With the goal of ensuring universal access to environmental education and recreation, the Guadalajara Zoo has consolidated the “Incluzoo” project. This innovative initiative allows the Deaf community to tour the park and learn about the animal kingdom through specialized guides fluent in Mexican Sign Language (LSM).
The program is managed by a dedicated three-person team. Gian Santana, an educational assistant at the venue, noted that the institutional growth of this framework has been gradual. He explained that translations and interpretations are handled by himself and his colleague Carely, while the guided tours are led by Jorge, a Deaf member of the team. Notably, while the primary focus remains on the hearing-impaired community, the tours are fully inclusive, welcoming both hearing individuals and visitors with other disabilities.
Linguistic Innovation: Creating Signs for Exotic Wildlife
The initiative, which has been successfully running since 2025, goes beyond addressing an accessibility need—it has sparked unprecedented linguistic research. Because exotic wildlife not native to Mexico lacks pre-existing records in LSM, the team has taken on the task of developing and assigning visual neologisms based on the morphological and behavioral traits of the animals.
Jorge Hernández, the project’s Deaf leader, detailed that specific signs for certain species simply did not exist before. Through deep research into animal behavior, the team designed the new signs. For instance, he mentioned that while the sign for a giraffe is widely recognized nationwide, for the capybara, they adopted a specific facial gesture with closed eyes and a serious expression to provide an accurate visual reference of the animal’s calm temperament.
Meanwhile, Carely Hernández, who also serves as a guide and interpreter for the program, emphasized the vital importance of dismantling communication barriers in spaces dedicated to scientific dissemination and leisure. Operating under the premise that the Deaf community deserves clear and profound access to knowledge, the team remains committed to continuous learning and language development.
Visitor Information
- Frequency: Group guided tours are currently scheduled on a monthly basis to optimize capacity and ensure personalized attention.
- Contact & Booking: All operational details, upcoming tour dates, and booking methods are available through the project’s official digital channels on social media under the handle @incluzoogdl.
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