The Barcelona Zoo achieved in 2013 the second best attendance of the last decade, receiving 1.113.724 visitors, an average of 2.211 visitors per day. This means a 3’1% growth from last year, approaching the record of 1.164.027 visitors made in 2011. Regarding incomes, the Zoo achieved 12.502.293€, 225.000€ more than last year, with an operating margin of 724.640€ and an increase of the 10% of adult visitors and the a 60% reduction of the costs in publicity.

	2.012	2.013
Visitors	1.080.187	1.113.724
Total Income	12.276.721€	12.502.293€
Operating margin	1.041.135€	316.485€

At the end of 2013, 30.394 families were in the Zoo Club, a total of 104.616 people. At the education department, which takes care of trespassing values of respect towards natures and the animals, was visited by 43.620 boys and girls. Besides, the Customer Satisfaction Index shows that visitor grades the Zoo with a 7,8 with a confidence level of the 95’5%.

The Zoo also collaborates with educational institutions and this year 317 students from Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Universitat Pompeu Fabra have taken classes at the zoo, along with 482 students from other institutions. As a member of the Consell de Coordinació Pedagògica, and through the Education department, the Barcelona Zoo has given a total of 1.106 scolarships to educational activities, 30 more than last year and 950 more than 5 years ago.

This year the zoo has incorporated to its collection 24 new species and 19 more different species. Furthermore, 64 species had been born at the zoo during 2013, such as the dama gazelle, a red panda and Balu, the Bornean orangutan who was born in October and who became the third Bornean orangutan to be born at the zoo in the last 5 years. The complete collection consists of 2.214 individuals from 329 different taxa.

As it is said in the Strategic Plan 2012-2020 and with the intention of updating the installations to the requirements and necessities of the animals, during 2013 the first phase of the extension of the elephant’s facility has been effectuated, with an investment of 620.000€.

During 2014 and part of 2015, the expected actions in the Savannah and in the Orangutans facilities will be executed, with an investment of 7.400.000€ in total. Both projects are currently in tender and it is expected that the construction work will start in June. 

The Savannah implies the definitive extension of the elephant’s facility, and the constructions of the giraffes and the lions, that together with the hippos installation and the first phase of the elephant’s will join every installation in a Savannah bioma integrated in a single visual area. This project is in tender and it is expected that the construction work will start in June 2014. 

The Orangutans facility will become in practice in a new one. The new space will cover around 1000 m2 and will permit the visitors to watch orangutans all day, without taking care of the climatology. The exterior spaces will imitate a tropical rainforest that will allow animals recreate its natural behaviour. In addition, during 2014 the executive project for the construction of the new installation for tigers will be written.

Following the line of improving the standards for the animals’ welfare, the Barcelona Zoo is developing the project of a new dolphinarium located within the enclosure with the objective of guaranteeing and improving the animals’ welfare according to the requirements of the European Association of Aquatic Mammals. With the construction of this new dolphinarium it is intended to improve the enrichment programmes for the dolphins’ socialization and to give an impetus to the sensitization and education of the visitors in respect of the conservation of the species and biodiversity.  

The new installation will be located within the current enclosure of the Zoo and will cover 2.083 m2, approximately. It will be a single large pool with different areas and it will be 5 metres deep at the central zone, 1,5 metres more than now. Dolphins will be always visible to visitors, including the possibility of underwater vision. The new dolphinarium will also have a quarantine pool. The pool will be naturalized and will include a shade zone designed for the welfare of the dolphins. 

The Zoo will keep the enrichment and socialization programmes, but without a daily exhibition for public in stands. In addition, during the visit of the new installation the visitor will be able to observe the archaeological remains of the old fortress and, besides, there will be a 4D cinema, a polyvalent room and a restaurant.

Barcelona Zoo Foundation works to promote projects that share the values of conservation, education, awareness, protection and preservation of wildlife and biodiversity. In this sense during 2013 there have been several actions that help to advance on education and awareness in relation to species, habitats and ecosystems in general.

