Introduction:
The Chico Mendes Environmental Park, encompassing 57 hectares, preserves a small yet vital piece of the Amazon Rainforest. This natural treasure invites visitors to explore, learn, and connect with the region’s rich biodiversity. Officially opened on July 2, 1996, in Rio Branco, Acre, the park stands as a living tribute to rubber tapper and environmental leader Chico Mendes—whose legacy of fighting for forest communities and sustainable resource management left an indelible mark on Brazil and the world.
The park’s zoo is home to 276 animals, including 33 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles native to the Amazon, offering a unique opportunity for scientists, researchers, and students to study local biodiversity up close. Moreover, the park is committed to environmental preservation and the promotion of sustainable practices. One of its key initiatives includes maintaining a genetic bank of regional species—a project aimed at safeguarding the biological wealth of the rainforest.
Let’s take a closer look at this vital ecological and educational space.
Interview:
Joselina Guimarães, biologist and manager of the Chico Mendes Environmental Park
Executive Production:
Juliana Fontes
Intern:
Fernanda Soares
Editing and Post-production:
Alexandre Almeida
Production:
AMAZON AGENCY
Website: amazonagency.news
Duration: 09'04"
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**Script**
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- OPENING AUDIO TRACK
- Joseline Guimarães, biologist and manager of Chico Mendes Park
"Hello, everyone! I’m Joseline Guimarães, I’m a biologist and the manager here at Chico Mendes Environmental Park, located in Rio Branco, the capital of the state of Acre. Here we have an environmental area of 57 hectares, where you'll find Amazonian vegetation, rich in palm trees. We also have trails with rubber trees, Brazil nut trees, and some animals under conservation outside of nature, which we call *ex situ* conservation, as well as animals in their natural environment.
So, we have a variety of Amazonian animal species here for our visitors to get to know. That’s the main goal of the park—besides bearing the name of the environmentalist Chico Mendes, we also have a memorial here that showcases his legacy and life story."
- AUDIO TRACK
"This is the Chico Mendes Memorial, where right at the entrance there's a statue of Chico Mendes, for people to take photos and help strengthen his image as someone who cared deeply about our Amazon forest. In the center, we have the symbol of everything— a rubber tree."
- AUDIO TRACK
"Here, we have a space dedicated to children called 'Chico Teaches,' where they can read about Chico Mendes and the environment. It features Amazonian stories and tales, and it's a place where children can spend the day freely—and even adults, if they’d like to read.
We also have a little corner displaying the tools used by rubber tappers, tools still used by some to this day. Many visitors come with childhood memories tied to these items. There's also a spot where visitors can sign their names and record their presence at the park. It's a place of memories for many."
- AUDIO TRACK
"These are the panels telling the entire life story of Chico Mendes—his legacy for the world. Visitors come here to understand a bit about the history of Acre and Chico’s story."
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"This totem here represents an international seal that the park received—a certification for sustainability."
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"In this area, as you can see, we’re in an elevated part. This is a typical Amazonian floodplain. So, once the rainy season begins, this whole area gets flooded, providing a breeding ground for amphibians.
A study conducted here identified 58 species of amphibians—very important for environmental conservation. According to Dr. Moisés Barbosa, a herpetologist from the Federal University of Acre, Chico Mendes Park has more amphibian biodiversity than all of Europe."
- AUDIO TRACK
"We have the feline sanctuary, the bird grove, the serpentarium, and the primate grove. Right now, we're entering the primate grove."
- AUDIO TRACK
"All the animals here have been assessed and determined to be unfit for return to the wild. So they are under human care. We have a team of three biologists and three veterinarians. We currently care for around 295 animals from 34 species."
- AUDIO TRACK
"That one is Saguinus imperator, the emperor tamarin. It’s an endemic monkey species found only here in the state of Acre."
- AUDIO TRACK
"Here we have the red cougar enclosure, which is the *Puma concolor*."
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"And here we have the jaguar, which is the Panthera onca."
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"The park is a signatory of the jaguar conservation program led by CENAP (National Center for Research and Conservation of Carnivorous Mammals), an initiative of ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation).
We are part of a network where all the animals are registered, they have microchips, and their breeding is coordinated based on their geographic origin—whether they're from the Amazon, the Cerrado, etc.—to help ensure the conservation of these species both in the wild and under human care."
- AUDIO TRACK
"Now we're heading to the serpentarium. We only work with non-venomous snakes, all of which are native to the Amazon region."
- AUDIO TRACK
- Joseline Guimarães, biologist and manager of Chico Mendes Park*
"This is a snake's shed skin—an ecdysis from a boa constrictor. You can see it's completely intact, which means the animal is very healthy. What does this mean? It means the animal has grown and is shedding its old skin, in simple terms.
You can see all its scales—this is a clear sign the animal is healthy and growing, a typical feature of reptiles."
- AUDIO TRACK
"The tapir is a diamond of the forest—our little gardener. Bruno is like that—he loves attention. Look at him, see? He's smiling."
- AUDIO TRACK
"This is the 'paca-de-rabo' (tail paca), a very important species for science and little studied. It’s rare to see one under human care, and here in Brazil, this is the only zoo where the species is on display."
- AUDIO TRACK
"Here we have six species: the vulture parrot, the caboclo parrot, the curassow, and several macaws."
- AUDIO TRACK
"This area is dedicated to Amazonian culture and includes forest legends. We have a life-size replica of a rubber tapper’s house, though we've made some adjustments to make it comfortable for visitors to sit and experience a bit of the forest people's regional culture."
- AUDIO TRACK
"We invite you to visit Chico Mendes Environmental Park here in Rio Branco, Acre. We're open Tuesday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m."
- FINAL AUDIO TRACK