BRIEFS. wildlife

Parque summit unveils updated visitor center

The recently renovated visitor center at the Parque Municipal Summit was opened to the public yesterday.

A new slide show featuring the zoo’s collection of predatory birds and their importance in the food chain, including updated articles and photographs, were unveiled as part of the inaugural activities.

In addition to the structural repairs made to the park’s buildings, both the upper and lower-level lookout centers were restored and fitted with new display screens.

The renovations are aimed at attracting more visitors to the zoological park and research center, which specializes in the country’s diverse array of wild birds. One of the park’s chief attractions continues to be the harpy eagle, a species facing extinction because of habitat destruction despite its protected status as Panama’s national bird.

Restoration of the park buildings began after Richard Fairest, president of Sony Inter-American, visited the zoo four months ago, and decided the aging facility needed a “hand.” Ron Magill, a photographer and television presenter, and several private enterprises also contributed to the project.