my guide on how to get there with miles. King’s Park is conveniently located near the central business district of Perth making it either a 20 minute walk or take the bus.

HOW MUCH IS IT?

Free!

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND THERE AND WHAT SHOULD YOU SEE?

A park of this size with such abundant birdlife is best visited in the morning or early evening when the birds are out and about. Plan on at least a couple hours to have a leisurely stroll around and relax and watch the birds. King’s Park boasts an impressive bird list for a city centre park. Eremaea has one bird list and you can also download a PDF from King’s Park website with full colour pictures of some of the most popular birds. Here’s a snippet from the brochure.

VALUE TO CONSERVATION

Humans and cities have been encroaching on wildlife habitat for years. This park provides a beautiful natural habitat for the birds and animals who would otherwise have no place to live in a modern day city. The park has an education program to give people a greater appreciation of the native wildlife.

Kings Park and Botanic Garden enjoys the devotion of hundreds of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. It’s very important to keep the community involved.

WHERE TO STAY NEARBY ON POINTS

Perth is a major gateway city to Australia and has many options for those wishing to use hotel points. I have done a comprehensive post on visiting Perth.

Eco-Lite: Wild Parrots In Brooklyn, New York

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Tara

OVERVIEW

Eco-tourism in New York? Even an eco-lite mini trip? You may be surprised that a colony of immigrant Quaker Parrots (originally from Brazil and Argentina) are thriving in Brooklyn, New York! So whether you live in New York or are just passing through and have some time to spare, why not connect with these intelligent, playful little parrots?

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

New York has 3 major airports and you can get there on any major airline alliance. Going on the basis that anyone who is interested in this excursion is already in New York, I am going to concentrate on how to get there on public transport. If you can be there on the first Saturday of a month, you can join the Wild Brooklyn Parrot Safari run by Brooklyn Parrots. Otherwise, you can just get to Brooklyn College.

Brooklyn College is easy to get to via public transportation. From Manhattan, take the Number 2 (7th Avenue IRT) southbound express to the end of the line. Walk one block Southwest on Hillel Street past Starbucks, and look for the main Brooklyn College gate.

The tour begins at the entrance at 11:00 AM sharp. Please give yourself extra time because the MTA is doing construction on their lines during weekends. Driving instructions are at Brooklyn College’s main Web site. Parking is easy to come by in the neighborhood. NOTE: the entrance to Brooklyn College has relocated due to construction. The new temporary entrance is a few steps to the north along Campus Road – we’ll meet there.

HOW MUCH IS IT?

Free!!!

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND THERE AND WHAT SHOULD YOU SEE?

If you are doing the tour, it probably lasts a couple of hours. This is a good amount of time to spend even if you go on your own. The parrots can be easily spotted in the lights around the football field. According to Brooklyn Parrots, you need photo ID to enter the campus.

VALUE TO CONSERVATION

There is some controversy with the parrots’ presence in Brooklyn. They are not native to the area, they are immigrants and not by their choice. Brooklyn Parrots and History detectives suggests they have been there since the early 60’s. Even Oprah (or at least one of her bloggers) has taken an interest in them! The value to conservation here isn’t the traditional financial support by purchasing a ticket or reading scientific descriptions in a well-laid out zoo. The value is in taking the opportunity to see a species of bird that you normally would have to travel 1000’s of miles to see, observing their behaviour, watching them nesting and just appreciating them for the wonderful little creatures they are! There are occasional campaigns to kill them usually by power companies so once you learn to appreciate them, you will be more likely to defend them when they are in danger. Some power companies have stopped killing them. They aren’t hurting anyone and have earned their right to live!

WHERE TO STAY NEARBY ON POINTS

There is no shortage of hotels in New York and virtually all chain hotels have many properties although not necessarily in Brooklyn. I did a search on Hotels.com to find locations that are less than 5 miles from Brooklyn College, even though I know full well that most people visiting New York will be staying in Manhattan. Honestly, that’s what I would be doing as it’s easy to commute to Brooklyn by subway. Just in case someone might be going for an event at Brooklyn College, here’s a few I found.

BEST WESTERN

5 Properties in Brooklyn ranging from 32000-36000.

CHOICE

Comfort Inn, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal – 25000 points.

