Museu Emílio Goeldi

Belém is home to the renowned Museu Emílio Goeldi, a research institution dedicated to the study of the Amazon's cultural and natural riches. The museum is better known to the public as the city's zoo, and despite what you might expect for a zoo located in the third world it is not depressing or disgusting. The exhibits are small and focus on Amazon species. Sure, the leopard and birds would rather be roaming free, but it sure beats being hunted or fleeing your burning home from the onslaught of cattle ranchers.

Electric eels

Giant Lilypads

Tortoise.

This species' name in Portuguese is jabuti, which is really funny if you say "get jabuti over here."