A Stroll Through Panama's Summit Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Crocs And Monkeys But Where Are The Jaguars?

The Capuchin Monkey Is Native To Panama

I have been in Panama for a few years now and have to admit, I didn’t have much of an interest in Summit Zoo and Botanical Gardens just outside of Panama City. When I heard a new exhibit had opened that featured jaguars, I figured maybe it was finally time to take the drive past the Miraflores Locks to Summit.

Admission to the zoo is a very reasonable $1 for adults and I was impressed at how well the grounds were kept. The zoo displays animals and plants that are native to Central America. Since I have seen crocodiles, monkeys, parrots and agoutis in their natural habitat in Panama, I was there to see the jaguars.

I wrongly assumed the park was small so instead of asking where the jaguar exhibit was located and make a beeline for it, I arrogantly started walking along the main path figuring it had to be close. Not quite. Granted, Summit isn’t huge but it is a lot bigger than I thought. The pathways are lined with plants and trees native to Panama and there is a new children’s playground in the park which were I about 20 years younger, probably could have had a lot of fun at. There are also a handful of snack stands in the park, but none were open during my visit.

As I walked along the tree-lined pathways on this humid afternoon, I couldn’t help but flashback to the last time I visited a zoo. It was a year and a half ago (the coldest week of January 2007 to be exact), and I was escorting a Panamanian through the frigid Metro Toronto Zoo. While the walk through Summit was steamy and it started to drizzle, it was much preferable to the stroll through the 10 times larger, minus 32 degree celcius Toronto Zoo property. Not to mention, the only outdoor exhibit to remain open in the dead of a Canadian winter is the polar bears, which was just fine for my Panamanian companion.

I eventually found my way to the World of Jaguars exhibit. The compound is impressive and there is an obstacle course and other interactive displays where you can behave like a jaguar. After the 20 minute drive out of the city to Summit, I was finally at the exhibit I came to see! But wait - where are the jaguars???

I stood, camera poised, for what seemed like an eternity as I scanned the habitat for the elusive jag. There was not one jaguar in the enclosure! I can only assume that the jags had been taken inside for the remainder of the day. I did arrive to the park a little late in the day, but there was still two hours until closing time. I was really disappointed so I can only imagine how a tourist, with a limited amount of time in Panama would feel if they had made the trip all the way out to Summit only to find the enclosure empty, especially since the exhibit is well publicised. If the zoo takes some of the animals to indoor enclosures at night, they could at least wait until the park is closed.

My day at the zoo wasn’t a complete bust, I still got to see some pretty impressive animals.