, an endangered species endemic to
Bahia, Brazil, at the zoo. Four tamarins are pictured, with two babies clinging to the lower tamarin's back. The zoo opened in 1924. The biologist Alfonso L. Herrera, founder of Chapultepec Zoo, wanted to recreate the famous zoo and aviary of
Moctezuma II. He wanted to exhibit the native species for Mexicans, along with other species from the rest of the world. The collection would include mammals, birds and reptiles, as well as an aquarium. After several visits to the United States, Herrera obtained the first animals for the zoo, three
lion cubs and two
American bison. The native animals came from different Mexican states like
Sonora,
Veracruz and
Campeche, while other animals were exchanged with countries like
India,
France,
Peru and Brazil. This first collection consisted of 243 animals. Between 1950 and 1960, the zoo had the sole purpose of being a place of recreation that exhibited several popular animal species.
Ernesto P. Uruchurtu, mayor of the city during that decade, gave new impetus to the zoo, new species were acquired and the entire collection was renovated. Some of the animals that were acquired back then are still in the collection more than half a century later. The zoo received a pair of
giant pandas in September 1975 as a gift from the
People's Republic of China. Since then, eight giant pandas have been born in Chapultepec Zoo, becoming the first institution outside of China where captive breeding of this species has been successful. During the period from June 24, 1992, and August 1, 1994, Chapultepec Zoo was completely remodeled through the project "Ecological Rescue Chapultepec Zoo." A multidisciplinary group including experts in various areas such as designers, engineers, biologists and veterinarians worked in all aspects of the project, seeking to cover the four major objectives of a modern zoo, i.e., recreation, education, research and
conservation of wildlife. For over seventy years, the exhibition was classified according to the taxonomic groups: primates, felines, canines, herbivores, birds, reptiles, etc. The concept has changed to reflect the fact that the animals live together in nature, so now are grouped by bio-climatic zones according to their natural habitat. There are four climates, cold and wet (temperate forest and coastal), cold and dry (grassland), hot and humid (tropical rainforest) hot and dry (arid and savanna). Mexico has all these regions, and at the beginning of each exhibit animals native to the country are exhibited. Exhibits were built trying to recreate a natural habitat for each species, which gives visitors a better understanding of nature and provides the animal enrichment. Chapultepec Zoo houses some important native species that are endangered or threatened such as the
volcano rabbit, the
Mexican wolf,
jaguar,
thick-billed parrot,
ocellated turkey,
axolotl and the
red-kneed tarantula. The Chapultepec Zoo is involved with various conservation projects, using both natural and artificial methods. With this purpose in 1998, a reproductive physiology laboratory was established. The collaboration with national and international institutions is part of the work the Chapultepec Zoo does for the benefit of the conservation of wildlife. == Animals and exhibits ==