Union Hotel – 25000 points.

IHG

HIX Brooklyn – 25000 points

HIX Brooklyn Downtown – 20000 points.

Indigo Brooklyn – 40000 points.

MARRIOTT

Fairfield Inn & Suites Brooklyn – 40000 points.

PHOTOS

I took these photos back in 2007 when I was there with a P&S. It shows how they build nests in the lights of the football field. There are MUCH better photos on Brooklyn Parrots blog.

Eco-Lite: Emilio Goeldi Museum and Zoo, Belem

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Tara

Welcome to our next Eco-Lite Mini-Trip which features the Emilio Goeldi Museum and Zoo in Belem, Brazil. You may find yourself in Belem before or after a visit to the Amazon region and this is a great place to spend a morning getting to see some gorgeous birds close up and be better prepared to identify them in the wild.

OVERVIEW

Their website is in Portuguese and I didn’t like the way Google Translate was handling it so I grabbed some information off Wikipedia.

The Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi is a Brazilian research institution and museum located in the city of Belém, state of Pará. It was founded in 1866 by Domingos Soares Ferreira Penna as the Pará Museum of Natural History and Ethnography, and was later named in honor of Swiss naturalist Émil August Goeldi, who reorganized the institution and was its director from 1894 to 1905. It is open to the public from 9:00 to 17:00 h, daily except Mondays.

The institution has the mission of researching, cataloging and analyzing the biological and sociocultural diversity of the Amazon Basin, contributing to its cultural memory and its regional development. It has also the aim of increasing public awareness of science in the Amazon by means of its museums, botanical garden, zoological park, etc.

The Museum maintains a scientific research station in the high Amazon forest (Estação Científica Ferreira Penna), which was inaugurated in 1993, with 330 km² in the Caxiuanã National Forest, municipality of Melgaço, Pará.

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

It’s pretty much in the middle of Belem. We were staying at the Crowne Plaza and took a bus but taxis aren’t too expensive. Figure on $10 from most major hotels.

Location of Emilio Goeldi Museum and Zoo

HOW MUCH IS IT?

A bargain R$ 2.00 which is around $1 USD.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND THERE AND WHAT SHOULD YOU SEE?

We spend several hours in here as I was trying to get better photos of the birds I had seen in the wild. There are also some Green-wing Macaws free-flying around the grounds. The aviaries are large and well planted and it’s worth just sitting and relaxing and watching the various birds. There are several Golden Conures, many of whom were rescued from poachers. The grounds are beautiful and a pleasure to walk around.

VALUE TO CONSERVATION

They have several projects going on which you can read about on their website. The Museum maintains a scientific research station in the high Amazon forest (Estação Científica Ferreira Penna), which was inaugurated in 1993, with 330 km² in the Caxiuanã National Forest, municipality of Melgaço, Pará.

WHERE TO STAY NEARBY ON POINTS

IHG GROUP

Crowne Plaza Belem – 20,000 points. We stayed here, it’s a good mid-range property with a good central location. Breakfast buffet is excellent. I have seen this hotel on Pointbreaks for 5000 points a couple times so keep checking!

Holiday Inn Express Belem-Ananindeua – Not yet open but I suspect it will be either 10,000 – 15,000 points. Location is terrible, I would choose the Crowne Plaza anyways.

HILTON HONORS

Hilton Belem – 30,000 points. Location is excellent, right across the street from Praca Republica which has flocks of wild parrots visiting in the mornings and afternoons.

CLUB CARLSON

Radisson Hotel Maiorana Belem – 44,000 points. Don’t forget that credit card holders get 1 award night free when two or more award nights are booked! Location is good, central and walking distance to Praca Republica.

PHOTOS

Eco-Lite: Sao Paulo Zoo

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Tara

Welcome to this week’s Eco-Lite mini-trip, Sao Paulo Zoo! Brazil is a hotspot for eco-tourism but most people will spend a night or two in Sao Paulo when transferring back and forth between more interesting places such as the Pantanal, Iguacu Falls, the Amazon, the Cerrado, Chapada, Atlantic Rainforest, Cristalino, etc. Or you may find yourself here on a business trip and have time to spare. So why not get a close up view of some beautiful Brazilian birds and animals?

