Zoológico Municipal de Villa Dolores (Villa Dolores Municipal Zoo), Montevideo

The Villa Dolores Municipal Zoo (Zoológico Municipal de Villa Dolores), was founded in 1894 by Alejo Anastasio Ibaceta and Dolores Pereira Buxareo. The zoo began as a private collection of animals and ornamental plants. It was named Villa Dolores in honor of Alejo's wife. The enclosures, characteristic of the Victorian era, featured small cages with artificial cement floors and barred surroundings.

Spanning 7 hectares, the zoo was home to approximately 550 animals representing both native Uruguayan fauna and species from around the world. The zoo's design included three artificial lakes—Japanese Lake, White Lake, and Blue Lake—and was surrounded by a lush garden of 650 trees and bushes. Special features of the zoo included various ornamental and forest species, especially palm trees lining the avenues, as well as several European-imported fountains and sculptures by French animal sculptors.

Over the years, Villa Dolores became a cultural and recreational hub, illuminated for night visits and parties. Early on, the zoo charged a modest entrance fee for charity, attracting many notable visitors, including opera singer Enrico Caruso. Its animal collection was significantly enhanced in 1910 with the purchase of large mammals like polar bears and an Asian elephant from Carl Hagenbeck's German animal trade company. The zoo also featured a circus and an amphitheater for public animal performances.

A notable achievement was the successful reproduction of two Andean condors in 1912, a first for the American continent. In the same year, the property was bequeathed to the Montevideo municipality. Adjacent to the zoo is the Agrimensor Germán Barbato Municipal Planetarium, established in 1955, enhancing the educational offerings of the site.

After over a century of operation, the zoo was transformed into Villa Dolores Park and reopened to the public in 2021, marking a new era for this historic location. This transformation represents a shift towards a more contemporary use of the space, focusing on recreational and cultural experiences.