Earlier this year, the Barcelona Zoo Foundation signed an agreement with Universitat Pompeu Fabra for the next 3 years, with the aim of promoting Quality University researches by which students may perform Humanities and Human Biology practical classes in facilities at the Zoo. Some other agreements that the Foundations signed this year are the agreement with Bosch I Gimpera Foundation to conduct research in the school, the collaboration with the Institute of Ornithology of Catalonia (OIC) for the development of activities in the ringing center at the Zoo and the agreements with the Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBIO), among others. 

The work of the Foundation has taken shape in numerous articles and reports published in various journals, among them the genomic study that explains the causes of albinism of Snowflake, developed by researchers at the Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) with the support of the Barcelona Zoo Foundation. In addition, since last August, the Barcelona Zoo is part of Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP), which works to prevent the imminent extinction of great primates.

Thirteen Barcelona Zoo Research and Conservation Programme (PRIC) grants were given last year to different projects on research and conservation for a total of 40. The winning project of the Snowflake grant was “Phylogeographical analysis of gorillas through mitochondrial DNA”, by Irene Hernando from the Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC) - Universitat Pompeu Fabra. And last, last year was created the Antoni Jonch grant, intended for research projects on local fauna. In 2013, the beneficiary of the grant was the project “Effect of transport infrastructure on the fragmentation of populations of natterjack toad (Bufo calamita)”, by Núria Garriga from the Universitat de Barcelona.

Parallel to the expansion and improvement actions envisaged in the Strategic Plan 2012-2020, a new model is being introduced maintenance, ensuring the smooth running of the park in all its facilities. 

Therefore, a comprehensive maintenance contract (Facilities Management) covering the areas of maintenance, gardening and cleaning has been awarded. This new model aims to improve operational control of facilities, from a corrective model to a preventive model, with bounded costs. There has also been a process of "Reset" of deteriorated facilities totaling 1.300.000 euros

Així s’ha adjudicat un contracte de manteniment integral (facilities management) que abasta els àmbits de manteniment, jardineria i neteja. El nou model te per objectiu millorar el control operatiu de les instal·lacions, partint d’un model correctiu a un model preventiu amb costos acotats. Paral·lelament s’ha fet també un procés de “posta a zero” de les instal·lacions més deteriorades per valor de 1.300.000 euros

Another work line to improve the Park is to make it accessible to people with physical, visual, hearing or intellectual disability, so everyone can enjoy equally the Zoo experience. The Barcelona Zoo has been working with different associations for the development of an Accessibility Plan. In this regard it is expected an improvement in the flooring, a conditioning ramps plan ramps, a removal of steps and a communication plan for the groups mentioned above. In a longer term, is also expected to improve accessibility in the observation of animals and remove major barriers.   

This year has been the tenth anniversary of the decease of Snowfalke, the most iconic animal who has lived at the Barcelona Zoo. Ten years after, the Barcelona Zoo and its foundation commemorate Snowflake’s passing away with a long week dedicated to his figure, being he the greatest exponent of the efforts on the conservation of the great primates in different fields. In parallel to the increasing awareness about the threats these animals have to deal with in order to survive at the jungle, Zoo’s aim is to keep improving the development of the research and conservation projects. 

In that way, different activities took place at the Zoo in order to remember Snowflake, including the exhibition “10 years without Snowflake: working for the conservations of primates”. This exhibition was a brief review of his story in which are highlighted the main aspects of his life, since he was discovered in Ecuatorial Guinea in 1966 by the primatologist Jordi Sabater Pi. Besides, there was also a treasure hunt with the aim of learning about the challenges that gorillas have to deal with daily in the jungle, painting exhibitions and conferences. 

Vodafone will become the exclusive sponsor of Bicing from April 1st according to the agreement signed by Barcelona de Serveis Municipals, Vodafone and Clear Channel, the contractor company of the bicycle sharing system. This agreement will last for three years and will rename Bicing as "Vodafone Bicing"

With this sponsorship Bicing undertakes to insert Vodafone’s brand and logo in the multiple available spaces of the service such as bicycle’s mud guards and in the stations, in the structure itself as well as in the interactional screen. Vodafone will also be present in the vehicles and in the clothing of the maintenance and replacement staff

Vodafone will be present in Bicing’s internet channels, the web and social networks, where both brands will cooperate launching shared actions. In addition, the official mobile app will be modified so Vodafone will be present too and the subscriber cards will be redesign in order to include the sponsor.