OVERVIEW

Translated from their website which is only in Portuguese: Few experiences are as significant for adults and children as well as a visit to the Zoo. Appreciate the diversity of fauna creates a powerful bond and universal nature. Approximately 10% of the world population visit a zoo or aquarium each year. Since opening in 1958, the São Paulo Zoo has received over 85 million visitors.

Located in an area of 824.529 m² of Atlantic Forest, the park houses the headwaters of the historic stream of Ipiranga, whose waters form a lake that receives copies of birds of various species, and migratory birds. As the lake, the forest shelters native animals living free, forming parallel wonderful wildlife.

Through the display of more than 3,000 animals, represented by species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, the São Paulo Zoo promotes public awareness of the various forms of life on Earth.

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

Zoológico de São Paulo
Avenida Miguel Estéfano, 4241
Água Funda – São Paulo – SP – CEP 04301-905
Fone: (11) 5073-0811 / Fax: (11) 5058-0564

For tourists the best way is by taxi if you can afford it or by bus if you are on a budget. Being a budget traveler, we took the metro to Jabaquara Station, then took their bus direct to the zoo. When you exit the metro, look for a kiosk selling bus/entry combo tickets. They take credit cards.

Location Sao Paulo Zoo

HOW MUCH IS IT?

FROM 01/01/2013: Ticket Zoo (add around R $ 10.00 if you use their bus)

Adults and children over 12 years – R $ 18.00
Children 5 to 12 years – R $ 7.00
Children under 4 years – Free
People with disabilities – Free
Seniors (Over 60 years), students and teachers of the State Public Networks and Municipal Education – £ 9.00 (half price)

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND THERE AND WHAT SHOULD YOU SEE?

It’s quite a large zoo and you could easily spend a day there. We were there on the last day of our trip before we left to fly home and wanted to have time for shopping so just stayed a couple hours and concentrated on the birds. They have a full list of animals on their website (in Portuguese). This zoo is an excellent place to bring children to help them learn more about Brazil’s birds and animals!

VALUE TO CONSERVATION

Until recently, the Sao Paulo Zoo was involved with the conservation of the rare and endangered Spix’s Macaw but this program has now been transferred up in the state of Bahia. Here is what their website says about conservation (I used Google Translate).

Conservation of Threatened Animals

Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world, with an approximate area of 8.5 million km ² dispute with Indonesia and the title of first place in the world’s biodiversity. It is estimated that Brazil should have around 1.8 million species, but unfortunately only 10% know that. Considering the species that we have identified, according to the Ministry of Environment, 618 animals are listed in a category of threat (critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable) and nine other extinct or extinct in the wild. In the case of vertebrates, it is estimated that 7% of Brazilian species are under some extinction.

The increase in deforestation, fragmentation of our forests and the wildlife trade have very high number of species under severe threat of extinction. It is estimated that soon many may disappear altogether, especially endemic (those species that only live in a small and specific region of the planet). Because of this, the extinction is one of the most dramatic environmental problems of this new century, becoming a priority issue in national and international political agendas, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Guidelines for the Conservation Project and Restoration of Biodiversity in the State of São Paulo (BIOTA / FAPESP). More than ever, we need to know the existing biodiversity, to identify the main factors that threaten and establish priorities for action.

The Zoological Park of São Paulo’s mission is to keep in captivity a collection of live animals from different parts of the world not only for education and recreation of the public, as well as for carrying out scientific research to better understand the animals. The institution now performs work focused on the reproduction of some endangered species, and plays an important role in the conservation of these species, the dissemination of knowledge through scientific papers and conferences and environmental education projects.

The conservation of species in captivity, also called ex-situ, ie outside of the natural environment is one of the strategies to help preserve the animals that are threatened with extinction. Individuals bred in captivity can be released into the wild to increase conservation efforts of the species in its natural environment. Captive populations can reduce the need to remove individuals from nature to serve as pets (pets), and also for purposes of scientific research. These animals can also be placed on display as a strong strategy for educating the public about the need to conserve the species.

