Two Brothers State Park, Recife

Dois Irmãos State Park is an important conservation area for the Atlantic Forest and one of the most significant forest remnants in Pernambuco. Originally covering about 384 hectares, the park was expanded in 2017 to approximately 1,158 hectares. Within this protected area, 14 hectares are dedicated to the zoological gardens and natural science museum, linking wildlife observation with environmental education.

Visitors can see both animals kept under professional care and free-living native species that move through the forest, including sloths, marmosets, coatis, capybaras, and many birds. The zoo is commonly described as housing around 600 to 650 animals, representing roughly 120 species of birds, reptiles, and mammals, although some current state sources give lower figures. More than 50 species are threatened or endangered, including the blonde capuchin monkey, a species rediscovered in 2006 after long being thought extinct.

The park is also known for its three-toed sloth rehabilitation project, which treats injured or orphaned sloths before releasing them when possible. For families, it offers simple educational features, including a height-comparison wall with life-sized animal drawings. Near the zoo-reserve transition, the Vila de Dois Irmãos play area adds a child-friendly recreational space designed like a small village.