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South American Pampas
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 Our South American Pampas Exhibit is divided into several yards displaying animals from both the grasslands and tropical forests of this continent. The open grassy paddocks represent the pampas that our llamas, alpacas, and rhea originate from. The pampas in South America correlates to our North American prairies.
Alpacas, a member of the camel family, are a domesticated descendent of the wild guanaco (pronounced wah-NA-co). They are raised primarily for their high-quality wool, which is used to make clothing.
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The Greater or common rhea is much smaller but very similar in appearance and behavior to the African ostrich, although it is not closely related. Male rheas are responsible for nest building, incubation of eggs, and the rearing of the young.
Despite its pig-like appearance, the tapir is not related to pigs, but to rhinos and horses. All tapirs are endangered due to the widespread destruction of their rain forest habitat. Our tapirs, like their wild counterparts, often spend much of the day submerged in their pond, seeking relief from heat and biting insects.