You want to help get these animals the sad list of endangered species? So help us take care of them, do not buy animals at fairs or roads – surely they were taken from nature. Report it to the police if you find someone selling them. Go to parks and ecological stations, where there are many animals in the wild and are very easy to be observed, or may know a little about the rich fauna of our Brazil in Sao Paulo Zoo.

Angelica Midori Sugieda – SP ZOO

WHERE TO STAY NEARBY ON POINTS

Sao Paulo is one of the world’s major cities and attracts many business travelers so as you would expect, all major hotel chains are represented here. You should have no trouble using points from any of your favourite programs such as Priority Club, Club Carlson, Marriott, SPG, Wyndham, Hyatt, Hilton. If you are just passing through enroute to the great outdoors, I would recommend staying near the airport for convenience.

PHOTOS

Although this zoo has a wide range of animals, I was mostly interested in the birds. I got to see a lot of birds close up that I had seen while birding in the wild. It’s way more exciting to see wild birds but seeing them close up can help you later identify them in the wild and get familiar with their calls. These photos will take a while to load so please be patient!

Eco-Lite: Bali Bird Park More Photos

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Tara

Yesterday I launched my new series designed to help people find mini-trips to appreciate birds closer to home or on more conventional trips to beach resorts such as Bali. All the information on Bali Bird Park is in the first post but I took so many photos, I thought I would follow up with more here so I don’t make the informative post harder to load.

When you first enter, you will see lush gardens and several birds on stands or wandering about the park. They have photographers there if you want to have a photo posing with the birds.

Then you will pass by some large aviaries and habitats featuring various Indonesian birds and a few from Australia. You can also see some baby Eclectus Parrots that are being handreared.

These birds are from Africa.

Then you pass through the Birds of Paradise exhibit.

Next there is a huge walk-in aviary featuring birds from Bali. You can see the highly endangered Bali Starling here but they are kept separate for their security. They are in a breeding program trying to increase the numbers.

Next you will pass a few random bird exhibits including some birds of prey.

Then you will come to a free-flight show that they do around 11am featuring both birds of prey and some dazzling macaws. This was one of the times my camera was fogging up due to the humidity and intermittant rain.

Then you will come to the Papua Rainforest Aviary whose photos I featured yesterday.

As you leave Bali Bird Park, you will see a well-stocked gift shop with bird themed paintings, jewelry and knick-knacks. I bought out the bird bling when we were there but they have probably replenished it by now………they do take credit cards!

Eco-Lite: Bali Bird Park

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Tara

OVERVIEW

From Bali Bird Park Website

Find yourself at the Bali Bird Park to witness the largest and finest collection of Indonesian birds in the world plus fantastic birds from Africa & South America. Encompassing two hectares of botanical landscape, the park provides sanctuary to almost 1000 birds of 250 different species.

Our innovative approach towards the display of rare and tropical birds has progressed from traditional exhibits to that of showcasing mixed species in their natural habitats & in large walk in Aviaries and free range throughout the park.

The park accommodates an amazing display of flora with more then 2000 tropical plants including 50 varieties of palms alone and attracting numerous butterflies.

Incorporating a breeding, research and veterinary facility within the complex, the park has a high success rate in the captive reproduction of exotic birds such as the Bird. of Paradise and Hornbill.

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

Bali is in the South-East Asia zone for frequent flyer awards. You will need to fly to the airport of Denpasar (DPS) which is served by many international and domestic airlines including Singapore Airlines, Thai, Garuda, Malaysian and Virgin Australia. Bali is my recommended entry and exit point to Indonesia when venturing further afield to places like West Papua.

Location of Bali Bird Park – A

Once you are there, you can stay in the wider Kuta beach resort area or closer to the bird park in Ubud. Most tourists will hire a taxi for the day and make Bali Bird Park part of a full day sightseeing trip. If you want to stay there longer and not feel like you are wasting money having a taxi sit around for several hours, you can be dropped there from Ubud for 100,000 rupiah ($10) with bargaining. It would be more from Kuta. Buses and bemos plying the Kuta-Ubud route can drop you at the corner and you would have a short walk down there. When you are ready to leave, walk back up to the main road and flag down a passing bemo or taxi.

HOW MUCH IS IT AND WHEN IS IT OPEN?