The agreement expresses the wish of all parts to contribute on making urban space more liveable. Bicing will include advanced services of mobile telephony. Añso, Vodafone will develop and implement different technological solutions to provide greater added value to the service. In this sense, there will be work on introducing NFC technology, through Vodafone Wallet, in order to activate the service. Also, work is in enrich Bicing app with new functionalities, such as offer relative information to the service, distance made, average speed, CO2 saved, ...  

Furthermore, Vodafone also takes the compromise of serving telecommunications service associated to the Bicing telephone line 900.31.55.31.

Vodafone will provide the amount of 1.200.000€ during the first year of the sponsorship. In total, over the three years that this contract lasts, Vodafone will provide to the service more than 4 million euros.

Promotional video available at:

Vodafone Spain is part of Vodafone Group, one the biggest telecommunications companies over the world by incomes and presence in 30 countries on the 5 continents, and with agreements with another 50 countries in the world. Vodafone provides a huge range of services including data and voice communications to 404 million customers. More than 14.396.000 customers of Vodafone Spain take benefit of the expertise and capability of this worldwide leader company. More information at: www.vodafone.es

Clear Channel Spain, affiliate of Clear Channel International, is a communication and advertising company with presence in 45 provinces and in the top Spanish cities. The company is committed to innovation, technology and creativity, offering communications solutions in order to satisfy and surprise the customer demands. It is, however, pathfinder in the implementation and maintenance of PLAY digital supports, and also offers the citizens bike sharing systems as Bicing, in Barcelona and Bizi in Zaragoza, with more than 135.000 subscribers between both. 

Bicing is the bike sharing system of Barcelona, inaugurated in 2007. It is an easy, healthy, sustainable service, concerned about the environment and it is the perfect complement to the traditional public transport in the city. Bicing serves nearly 100.000 subscribers currently and has 420 stations spread throughout Barcelona, with a fleet of 6.000 bicycles. Because of its good service to the city, Bicing is rated as one of the best and most valued bike sharing system in the world due to its high ranks of efficiency.

Barcelona Nord bus station has launched a more complete, functional and efficient new website, www.barcelonanord.cat, which has been designed to make it easier for travellers to look up the information they need in order to organise their trips. Besides, the website is now adapted to mobile phones.

With a totally renewed image, the new website adds the possibility of buy bus tickets online of the routes that arrive, departure or stop at the station. The user can also buy the ticket and ask for home delivery. The home page of the website has also been renovated, and now it’s easier for the user to look up information relative to the departures and arrivals in real-time.

The website include a navigation menu at the top in which the user will be able to check out information about bus companies, the traveller’s rights, all the information about the commercial gallery and interactive plans showing the location of the services of each plant. Additionally, there is a part aimed to companies in which they will be able to apply easier for loading and unloading platforms and for all the other services offered at the station as well.

Barcelona Nord bus station is one of the major points of entry and exit of Barcelona. More than 2 and a half million travellers per year and approximately 320 buses per day prove the importance of the station. Barcelona Nord is the point connecting Barcelona with major cities in Spain, Europe and the north of Africa. 

This April starts the new season at the Barcelona Zoo and it is full of novelties, like the publication Botanical Guide of the Barcelona Zoo, the the birth of some young, new facilities and a new edition of the workshops, all actions made in line with the three basic aims of the Zoo: conservation, research, conservation and education.

The Ciutadella Park acts as a green lung of the city, and only on the grounds of the Zoo itself there are more than 300 plant species. In this sense, the Botanical Zoo Guide is a work made with educational and informative vocation towards biodiversity and the need to know about it and protect it.

