“Balam Balam” Feline House at Animaya Zoo: Nearly Complete!

The new feline enclosure, "Balam Balam," at the Bicentennial Zoo Animaya Park is nearing completion, with 82 percent of the construction already finished. The unique design of the enclosure will soon be ready for families and visitors to learn about and enjoy the feline species housed there.

The city's mayor, Alejandro Ruz Castro, recently visited the site to check on the progress. The enclosure spans 16,800 square meters and has cost 58 million 549 thousand 583.53 pesos to construct. Other key figures present at the site visit included Renán Barrera Concha, the licensed mayor and main promoter of the construction, and representatives from the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry and the College of Civil Engineers of Yucatan A.C.

The mayor explained that the enclosure is not only sustainable but is also designed to conserve, care for, and breed different species of felines, some of which are endangered. The aim is to provide a habitat that is optimal for these species.

In addition to housing the felines, the enclosure will also contribute to the conservation of regional biodiversity through a reproduction program for endangered species. There will also be a rescue and rehabilitation program for wildlife. To complement these efforts, an educational program focused on felines will be available for scheduled groups from schools, civil associations, and citizen participation.

David Loría, the director of public works, explained that the feline house includes a service corridor, an access area, eight enclosures, an exhibition area, a hollow area, a lake, and green areas. There will also be a service path, a visitor's walkway, and an audiovisual area for activities aimed at raising awareness about the importance of felines in human life.

The design of the enclosure is unique in the region, providing ample spaces for the felines to live as close as possible to their natural habitat. Visitors will be able to admire the animals from a panoramic view from above or at ground level through special, highly resistant glass windows.

The current population of felines in Animaya includes species such as the African Lion, Bengal Tiger, Jaguar, Ocelot, Tigrillo, and Jaguarundi or Emuch. Puma specimens will also be added to the collection.