Hello friends. During our trip to Tenerife, we visited one of the island’s most important tourist attractions: Loro Park. In my opinion this park is one of the places that makes this journey worthwhile. Loro Park is, at least from what I have seen so far, the most incredible zoo. Initially it was established solely for parrots, after all, "Loro" means "parrot" in Spanish. Opened in 1972 the park now features stunning landscapes, various animal species and a range of different shows.
From an evolutionary perspective, as you may know gorillas are among the closest species to humans in terms of DNA structure. Unfortunately their numbers are rapidly declining and they are at risk of extinction. There are currently three different species of gorillas in the world: one has only 150 individuals left, another around 200 and the exact number of the third species is unknown. Loro Park is home to four gorillas. It is also one of the first places in the world to establish a bachelor gorilla group. These groups are created in zoos to prevent male gorillas from competing for females and harming one another. Here there are four bachelor gorillas.
Why is this zoo significant in terms of architecture and design? Because it is a brilliant example of successful landscape planning and well-thought-out architecture. Although the area itself is not very large, once you step inside, it feels remarkably spacious and impressive. This effect is achieved through clever use of elevation differences, structures and an intelligently designed layout.
There are also incredibly cute penguins here. Many different species of penguins can be found in the park. And adorable puffins, also known as sea parrots live here as well. Of course, another fascinating attraction of the park is its massive cylindrical aquarium. After the famous aquarium in Berlin collapsed, this one has likely become one of the largest in Europe.
Loro Park features a total of four major shows. The first one is the sea lion show. It’s important to distinguish sea lions from fur seals, as they are different species. This distinction is thoroughly explained during the show. However, in general this performance resembles more of a circus act and doesn’t offer much depth in terms of information.
In my opinion the most fascinating show is the one with parrots. I have never seen such an extensive parrot show anywhere else. It provides insight into how parrots are raised and protected. One of Loro Park’s biggest missions is to conserve and breed endangered animal species, especially parrots. Currently, the park is home to over 4000 different parrot species, which is an incredible number.
What’s missing here however, are giant pandas. They only have red pandas, but if you ask me they look more like badgers. Hopefully, one day they’ll bring real giant pandas here.
The killer whale (orca) show was added to Loro Park in recent years. Before that there was no such performance, so we hadn’t had the chance to see it before. When we watched it, I found it quite impressive, though it wasn’t as grand as some of the other orca shows around the world. Still there are very few places where orcas perform and this is one of them. For those wanting to see an orca show, Tenerife is one of the most accessible locations.
However, a tragic incident occurred here a few years after the park opened. During a training session a trainer was found dead at the bottom of the pool for reasons that remain unclear. Following this event trainers were prohibited from performing in the water with the orcas. Now interactions take place only at the poolside. This incident along with the general issue of keeping wild animals in captivity, has led to criticism of Loro Park. Some believe these shows are dangerous and not beneficial for the animals. However, the park asserts that it actively works to protect these species and revitalize their populations.
Although the shows aren’t particularly large or extravagant, I believe this is intentional. The park seems to focus on respecting the natural lives of the animals. Throughout the presentations, they consistently emphasize why these species are endangered and what people can do to help.
Beyond that there is even an albino tiger here. It is said that seeing an albino tiger brings luck and prosperity, so consider yourselves lucky. 😄 If you’re looking for something fun to watch, the park also has swimming rats.
Now let me share an interesting historical and architectural fact: Loro Park was founded by German businessman Wolfgang Kiessling. Although it opened in 1972, the idea had emerged earlier. Kiessling was inspired to create this project after traveling to Southeast Asia in the 1960s and 70s. During this period, air travel was becoming more common and people were increasingly eager to explore different parts of the world.
Loro Park is more than just a zoo. It’s a place that combines wildlife conservation, architectural design and entertainment.
When direct flights to the region became available, Wolfgang Kiessling invited the Royal Architect of Thailand to design the park. This is why the park has a distinct Southeast Asian atmosphere in its layout and structures.
Loro Park can also be considered a botanical garden, as it features a wide variety of plants from different climate zones and geographical regions. The park predominantly showcases tropical and subtropical flora.
And the park has many impressive aquariums. The jellyfish-filled aquarium, in particular is stunning. To be honest, apart from the Berlin zoo, I have never seen such an extensive jellyfish collection anywhere else. Moreover a newly added pavilion displays a coral reef ecosystem and this section looks absolutely spectacular.
In terms of presentation the park does an outstanding job. Special ultra-clear glass is used, minimizing reflections so that visitors can see the animals up close and clearly. This also makes for great photography opportunities.
Since the park originally started with birds, the diversity of bird species here is astounding. Several massive domes have been constructed, allowing visitors to walk inside and observe the birds in a natural setting, free from cages. This offers a unique experience. Each dome represents a different geographical region, such as the Amazon rainforest or an oceanic ecosystem. I’m not even sure if such a system exists anywhere else, as I have never heard of anything like it before.
Here are some more interesting facts about Loro Park: The park and its associated foundation employ a total of 800 people, making Loro Park one of Tenerife’s largest employers. Its owner Wolfgang Kiessling, also owns a water park called Siam Park and a hotel-spa complex. The hotel is located in Puerto de la Cruz, while Siam Park is situated in the south of Tenerife, one of the island’s busiest and most touristic areas.
Finally Loro Park welcomes approximately one million visitors per year. While this may seem like a high number at first, considering ticket prices and the park’s investment in wildlife conservation, it’s actually not that much. The park goes beyond just being a zoo, it is an organization that makes significant contributions to conservation efforts.
So, my friends I hope you enjoyed our trip to Loro Park, one of the world’s most incredible zoos. This place is amazing and for me, it remains just as impressive as when I was a child. I hope this post has helped past visitors relive their memories and inspired those who haven’t been to consider visiting. Maybe it has even sparked an interest in discovering the new attractions added since your last visit.
Remember, doing good is important. By the way if you did something kind today, you should ring the big bell. I already did it for you, so don’t let me down. 😊
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I loved the place and the way you have to describe it.Thank you
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Very interesting picture my friend have a nice day.
Loro park is amazing.thank you for great picture @larissalugo , hope to visit that surely our kids will love that place.
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