In the Botanical Guide are described the most characteristic 50 trees and 50 bushes in the Zoo and serves as a quality supplement during the visit of the Park, while it becomes a great reference for deeper understanding of flora of the city. From each of plant in the Guide there is a complete record information, which identifies the characteristics of each spice. Furthermore, there is a map-guide with a numerical legend, which allows visitors to easily locate the each specie.

In order to strengthen the Guide and enrich the experience and the visit, there have also been placed mark signs in the locations of the different to provides information regarding the species. Thus, the labels represent a perfect complement to the new publication, offering information found in the Guide, but they also incorporate QR codes that add additional knowledge.

The opening of the new season is also a good opportunity to visit the new facilities that had been built recently at the Zoo. Visitors who come to the park can have a look at the installation for the hippos, which recreates a river area with a sandy zone and riparian vegetation, reeds, papyrus and water plants, and a rocky area with a small waterfall for recreate as closely as possible the natural habitat of these animals. 

Visitors can also see the new installation for the elephants, which has been expanded the double of its previous surface. The new facility has been built on a variable terrain, which is modified periodically. A food station to 8 meters allowing elephants recreate their eating habits has also been built.

This new season also is a good opportunity to reach out to meet the new babies who are born at the Zoo. At the end of March several young grated mongoose were born, and they have already acquired the necessary strength to go out with the rest of the group strength. And a few months ago, in October and January respectively, were born Balu and Hadia, two baby Bornean Orangutan, who already fully integrated into the group. They demonstrate the Barcelona Zoo reproductive success with this species, as in the past 5 years have been 4 births of these endangered animals.

In addition, visitors can see the Komodo dragon babies once their sex has been determined and the veterinary team considered that they develop is normal enough to be transferred to the terrarium. Furthermore, visitors will be able to see the newts of the Montseny, a Catalan endemic and highly endangered species, with which the Zoo is working on a project of captive breeding to prevent their disappearance.

There are novelties in the Zoo Farm, also called the Children's Zoo, where children can have direct contact with domestic and farm species. This Easter the list of services has increased with the construction of a breastfeeding room. Also, The restaurant Farm expands its range of menus for both visitors and members of Zoo Club, and has opened a children's playground available to restaurant clients.

Like every year, Barcelona Zoo has prepared Easter Workshops, where children have the opportunity to spend the holidays in a pleasant environment, having fun and learning to respect animals . Between 14 and 17 April, will be able to participate in the workshop "Monkeys and apes", where through observation of the behavior of these animals children may be more aware of the issues affecting the conservation of species most endangered primates.

From 9 am to 4 pm children will be learning and playing in our facilities. In the morning, children will do activities with animals, participating in their maintenance and the will even be able to get close to them accompanied by educators. After lunch, they will do classroom activities like drawing, manual arts and work group dynamics, among other things.

More information about the workshop at www.zoobarcelona.cat

Mayor Xavier Trias and Joan Puigdoller, president of PATS and councillor of Environment and Urban Services, attended the presentation of the new big wheel at the park, along with the oldest members of the Tibiclub. The event is included in the activities in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Tibiclub. The older members who attended the presentation enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate.

The name of the new ride will be Giradabo, and it has been elected by popular vote by users in Facebook and visitors at the park. Since March 18th until April 13th, everyone could propose a name for the wheel via Facebook. We received 319 proposals and 10 among of all them were chosen to be part of a second vote, in which Giradabo ended being the most voted option.

Giradabo has a blue illumination representing the alliance between UNICEF and the Tibidabo Amusement Park, in favor of the protection and development of children worldwide and the promotion of their rights contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

The ride was designed by the architect Dani Freixas and it has been projected with the aim of maintaining the classical and familiar aesthetic of the park. Children from a height between 105 and 120 cm (about 6 years old) must be accompanied by an adult, and from 120 cm it is free to use. It is a ride for children and families, but it offers an spectacular view of Barcelona which makes the Giradabo a first class tourist attraction also for adults.

In order to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tibiclub, we will be presenting several new features and advantages throughout the season that will make the annual pass more attractive. In addition, there will be a popular contest organised along with Unicef, to choose a new mascot for the Tibidabo, where everyone who wants to will be able to submit their proposals. This strengthens the alliance between the Tibidabo Amusement Park and UNICEF.

