The Buenos Aires Zoo was established in 1888 and in 1991 was turned over to a private company.  The zoo's located in the hear of Palermo near Plaza Italia.  Along one side are high rise apartment building with perfect overview of the park.  Not sure if that's considered a good view or a smelly view.  When the zoo was constructed back in the late 1800s, they constructed each animal's shelter to mimic the architecture from the animals homeland.  For example the elephant lives in an Indian Temple with goddesses adorning the walls.





One thing that differentiated this zoo from most others we've visited is the high activity and playfulness of the animals.  Probably due to the fact that the animals are used to being feed by the crowds, who purchase buckets of animal food from the concession stands.  It was a treat watching the elephant and hippos getting feed.  I never realized just how big a hippos teeth really are.  People were able to feed a majority of the animals, such as buffalo, llamas, camels, goats, deer, seals, etc.  Only a few of the animals weren't permitted by be feed by the masses.  Such as the big cats (with good reason) and and animals like the the giraffes who had specialized diets









While you are walking around, you will see tons of these little guys roaming the park freely with the ducks.  Because they didn't have an exhibit, we never saw any information about what they are.  It looks like a hybrid of a bunny and a miniature deer.  What ever it is, I want one. 




The park is pretty long, but rather narrow.  As you walk around you couldn't help but notice all the noises from the city just beyond the trees and bamboo: cars whizzing by, the squeal of the city bus breaks and even someone practicing his trumpet from his balcony.  All in all it was an awesome day at the zoo.