Operating hours :
The park and restaurant is open from 09.00 a.m until 17:30 p.m daily. Except on Balinese New Year ( Nyepi )

Entrance Ticket :
Adult US $ 23.5 + 10 % general tax
Child US $ 11.75 + 10 % general tax

Most major credit cards are accepted both for entry and in the gift shop.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND THERE AND WHAT SHOULD YOU SEE?

If you book a full day Bali sightseeing tour, they will rush you through the walk-in aviaries, maybe let you see the Birds Of Prey show and take a few photos in an hour or so, then rush you off to shops where they get a commission. I don’t recommend this approach, especially if you love birds. We got there shortly after it opened and stayed there 5 hours and would have stayed longer if we didn’t have plans to meet friends later on. It was raining at first off and on in the high humidity which kept fogging up my lenses so many of my photos will look a bit smoky. It was a real joy to see the birds I had seen in West Papua from far away up close. The park is beautiful, habitats are well-planted, the birds are well taken care of and some of them are even very friendly!

The highlight for me was the Papua Aviary with all the birds flying freely in a huge walk-in aviary. Some birds like the Birds of Paradise and Pesquet’s Parrots were in their own large cages but they still had plenty of room. Here’s a shaky walk through, sorry I messed up the zooming in with my DSLR on video mode.

VALUE TO CONSERVATION

Bali Bird Park plays a key role in protecting and conserving Indonesia’s endangered wildlife.

The Park have successfully bred many species, including the rare Pesquet’s Parrot and numerous Bali Starlings. We accommodate more than 40 species of protected Indonesian birds in the park, a growing number of which are now breeding successfully under the care of our staff.

The staff are proud of their new additions some of which can be seen in their incubators through the observation windows of the laboratory & nursery building.

WHERE TO STAY NEARBY ON POINTS

Several hotel chains have properties in the greater beach resort area surrounding Kuta where you can use your points. I have given rates for free rooms but you may also use cash and points for some hotels. In alphabetical order:

Best Western: Has 3 hotels in Kuta. We spent one night in Best Western Kuta Villa for 12k points which was ok if you have an early flight as it is near the airport but I wouldn’t spend a vacation here. The staff were nice and gave us breakfast boxes as the buffet wasn’t open when we left.

Choice: Not represented

Club Carlson: Not represented

Hilton: Conrad Bali for 50k points.

Hyatt: Grand Hyatt Bali for 12k points or Bali Hyatt for 5k points. This is a favourite for Chase Ultimate Rewards customers.

IHG: Intercontinental Bali Resort for 35k points and Holiday Inn Baruna Bali for 20k points. My review here. We spent 3 nights at the Baruna on points and were happy with it. It’s right on the beach, has a huge pool that isn’t over-crowded, good breakfast buffet and walking distance to several markets and spas. Massages are very cheap in this area, roughly $10 an hour and you will need one (or more) if you just got back from Papua! I would recommend this hotel to those who are seeking a middle-class place on the beach but those seeking luxury would prefer the IC.

SPG: 4 properties which participate in SPG. The Sheraton Kuta goes for 10k points, the Le Meridien Bali Jimabaran, Westin Resort Nusa Dua and Laguna Resort & Spa Nusa Dua all go for 12k points. The Westin Ubud is expected to open in Dec 2013.

Wyndham: 3 Properties – Ramada Resort Camakila & Ramada Bintang Bali Resort fro 16k points and Ramada Resort Benoa Bali for 8k points.

INDIE HOTELS: Having typed all that, if I were to go back to Bali I would go straight to Ubud. Even though it’s also touristy, it’s not nearly as hectic as the beach resort area and I am not really a beach person. There are no points redemptions in Ubud until they finish the Westin but you can still get miles if you go through Pointshound or Welcome Rewards through Hotels.com. If you join Hotels.com, they will send you promo codes every now and then for 10% off but you will forego Welcome Rewards points. If you book Cendana Resort where we stayed through Pointshound, you would get 200 UA miles per night. I will do a separate review, this was an awesome place!

PHOTOS

I took so many pics at Bali Bird Park, I will have to continue some on a separate blog post otherwise this one will take forever to load. I’ll start you off with the fabulous Papua Walk-In Aviary here. As I said before, I had problems with the lens fogging up so that messed up some of the photos. More photos are here.