Bioparc Fuengirola relives the feat of Magellan and Elcano: discovering species like the first circumnavigation of the globe

2 September 2025

Bioparc Fuengirola relives the feat of Magellan and Elcano: discovering species like on the first circumnavigation of the globe.

Beyond the historical evocation of the feat commemorated this first week of September, the park reminds us that many of the species that amazed 16th-century navigators are now in grave danger.

More than five centuries ago, the expedition undertaken by Ferdinand Magellan to reach the Spice Islands, led by Juan Sebastián Elcano, became the greatest maritime feat in history: the first circumnavigation of the globe. The descriptions and specimens they brought back to Seville revealed an astonishing array of animals and plants never before seen in Europe: bats "the size of eagles," multicolored parrots, flying fish, guanacos, and even the mythical birds of paradise that seemed boneless and floated in the air.

Today, on the anniversary of that milestone, Bioparc Fuengirola invites its visitors to relive that spirit of discovery. Strolling through its recreated tropical rainforests is like embarking on a journey that connects directly to the territories explored by Spanish navigators more than 500 years ago.

With this initiative commemorating the anniversary of the first circumnavigation, the Malaga animal park adds its voice to the celebration of a feat that not only proved the Earth was round and transformed the geographical view of the world, but also forever changed the way humanity related to nature.

A journey through time through tropical fauna

The expedition reached the Philippines, Borneo, and the Moluccas Islands, among others, where Pigafetta described species that astonished all of Europe. He also traveled through the majestic and dense South American forests. These same territories are home to many of the species that Bioparc Fuengirola protects as part of international conservation programs. These species, like those described in the Italian chronicler's texts, could have been seen by these brave expeditionaries who marked a before and after in the way we see the world.

Among them stand out:

The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), an iconic primate of which only a little over 100.000 individuals remain in the forests of Borneo. In the Malaga animal park, it shares its habitat with the golden-cheeked gibbon and the binturong, all native to the Asian forests explored by the first circumnavigation of the world.
Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), a zoological gem of the Malay Peninsula. It's such a rare species that in Spain it can only be seen at Bioparc Fuengirola. Its recent offspring, born in 2025, represents a milestone in the conservation of the species.
Edwards's Pheasant (Lophura edwardsi), a bird that symbolizes the beauty of the Southeast Asian jungles, evoking those colorful bird species described in travel chronicles. Extinct in the wild, this year more than 40 EAZA centers, including Bioparc Fuengirola, have begun a reintroduction project in its native habitat: Vietnam. The goal? To recreate populations of this iconic bird.
Sumatran tiger (panthera tigris sumatrae), whose conservation is supported on the ground by the Bioparc Foundation in Indonesia, extending the legacy of exploration toward a true commitment to the future of biodiversity. With just over 400 specimens left in the wild, it is one of the most endangered felines on the planet.
South American giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), an iconic symbol of the Amazonian rivers, is the world's largest otter. Their colonies are feared and respected by predators like caimans and jaguars due to their familial connection, strength, and courage.
Arapaima (arapaima gigas), the largest fish in the rivers of Central and South America.
Marmosets or small monkeys common in Central American and Amazonian jungles, a reflection of the fauna observed from the coasts and rivers.

If 16th-century navigators ventured into the unknown to discover new worlds, visitors to Bioparc Fuengirola can enjoy a similar experience today, but without leaving Andalusia.

The park tour leads through habitats in Central and South America, the Indo-Pacific, Southeast Asia, equatorial Africa, and Madagascar, where the vegetation, water, and architecture realistically reproduce the landscapes that so amazed all those expeditionaries whose voyages made the 15th to 17th centuries known as the "Age of Discovery." Each step through the park reveals surprising species, recreating the sense of exploration and wonder that inspired the first circumnavigation. The difference is that, five centuries later, that wonder has transformed into awareness: protecting nature and conserving these species is the true contemporary feat.

Beyond its historical recollection, Bioparc Fuengirola serves as a reminder that many of the species that amazed 16th-century navigators are now in serious danger. Through its participation in international conservation programs and its commitment to sustainable leisure activities, the park strengthens its role as a cultural and tourist destination in Andalusia, becoming a starting point for an unforgettable journey around the globe.

Bioparc Fuengirola wants to join in the commemoration of the first circumnavigation of the globe by remembering that curiosity, exploration, and respect for life are values that have accompanied us ever since. Just as Magellan and Elcano opened new routes, today's mission is to pave the way for a sustainable future for the planet's most endangered wildlife.