This year BIOPARC Valencia has celebrated its 10th anniversary and has established itself as one of the 10 best animal parks in the world. Images of new species, animal transfers, important births of endangered species or the exciting rescue of a newborn zebra have gone around the world and are proof of the park's commitment to nature conservation.
Due to its importance in the life of the city where it was born, for many it seems that BIOPARC Valencia has always been here, but it is really very young for a park of these characteristics, since this 2018 has turned 10 years. And this “youth” gives even more relevance to the fact that in just this time it has been consolidated as one of the 10 best animal parks in the world, where centuries-old institutions with a great tradition are located.
To communicate this event, a commemorative image was entrusted to the same Valencian graphic designer who created his well-known brand, Iban Ramón, and with this image in spring the streets of the city were filled with color and animals. And for this important year BIOPARC had prepared a surprise for all visitors and it was just in May when the Mayor of Valencia, Joan Ribó, the Regional Secretary of Tourism, Francesc Colomer, the writer Santiago Posteguillo and the President of Rain Forest, José Maldonado, They inaugurated the impressive sculpture of an African elephant, as a milestone of the 10th anniversary celebration. So, since then, Scipio the elephant It has become an emblem of the city and its presence should remind us of the words of the award-winning writer Posteguillo referring to the relationship between the name and the animal: “if human beings do not do well in this world it is because we have our backs turned to the signals that nature sends us.” This phrase and the sculpture that welcomes us to the park clearly expresses the BIOPARC's commitment to the conservation of biodiversity and nature.
Commitment that underlies several aspects of its activity, beyond the experience of the visit:
1. Animal births within programs for the preservation of endangered species. This year, babies of highly endangered species were born such as Mhorr gazelles, drill, Pepe the gorilla, Coco the chimpanzee, duiker, zebras, oricteropo, Abdím's storks, talapoín, mole rats, Thomson gazelles and many more. Images that have been shared on social networks and some of them have gone around the world, such as the rescue of the newborn zebra when it fell into the water. And there have also been very hard moments with the loss of a newborn chimpanzee and the little gorilla Mbeli.
2. Arrivals such as the Addax, a new species in serious danger of extinction that arrives in our city within the international conservation program to form a reproductive group, the Nile crocodiles, mongooses or mangabeys.
3. Transfers such as that of the gorilla Thomas to become the silverback of a new family in Nuremberg (Germany), of two giraffes to create a group of this species in Córdoba or of a hyena to New Jersey (USA).
4. Collaboration in conservation programs in situ with contributions through the BIOPARC Foundation, among others, to the “Ebo Forest Research Project” (Cameroon) and “Ecological restoration in the Nandoumary Valley” projects of the Jane Goodall Institute in Senegal.
5. Organization of solidarity sporting events such as the Can-rrera and the Race in Herd that have become classic and essential for Valencians and that contribute to the conservation of the wildest nature through Save the Rhino International and its “Rhino Dog Squad” in Kenya and also the closest wildlife related, in addition to animal-assisted therapy with “Acogeunpajarito”.
6. Local conservation actions such as the one carried out with bats, one of the most emblematic species for Valencians and which is threatened.
7. Events committed to animal welfare and responsible behavior that have turned the park's exterior plaza into a citizen meeting space, such as the two annual editions of the AUPA-BIOPARC Abandoned Dog Parade or the concerts at BIOPARC Café, the restaurant in the exterior plaza that also offers cultural leisure with its shows and monologues.
8. Training leisure actions for park visitors with the celebration of special days related to the environment and animals. As well as activities “with a cause” that are completely free and open to the public, such as the Poblado de las Jaimas, which combine leisure committed to the planet and the magic of Christmas with the presence of the Emissary of the Three Wise Men and the gift of the Annual Pass B! Children's program for children who participate (paying only €1 for the BIOPARC Foundation and €3,5 for broadcast costs).
9. Commitment to sustainability and the future of the planet in all areas such as the elimination of single-use plastic elements throughout the restoration and their replacement with completely compostable materials.
10. Be a great classroom for those close to 40.000 schoolchildren who have visited the park this year and who have had a free guided tour by a specialized educator, to be the vacation spot for the boys and girls who participate in the different editions of Africa Expedition or be a “second home” for the more than 30.000 people who have the annual pass and form the MundoB Community! and who contribute to the conservation of nature and who enjoy “their” park all year round.
It 2018 BIOPARC Valencia continues to consolidate as a differential and quality tourist destination of the city of Valencia. Thousands of people from all national and international backgrounds have traveled to see a differential tourist attraction point in Valencia.
Subscribe to the channel Youtube from BIOPARC Valencia and follows the news of the park.
