Education is another critical function of zoos in Latin America. They offer educational programs for schools and the general public, raising awareness about the importance of conservation and the threats faced by wildlife, such as habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change.

Here is a unique aspect of Latin American zoo entertainment that defies global norms: horror. In Mexico and Central America, "Nights of Fear" (Noches de Miedo) have become a seasonal media sensation. Zoos like Zoológico de León (Guanajuato) transform their facilities into live-action horror mazes during Halloween and Día de los Muertos.

But the media content doesn’t stop there. These zoos produce "found footage" short films set in the actual abandoned sections of the zoo, releasing them on YouTube and WhatsApp. The line between zoo promotion and horror entertainment blurs. Remarkably, these campaigns have driven record attendance among 18-25 year olds—a demographic that usually avoids zoos. The media content goes viral because it taps into Latin America’s rich folklore of La Llorona and El Coco, placing them inside the zoo’s nocturnal reptile house.

Audio storytelling has exploded. Niche zoo-based podcasts are now a growing sector: