Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Encyclopedia
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a zoo
located in Jacksonville
. It sits at the mouth
of the Trout River
. The zoo occupies approximately 110 acres (44.5 ha) and has over 2,000 animals in its collection. The zoo has grown from its modest beginnings in Springfield to be considered one of the city's premiere attractions.
The zoo's marquee attraction is the Range of the Jaguar
, which won the 2005 AZA
Exhibit of the year award. The exhibits highlights animals native to Neotropical Rainforests
. The zoo's other exhibits include the Plains of East Africa, highlighting African Savannah animals; Great Apes of the World, featuring 3 of the 4 Great Apes among other primates; the Australian Outback, including lorikeets, cassowarys, and kangaroos.
The zoo is active in animal conservation, participating in over 20 SSP (Species Survival Plan
s.) In 2004, the zoo reached an agreement with the nation of Guyana to help promote conservation in that country, particularly the Iwokrama Rainforest. Additionally, since 1999 the zoo has been home to a large breeding colony of woodstorks.
fawn.
On July 19, 1925, the Zoo moved to a 37.5 acres (151,757.3 m²) site on the Trout River
off Heckscher Drive in North Jacksonville. Over the course of the next forty years, the Zoo continued to grow in area and in terms of animals on display.
Perhaps the most significant animal in the Zoo's history was a jaguar
named "Zorro." Zorro was a male, wild-born black (melanistic
) jaguar that arrived at the Zoo in August, 1967. At that time, black jaguars were very rare in captivity. During Zorro's 19 years at the Zoo (he died in September, 1986) he fathered numerous kittens that were sent to other zoos across North America. In the spring of 2003, the Jax Zoo investigated and could not find a current North American captive born black jaguar that was not a descendant of Zorro.
By the end of the 1960s, the Zoo was reputed to have the largest collection of exotic animals in the Southeast, but it had fallen on hard times and a great deal of money was needed to save the zoo. Community leaders, under the direction of Mayor Hans Tanzler, appointed a seven member committee to search for an alternative to closing the Zoo.
A major redevelopment of the Zoo began in 1992. Through a combination of public funds and private donations, over $20 million was raised to complete Phase One of the Zoo's Master Plan. Projects completed include a new front entry gate and parking lot, the Main Camp entrance, Birds of the Rift Valley
Aviary
, Great Apes, an expanded train ride, an elephant
and breeding complex, RiverBranch Foundation Animal Medical Center, the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus, and redevelopment of the 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) Plain
s of East Africa
.The zoo also includes [stingray bay],[Tuxedo coast],and the [Asian bamboo garden and Komodo dragon exhibit]
In December 2003, the zoo's name was officially changed from the Jacksonville Zoo to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Over the next five years, several new exhibits and services, including the famed Range of the Jaguar, the Savanna Blooms botanical garden
, and the Children's Play Park successfully opened to the public. In addition, the zoo has endeavored to become recognized as a botanical garden.
Currently, the Zoo sits on 89 acres (360,170.5 m²) of land, over twice its original size on the Trout River location. The Zoo houses over 2,000 rare and exotic animals and over 1,500 unique plant species and participates in many preservation and breeding programs to ensure the survival of endangered and threatened species as well as local fauna and flora. And now includes the Magellanic pengiuin exhibit in the education campus,and the Komodo dragon exhibit in the Asian bamboo garden
The City of Jacksonville contracts with the Society to manage all phases of the operation of the Zoo. All property, including land, animals and equipment, belong to the city; in turn, the city contributes an annual subsidy to offset some of the Zoo's operating expenses. All other Zoo expenses are paid through revenues earned from admissions, concession sales, memberships, the Animal Care Club program, the Annual Fund, sponsorships, as well as grants and several fund-raising events.
n exhibits.
The aviary opened in April 1996 and houses a mixture of African, South American, and Asia wildlife. The enclosure has over 9000 square feet (836.1 m²) for the birds to fly about and is highlighted by a large waterfall at one end of the exhibit. The aviary features lesser flamingo
s, Guinea fowl, stork
s, hammerkop
s, and other African birds. In late 2008, the zoo began to add Asian animals in the aviary. These include a muntjac
and a Victoria Crowned Pigeon
. In addition, the zoo has a breeding pair of saddle-billed stork
s in the enclosure. The zoo was just the sixth zoo in the US to successfully breed the species.
To the side of the main aviary is the Ruzizi Streambank. A milky eagle owl along with other smaller African birds are found there
Mammals
Birds
Nile crocodile
s, warthog
s, and Stanley cranes mixed with Leadbeater's ground hornbills are the first animals guests encounter. The zoo was the first in North America to successfully breed Leadbeater’s ground hornbills.
Eastern bongo
s, Pink-backed pelicans, and Egyptian geese are found in a center pen that is spacious and tree-shaded. In addition, this exhibit has become a home for a large breeding colony for the highly endangered Wood Stork
, native to Florida.
The cheetah
exhibit, a 300 feet (91.4 m) long, 50 feet (15.2 m) wide area is home to two cheetahs. It lies across a water break from the larger exhibit containing southern white rhinoceros
es, greater kudu
, sitatunga
s, a north African ostrich
, black-crowned cranes, and goliath heron
s inhabit the areas at the end of the boardwalk. This 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) exhibit allows plenty of room for the animals to roam. The zoo has been a successful breeder of southern white rhinos, with over a dozen successful births.
