Palmitos Park is a 20 hectares (49.4 acre) botanical garden

Botanical garden

A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...

 and aviary

Aviary

An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...

 on the island of Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, with a population of 838,397 which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago...

, one of the Canary islands

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...

, which are a part of Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

. The subtropical park is situated in the south of the island, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of the tourist beaches and dunes of Maspalomas

Maspalomas

MaspalomasCountry:Autonomous Community:Province: Las PalmasIsland: Gran CanariaMunicipality: San Bartolomé de TirajanaPopulation:33,000 Coordinates:Time zone:CET, UTC+1Elevation:5 amslPostal code:35290Map...

, but towards the interior.

The park lies in a countryside setting, in the midst of mountains. Because of this park visitors have the opportunity in many places of beautiful views and vistas when walking through the park. There is a small terrace near a fountain, along a path that leads up to the amphitheater where flying birds of prey

Bird of prey

Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....

 perform in shows. Next to the amphitheater there is a snack bar, and a small cafeteria can be found elsewhere in the park.

A striking feature of the park is the great wealth of cacti and succulents—the succulents being in excellent condition. There are over 160 different cactus types and 1000 palm trees of 42 different types.

Parrot

Parrot

Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...

-like birds are well-represented in the park, but other types of birds are also to be found, including a variety of swan

Swan

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...

s and duck

Duck

Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...

s. In all there are over 1,500 exotic birds of 230 different species. Many of these fly freely in the park. Crazy Delores, an insane parrot, is the most famous resident.

Additionally there are monkeys, crocodiles, an orchid house, an aquarium with fish and coral displays, and Europe's largest butterfly house.

Near the exit behind the souvenir shop, one can admire hummingbird

Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...

s that fly very visibly in front of their food.

Sections of the park

• Butterfly house with (mainly living) butterflies.
• Pond with water birds
• Dolphinarium with live dolphin shows interacting with the cast
• Dolphin Photo Opportunity where member's of the public can have their photo taken whilst stroking a dolphin
• Glass cages with hummingbirds
• House of orchids
• Terrace near fountain
• Amphitheater with shows with flying birds of prey
• Presentation room with documentaries and shows with trained parrots
• Souvenir shop
• Aquaria with many kinds of fish and other underwater animals

Forest Fires

On July 31, 2007 it was reported in the media that almost 65% of the park was burned due to forest fires, and that some exotic bird species such as the Toucan

Toucan

Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The family includes five genera and about forty different species...

 may have been killed. The forest fires caused evacuations of certain parts of Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, with a population of 838,397 which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago...

 and Tenerife

Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...

. A local Forest Ranger was accused of starting the fires intentionally in order to keep him in employment as his contract was due to expire.

Because Palmitos Park was severely affected by the recent and devastating fire that took place on Gran Canaria island during the last days of July 2007, the Park was closed for a whole year. The park opened for the public again August 4 2008. They have a new section with information about the forest fire.

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