There are also new closing shows that will vary throughout the season. The will bring to the Park clowns, musicals, big parades like Geronimo Stilton’s and even magic. Furthermore, two new films have been released in the Dididado "The good, the bad and a horse," and the 4D adaptation of the classic of adventures "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". And in July will start working the Tibinet, an animated and pedagogical project that playfully teaches the importance of recycling.

Tibidabo Amusement Park closed the 2013 season having received a total of 556,700 visitors, consolidating the trend of growth, with 7% more visitors than the last year. Tibiclub also grew in 2013 with an increase of an 8% of familiy member, reaching 16.700 families at the end of the year.

Tibidabo Amusement Park, along with UNICEF, is looking for a new mascot and, in order to find it, has launched an open competition in which everyone who wants to – individuals, design schools, renowned artist of the Catalan culture, etc. – will have the opportunity to make his or her own proposal. The new mascot has to represent the values both entities share, which reflected in Convention on the Rights of the Child. The deadline for the proposal is June 16th, and the winner will take a reward of 1.000€.

The competition’s aim is to create a mascot identifiable with Tibidabo and that is why the values of respect towards children opinions, the right to life, the right for defending its best interests, and right to no discrimination have to be represented in the mascot. This competition strengthens the partnership that UNICEF and Tibidabo maintain since September 2012.

The judges who will value the proposals will be Joan Puigdollers, Councillor of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and President of Tibidabo Amusement Park, Ignasi Armengol, General Manager of BSM, Anna Folch, President of UNICEF Catalunya Committee, Guiomar Todó, coordinator of UNICEF Catalunya Committe, the draftswoman Pilarín Bayés, the architect Dani Freixas, and Silvia Hernández, from Projects Strategic Coordination of the area of Communications and Citizen Advice of the Barcelona City Council. Furthermore, 3 children selected by the Councillor of Family, Childhood and Disability, will be part of the jury, and 2 more children, sons and daughters of Tibiclub members with 10 years of antiguity, will be judges as well.

The neighborhood of Sant Cristòfol, next to L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and close to Fira Gran Via, has a new green AREA, parking preferential for residents with 691 parking spaces. Signposting tasks start today in order to set up the AREA, which is espected to be operational on June 26th.

This measure is the result of a negotiation process with residents, which reflects a commitment by the Sants-Montjuïc district government. Sants-Montjuïc and its Councilman Jordi Martí, committed to solve the difficulties faced by residents of this area to find parking, which has worsened with the increased of Fira Gran Via activities. The buildings were build some years ago and so without underground parking. This fact, coupled with the increasing activity of Fira Gran Via, which attracts many visitors who come with their private vehicles, often makes finding parking problem for residents.

For these reasons, the neighbors asked for help to Sants-Montjuïc District, which has led to the creation of a new green AREA that gives preference to residents. This new AREA will be located at the zone called Sant Cristòfol, within the streets of Mecànica, Platí, Alumini, Alts Forns, Jane Adams and Carretera del Prat, including several streets located between inner blocks of flats. 

This new green AREA works with the same schedules and payment than the rest of the city: 

• Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm with payment. 
• The vehicles of non-residents who park in these hours can only be there a maximum of 2 hours by paying the appropriate fee.
• From 8am to 8pm the green AREA is free to use 
• Residents will receive a resident card, essential to get the tickets

The implementation schedule of the new preferential parking zone for residents begins today with the signposting tasks and painting surface spaces. It is expected that, during the first week of June, the new parking meters will be, and during the second week of June resident will receive their cards, so they have them before June 26th, when the AREA can come into operation.

Barcelona Zoo Foundation has created a crowdfunding initiative in order to raise funds for the projects the Foundation is working on. Through its webpage www.fundaciobarcelonazoo.com/compotsajudar, users will be able to get information on the projects and choose the economic amount they want to donate. Crowdfunding creates a better involvement between the donor and the project, since the donor can easily identify where the donation is intended.

