We have known that Naples is unique in many ways, but have you ever considered the zoo to be one of them? Tallahassee, Gainesville and Fort Lauderdale do not have one. There are only nine true zoos in the entire state of Florida. This does not count wildlife sanctuaries, farms, museums, aquariums or aviaries. A zoo by its very nature should have numerous animal exhibits and a diverse animal collection.
Some of the zoos in Florida are known world-wide, such as Busch Gardens in Tampa with a collection of nearly 3,000 animals. Although probably known more widely for its' 22 rides including 6 roller coasters, it is a 335 acre 19th century African themed animal park. Disney's Animal Kingdom near Orlando is the largest animal-themed park in the world with 1,700 animals representing 250 species on 500 acres. Miami Metrozoo, which is located in the Miami suburb of Palmetto Bay, is the oldest and largest zoological garden in Florida. Situated on 740 acres (of which 300 are developed), it houses over 1,200 animals, 400 species and is one of the few tropical zoos in the United States.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens features animals from apes to zebras within a historic botanical garden founded in 1919. The Naples Zoo is laid out with one major loop about 1 mile long that winds through the botanical gardens past the main exhibits. Zoo guests get close to lions, tigers, leopards, alligators, hyenas, kangaroos and many other species throughout the 52-acre setting. The nationally accredited zoo features a variety of wildlife presentations including two shows in the Safari Canyon theater: "Planet Predator" focuses on carnivorous animals while "Serpents: Fangs & Fiction" illustrates the valuable role that reptiles play in keeping the balance of nature. Both shows offer live animals exhibiting natural behavior while narrators show custom graphics and wildlife videos. One thing that must not be missed is the Primate Expedition Cruise, a boat ride around islands where monkeys, lemurs and apes live in natural habitats. The majority of the species on these islands are endangered in the wild. Other interesting features include the Meet the Keeper series and the Alligator Bay Feeding. Feature exhibits include Tiger Forest where guests see the rarest tigers in America; Panther Glade, a cooperative exhibit with the National Wildlife Federation; and African Oasis with the rare African wild dogs. The zoo is accredited by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is an Institutional Member of the American Association of Zoo Keepers...CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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