1.
SV Clown leading children into play centre
0.11

2.
SV Children running across grass (2 shots)
0.22

3.
CV Duck-billed platypus
0.29

4.
SV Mayor of Mexico City performs opening ceremony
0.50

5.
CU Plaque unveiled
0.54

6.
CU Attendants in animal costume applaud
1.00

7.
GV Monkey and ducks in open area
1.09

8.
SV Children playing with llamas
1.14

9.
SV Children playing with monkey
1.20

10.
CU & SV Elephant lifts girl's skirt
1.31

11.
SV Little boy riding elephant
1.36

12.
SV Little girl minding on back of giant turtle (2 shots)
1.55

13.
SV Children jumping on rope bridge
2.10

14.
SV Child swinging on rope seat
2.16

15.
SV Man dressed as lion shakes little girl's hand
2.19

16.
GV Children playing
2.24

17.
CV Policeman blows whistle
2.30

18.
SV Children on bikes etc. pedalling around track(2 shots)
2.40

19.
CV Policeman booking boy on cycle
2.46

20.
CV Little girl on tricycle rounding track corner
2.48

21.
GV Children playing on cycle track
2.51



Initials ES1445 ES/1829



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In the centre of Mexico City, an animal paradise is delighting children at a new-style recreational and educational centre. The six acre site was opened by the city's Mayor last Friday (February 11th), ad Visnews cameraman Tony Halik was there to cover the opening ceremony and record the initial reaction of the children.

One of the ideas behind the projects is to teach children to respect and live with animals. Specie at the centre range in size from an elephant to rabbits. Favourites with the children are a 160-year-old Galapagos turtle and a pair of lion cubs.

The play centre provides painting and handicraft classes and an area where children with bicycles, tricycles and toy cars learn to drive safely.

SYNOPSIS: When it comes to playtime children are the same the world over. These in Mexico City are the first to enjoy an exciting new play centre opened last Friday. There's no doubt what they think of it....
Birds and wild animals are among the centre's outstanding attractions.

Mayor Octavio Senties of Mexico City did the honours at the brief opening ceremony. He said the centre would make a great contribution to the children's education.

He unveiled a plaque to Benito Juarez, the poor Indian boy who became Mexico's first President.

The new play-centre occupies six acres in the heart of Mexico City and cost half-a-million U.S. dollars. The main idea in the planning was to teach children through recreation. And one of the principal lessons is to live with and respect animals.

Curiosity can sometimes go too far....
But this nine-month-old baby elephant already knows that work can be fun.

So does the giant Turtle from the Galapagos. He's not telling this age, but it's probably about 160 years.

The whole area has been laid out to let children have fun through experiences they don't find inmost recreation centres. In addition there are classes in painting and handicraft, and litter-baskets fashioned like animals to encourage the children to be tidy.

This driving area is a major part of the project. Driving around on their assorted vehicles the children learn the fundamentals of road safety.

And the penalties for bad driving.

In every way a playground paradise.