Zoo Dom

The Parque Zoologico Nacional Arquitecto Manuel Valverde Podesta, known as ZOODOM, is the Dominican Republic's national zoo, in Arroyo Hondo in Santo Domingo overlooking the Isabela river. It was created by law in January 1975 and opened that July, built by the architects Manuel Valverde Podesta and Eugenio Perez Montas, and is one of the largest zoos in Latin America.

It sits under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and works on conservation, research, education and veterinary care, with an emphasis on Hispaniola's endemic wildlife - the solenodon, the Hispaniolan amazon and parakeet, the palmchat, the rhinoceros and Ricord's iguanas - alongside African and Asian species from exchange programmes. Grounds hold separate mammal, bird and reptile areas, a children's zoo, a serpentarium, a bird show, a zip line and a visitor train, plus a cafeteria, gift shop and library.