Port Oasis eco park, Cartagena, Colombia

Warning!!! This blog is going to be full of similar animal photos. But I loved the place so much I kept taking photos!

The Port Oasis eco park is inside the gates of the cruise terminal at Cartagena in Colombia. I have done a separate blog on Cartagena town. Access is only for cruise passengers arriving or embarking at the Cartagena Cruise Terminal. Public access is restricted.

From the port website :  "The Port Oasis, or Port Oasis Ecopark, is a 10,000-square-meter garden with more than 700 animals of 74 different species. These animals are handed over by environmental authorities for their recovery, protection, and conservation. In some cases, they return to their natural habitat after a rehabilitation process; in other cases, they find a home in the Oasis that meets their survival needs."

From their Facebook page "Did you know that within the Port of Cartagena there is a conservation center for animals victims of illegal trafficking? It's called Port Oasis Cartagena and in 2024 it received 160 rescued animals, mainly birds such as parrots, macaws and canaries. More than 125 have already been rehabilitated and returned to freedom. This space, located in the cruise terminal, is a symbol of the Port of Cartagena Group's commitment to sustainability, the protection of biodiversity and the fight against species trafficking. Thanks to this work, the Port was recognized with the award in Biodiversity at the GRI Infra Awards Andean 2024. "

You have to walk through the park to get out of the terminal. I was absolutely amazed that the park is free.

Blue and yellow macaw -

Flamingos -

Red footed tortoise -

Scarlet macaw -

I was lucky when I walked through in the morning, as I caught these howler monkeys. There was no sign of them later in the day. I couldn't get a good photo as they were against the light -

I then left to go to Cartagena, but on my return in the afternoon, I spent a long time back in the park.

A grackle that is not a resident, it has just come in for food -

I think this is a Muscovy duck -

and I think this is a chachalaca -

Blue and yellow macaws -

The peacocks were busy trying to attract the peahens, but the ladies didn't seem too interested!

A fine specimen, and a view of the rear -

A giant anteater, camouflaged in the light -

Looking down on it, you can see the length of the snout and also the long foreclaw -

Its tongue investigating my finger -

This was the first sloth I saw in the park. It was on the move -

I think this parrot is a yellow crowned Amazon -

Maybe a festive Amazon -

An opportunist grackle -

Even a rabbit -

Probably an Orinoco goose -

White peacock and hen -

Scarlet ibis -

Southern lapwing?

Black swans -

Toucan -

Probably a Curassow -

A brown-throated three-toed sloth -

You can just see it is sticking its tongue out here! -

Scarlet macaw and a blue and yellow -

The sloth was on the move -

This sloth looked as if its fur has just been brushed! -

I really enjoyed my time in the park and only left when it got too dark for photos. I had really enjoyed my day in Colombia.