Once the users get aware of the projects, they will be able to choose whether they want to make a generic donation, mainly intended to fund the PRIC, Snowflake and Antoni Jonch grants, or donate for a specific projects, whose realization is conditioned on obtaining optimal financing. Then, the website will direct the user to a form where the he or she will be asked about his or her personal data, so the Foundation will be able to send him or her a mail with the certificate of tax relief, and then to a payment gateway where they will be able to make the donation. 

If the donor has not chosen to remain anonymous, he or she will be registered as a contributor of the Barcelona Zoo foundation and will have recognition in every publication, paper or presentation with a direct relation with his or her donation. 

The Natural History Museum of Barcelona and the Barcelona Zoo Foundation co-organise the conferences series “The Ciutadella, first scientific park in Barcelona”, that reflects on the future of the park as a place of science. Outstandind personalities from the culture and science sphere as Gilles Boeuf, president of the Natural History Museum of Paris; Morten Meldgaard, director of the Natural History Museum of Denmark; Gerald Dick, executive manager of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums; and Ismail Serageldin, director of the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina, will share their expertise the next 5th, 12th and 26th of June and the 3rd of July at the Born Centre Cultural.

“The Ciutadella, first scientific park in Barcelona” comes from the commitment of the Barcelona City Council on developing a project in order to recover the historical memory of the park, its meaning for the city through the time, the present reality and its scientific nature. Some institutions as Medi Ambient i Serveis Urbans, Hàbitat Urbà, Ajuntament de Barcelona; Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació;  Institut de Ciències del Mar;  Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona; Societat Catalana d’Història de la Ciència i de la Tècnica; Institut d’Estudis Catalans, Universitat Pompeu Fabra y El Born Centre Cultural cooperate with the Natural History Museum of Barcelona and the Barcelona Zoo Foundation.

In four sessions, international guests will have a dialog with scientists and other experts from the city about several topics related to the Ciutadella. First two conferences will be about the genesis and history of the first public park in Barcelona in contrast with the history of Paris and Copenhagen Natural History Museums. The third session will value the role of scientifics institutions on the preservation of biodiversity and natural resources, and the fourth conference will be a master class in defence of the social values of natural history museums and scientific equipments, along with the citizens’ commitment in environmental issues. 

June 5th
City Science Parks – I
París and Barcelona: two stories to know
Gilles Boeuf, president of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle of París
Antoni Roca, member of the Societat Catalana d’Història de la Ciència i de la Tècnica, Institut d’Estudis Catalans
Presenter:
Josep M. Camarasa, founder of the Societat Catalana d’Història de la Ciència i de la Tècnica

June 12th
City Sciene Parks – II
Copenhague y Barcelona: two visions of future
Morten Meldgaard, director of the Statens Naturhistoriske Museum de Copenhaguen
Itziar González Virós, architect
Presenter:
Jordi Camí, general director of Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona

June 26th
Nature conservation
Scientific institutions and protection of the biodiversity and geodiversity
Gerald Dick, executive director of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Ramon Folch, president of the Estudi Ramon Folch & Associats
Presenter:
Alberto Palanques, director of the Institut de Ciències del Mar

July 3rd
Closing
It’s natural. Get to know the world, get to know yourself
Ismail Serageldin, director of the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Jaume Casals, rector of Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Every season will take place at Born Centre Cultural at 7 p.m. (Plaza Comercial 12.)
Free entrance. Limited seating

For further information and interview management:
comunicaciomcnb@bcn.cat / gredolad@bcn.cat

 932565973 or 932562205 

Follow the new son the conferences through the hashtag #LaCiutadellaBorn

Barcelona Zoo and Park Güell have received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, given to outstanding hospitality businesses that have received praise and recognition in reviews by TripAdvisor travellers. To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, the Barcelona Zoo has maintained an overall rating of more than four stars and Park Güell has maintained an overall rating of four and a half stars, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

The Park has also received the Traveller’s Choice Award which recognise Gaudi’s masterpiece as the best park in Europe. TripAdvisor, which operates in 41 countries worldwide, is the world's largest travel site with more than 260 million unique monthly visitors and over 150 million reviews and opinions.