Chetumal’s Payo Obispo Zoo to Undergo $20 Million Renovation

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Renovation work at the Payo Obispo Zoo is set to begin soon, with a 20 million peso investment aimed at modernizing the facilities of this key green space in the state capital.

The zoo, which spans approximately 11 hectares, serves as a green lung for Chetumal and is the only facility in the state classified as both a zoo and a nature reserve. It houses around 400 animals, including mammals, birds, and reptiles, and receives about 5,000 visitors each month.

Bianca Novelo Duran, director of the Payo Obispo Zoo, said the renovation is part of an investment package promoted by the government of Quintana Roo. The project will create more dignified and secure spaces for both animals and visitors.

“We are the only government-run zoo in the state. It was founded in 1980. The 11 hectares include 25 animal enclosures, and we have an average of 400 animals,” Novelo said.

To minimize disruption, officials have begun placing barriers to protect visitor access during construction. Novelo noted that the zoo currently attracts about 5,000 monthly visitors, many from the local area and neighboring Belize, and expects the number to increase after the renovation.