VR Canaries - Cocodrilo Park Tour

It all started when the Balser family were asked to take care of a few crocodiles, they now have the largest collection in Europe. After the success of these first adoptions, the organisation SEPRONA

(Environmental Protection Police) have placed many animals in the Balser family's capable hands. These animals, Chimpanzees , various monkeys, Birds to mention a few have arrived in very bad health and condition due to being cruelly mistreated and confiscated from cargo ships. The family has also added to the park by buying animals from the private sector and Circus. Animals have also being breeding freely in the park. The big family of Bengal Tigers you will see were born in their care.

This was the start of Cocodrilo Park, Gran Canarias only Zoological Park.

It was first opened to the public in 1988. The funds of opening to the public has assisted with the upkeep of this ever growing park and excellent and caring park staff.

Due to the unfortunate amount of animals still being confiscated we are addressing the need of living space, but these animals are still so much happier in these surroundings and are even breeding. "Babu" one of our Baboons handed to us last year was kept tied with the same chain around it's waist until it was 8 years old. It took two operations and months of treatment but it's now happy and healthy once more.

Please don't be alarmed if one of our animals is not looking very well.
It has probably just arrived and will be on it's way to full health and happiness, thanks to your visit! If you require information on any of our animals please don't hesitate to ask staff or the Balser family themselves.

Gran Canaria, sometimes called Grand Canary (older name) is one of and is the second largest island in the Canary Islands, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa and belonging to Spain. It is located southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic origin.
The island was populated by the Canarios from 3000 BC, who called it Tamarán, but was claimed by Spain in the 15th century.
Gran Canaria's surface is 1,560 km? and its maximum altitude is 1,949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, having a diameter of just about 50 km.
Gran Canaria is divided into twenty-one municipalities:
• Agaete
• Agüimes
• Artenara
• Arucas
• Firgas
• Gáldar
• Ingenio
• Mogán
• Moya
• Las Palmas
• San Bartolomé de Tirajana
• San Nicolás de Tolentino
• Sta. Brígida
• Sta. Lucía de Tirajana
• Santa María de Guía
• Tejeda
• Telde
• Teror
• Valleseco
• Valsequillo
• Vega de San Mateo
The island has a population of 789,908 with 377,600 (year 2003) of those in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is also the capital of the province of Las Palmas, and also the capital of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands.

Gran Canaria is called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found.
Most tourists stay in the south of the island, which is sunnier and has less rain than the north. There is a large bird park, Palmitos Park, in the south of the island, as well as many beach resort communities. The resort communities start in the central eastern part of the southern coast in the Maspalomas area which includes the towns of San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, and Maspalomas where most tourists visit. The Dunes of Maspalomas, supplied by sands from the Sahara, are located between Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. Another tourist attraction is the Lighthouse at Maspalomas.

Playa del Inglés is a popular destination for European gays with bars, restaurants and businesses centered primarily in the Yumbo Centrum shopping center. A gay beach is found near the Maspalomas Dunes.

Heading west along the southern coast is the fishing city of Arguineguin in the Municipality of Mogán. The market, which is held on Tuesdays, is the largest on the island.

Still further to the west along the southern shore, also in the Municipality of Mogán are the communities of Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán, a pictoresque village referred to as "Little Venice" on account on its many canals.

The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the north of the island, has a vibrant city life and the beach Las Canteras is located in the heart of the city. Las Palmas is also known for its annual Carnaval.

The number of annual visitors is 2.2 million (2,200,000). Most of the tourists visit the southern part of the island.

Other attractions includes Banana Park. Roque Nublo (a 80 m monolith), Dedo de Dios in Puerto de las Nieves, Cenebio de Valerón with about 290 caves, the botanical garden Jardin Canario in Tafira Alta and many more.