Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo

The Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo was a large facility in Mayagüez with animals from different continents. The collection included an aviary, an arthropod house, and a butterfly pavilion.

The facility was established in 1954 as Puerto Rico's first and only zoo. It operated under the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources until it was severely damaged by a hurricane in 2017.

The zoo provided educational programs about wildlife conservation and maintained bilingual information signs throughout the facility for English and Spanish speakers.

The zoo is no longer open to visitors. The remaining animals were relocated to wildlife sanctuaries across the United States after the damage.

Two lion cubs were born at the facility in 2019, during the period when the zoo remained closed to visitors but maintained animal care operations.

Location: Mayagüez

Inception: 1954

Operator: Departamento de Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico

Website: http://www2.pr.gov/agencias/cdpn/zoologico/Pages/default.aspx

GPS coordinates: 18.21389,-67.13111

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:01