page_title: Municipal Zoological Park Quinzinho de Barros
section_title: Onset of educational activities
hierarchical_section_title: Municipal Zoological Park Quinzinho de Barros / History / Onset of educational activities
caption_attribution_description: English: Ariranha - Parque Zoológigo Municipal Quinzinho de Barros at Sorocaba - SP - Brazil Português: Recinto com ariranha - Parque Zoológigo Municipal Quinzinho de Barros em Sorocaba - SP - Brasil
context_page_description: The Municipal Zoological Park "Quinzinho de Barros" is a 15-hectare zoo located in the municipality of Sorocaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil. It is a member of the Society of Brazilian Zoos, and is considered Brazil's second zoo in terms of species.
  The zoo lies in the Vila Hortência district, in the eastern area of the town of Sorocaba and covers an area of approximately 15 ha. It includes a strip of transitional Atlantic Forest in its secondary stage, a lake, as well as the Historical Museum of Sorocaba. According to a survey carried out in 1992 by the Society of Brazilian Zoos, it sheltered 1,487 specimens of 353 different species of mammals, birds and reptiles at that time. 70% belonged to the Brazilian fauna; among these, 36 species were threatened by extinction.
  Classified as "A", the highest rank granted by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, the zoo is a reference in Latin America in terms of leisure, research, preservation, and environmental education. It attracted over one million visitors in 2007, including pupils from 81 different towns of the state of São Paulo.
context_section_description: Quinzinho, as the local population calls it, began to offer educational activities in 1979 due to an initiative by both the Municipal Secretary of Education and Culture and the Zoo Director. As a result, the park ceased to be a mere showcase for animals and became a classroom as well.
  The Environmental Education Center was set up in 1988; it comprises a specialized library on the environment which contains both technical books and books for children, a museum of zoology, a lecture hall, as well as a dormitory for trainees who come from other cities to attend courses. The Laboratório Cientistas da Natureza (Scientists of Nature Lab) was added later to make research more popular.
caption: Giant otter exhibit
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