Parque Zoobotânico Getúlio Vargas, Zoo and botanical garden in Ondina, Salvador, Brazil

Parque Zoobotânico Getúlio Vargas covers 700,000 square metres in Alto de Ondina, with 250,000 square metres of vegetation called Mata do Zoo. It was created in 1958 by state decree 17.481 and holds 1,500 animals of 142 species. The site also contains a 950-square-metre Horto do Zoo, a library and a natural history museum.

The land was established as a public park during the 20th century and developed into a conservation and education center. The transformation of the original forest area into a zoo and botanical garden allowed the preservation of Atlantic Forest species and made them accessible to the public.

The park serves as a place where locals and visitors connect with the Atlantic Forest ecosystem and learn about animals and plants in their natural habitat. It has become a space for families to experience wildlife up close and develop appreciation for the region's natural world.

The park is accessible on foot with trails throughout the grounds that visitors can explore at their own pace. It is best to wear comfortable shoes and bring water, as you will spend considerable time walking through the open areas.

The zoo's symbol is the Lear's macaw (Anodorhynchus leari), a critically endangered parrot endemic to the Raso da Catarina in Bahia. The park keeps a natural history museum created in 1979, housed in a 950-square-metre horto, with a physical library of 1,500 titles.