Zoologico Nacional de Nicaragua

The Zoologico Nacional de Nicaragua is the country's largest zoo, at kilometre 16 of the Masaya road inside Nicaragua's tourist corridor. It holds about 427 animals - roughly 120 mammals, 256 birds and 47 reptiles - on 1.7 manzanas of ground. It was founded in 1978 by a group of private citizens on premises belonging to the Banco Nicaraguense, and passed to the state in 1980.

In 1996 the veterinarian Dr Eduardo Sacasa asked the environment ministry to hand over its management; the ministry agreed on condition that it go to a foundation, so the Fundacion Amigos del Zoologico Nicaraguense was formed to run it, which it still does.