Bioparque do Rio
For children and others with an interest in seeing birds and beasts up close, Rio's city zoo makes for a fun day out. Colorful native birds and a variety of South American monkeys are among the attractions; the "nursery" for baby animals and the reptile house are always popular with younger visitors. The zoo has received criticism for the somewhat small enclosures the larger animals—including lions and bears—endure, but conditions have improved in recent years, and an extensive refurbishment program was completed to improve facilities for animals and visitors alike, turning it into a biopark.
