The zoo claims to have every species native to Chiapas, from spiders to jaguars, and by any standards, it's excellent, with good-sized cages, complete with natural vegetation, freshwater streams and a conservationist approach. There is, for example, one dark cage with a label that announces the most destructive and dangerous species of all: peer in and you're confronted with a reflection of yourself. A number of animals, including guaqueques negros (agoutis) - rodents about the size of a domestic cat - and some very large birds, are free to roam the zoo grounds. Occasionally you'll witness bizarre meetings, as these creatures confront their caged relatives through the wire. This is particularly true of some of the pheasants - ocofaisan and cojalita - where the descendants of the caged birds are freed but make no attempt to leave because they naturally live in family groups. People of nervous disposition should avoid the Vivario, which contains a vast and stomach-turning collection of all the snakes, insects and spiders you might meet on your travels.