Okapi and Grevy's Zebra
s are located farther along the boardwalk.
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
s, green mamba
s, and a 12 feet (3.7 m) African rock python
named Solomon. White bellied bustard
s, fruit bat
s, klipspringer
s, and Lappet-faced vulture
s are found in smaller side exhibits in the area.
Further down the boardwalk is Mahali Pa Simba ("Place of the Lion" in Swahili), the 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) home of the Zoo's two male lion
s, Catali and Mshoni and two female lions Tamu and Laini. The exhibit was the first to be opened and has evolved over the years. The largest change was the addition of a third viewing area across a moat on the north side of the exhibit.
Colobus monkeys live in the area in front of the lions. From East Africa
, they move by leaping from tree to tree and can be seen in action in their lively exhibit.
Leopard
s are along the southern end of the boardwalk. The exhibit is highlighted by the gigantic artificial tree in the center of the exhibit that the leopards love to sleep and play on. The zoo successfully bred this rare species in 2010. An interesting side note, the Leopards on exhibit are Amur leopard
s, a subspecies native to Eastern Siberia
in Russia
, and one of the most endangered cat species in the world, despite their placement near an African Exhibit.
exhibit. The covered boardwalk gives guests a breathtaking view across a replica of the African Savanna and guests can also get eye-to-eye with a giraffe. Drinks and giraffe food are sold at the overlook. The renovation more than doubled the original exhibit from 3/4 of an acre to more than 2 acres (8,093.7 m²). Giraffes and several other species, including, Wattle Cranes, Saddle Billed storks, and White Backed Vultures walk and graze freely in this 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) exhibit, adjacent to the new Savanna Blooms botanical garden. The giraffe herd currently comprises nine giraffes. Duke is the only adult male. Shingo, a juvenile male, passed away in August 2011. The rest of the group are females, named in age order: Zawadi, Chloe, Spock, Faraja, Naomi, Luna, and Savannah.
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Great Apes of the World gives zoo visitors a look at the various primate
s that inhabit our planet. Although monkey
s and prosimian
s are also featured, as the name suggests the ape
s are the stars of the exhibit. The exhibit opened in two phases in 1998 and 1999 at a cost of $20 million. Phase I included western lowland gorillas
and bonobo
s, the first time the zoo had exhibited either species. In addition, the exhibit provided new homes for the zoo's siamang
s and pygmy marmoset
s. Phase II included a second gorilla yard, along with new exhibits for the Zoo's chimpanzee
s and mandrill
s, along with renovating the old monkey island area for a lemur
exhibit.
Since the exhibit opened, it has gradually changed over the years. The Pygmy Marmosets were relocated to the zoo's Range of the Jaguars exhibit in 2004 and the Chimpanzees were sent to another zoo in 2007.
Mammals
, American black bear
, red wolves
, Florida panther
s, white-tail deer, otter
s, bobcat
s, bald eagle
s, and formerly American flamingo
s.
In 2007, the old flamingo exhibit was renovated to accommodate the eagles, so that their exhibit could be used for a pair of whooping cranes the zoo acquired. The reptile house in the exhibit shows off the variety of reptiles and amphibians native to the region. Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, cottonmouth
s, and indigo snake
s are among the main attractions.
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Fish
Amphibians
Invertebrates
This exhibit won the 2005 AZA
exhibit of the year award. The exhibit is the largest in terms of number of animals. The exhibit features the largest jaguar
exhibit in North America, with many pools of water for the animals to play in. In the water is a school of giant pacu
. Currently, the zoo has six jaguars in its collection. One of the rare scenes in the exhibit is to see a jaguar actually fish for food. The jaguars are in age order: Zenta, Zassi, Salsa, Onca, Gigi, and Tuco (the only male).
The Lost Temple serves as another animal exhibit. Constructed to look like an old Central American temple, the exhibit highlights Central and South American reptiles and amphibians such as anaconda
s, caiman lizards, poison dart frogs
, Panamanian golden frog
s, and bushmasters
. In addition, Hoffman's two-toed sloths, pygmy marmosets
, and cotton-top tamarins are also found in the exhibit.
The River's Edge features a pair of giant anteater
s, a Baird's Tapir
, a pair of capybara
s, a troop of squirrel monkey
s, howler monkey
s, and white-faced sakis
(a type of monkey).
The Emerald Forest Aviary is the largest aviary on zoo grounds. The aviary houses over 100 neo-tropical birds. The primary attraction in the aviary is the Harpy Eagles enclosure. The harpy eagle featured at the zoo is a young male named Supay. In the main aviary, visitors can see macaw
s, cuckoo
s, heron
s, ducks, Pudú
, and one of the largest freshwater fish, the arapaima
. As of November 2007, giant river otters have replaced the smaller otters in the aviary. Just outside the aviary are American flamingo
s and various swan species native to South America.
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
Invertebrates
Animals included in this South Pacific attraction include the cassowary
, Lories and lorikeetss, kangaroo
s, and wallabies
.
For a dollar, guests are given cups of nectar and are allowed to feed the lorikeets. The Kangaroo and Wallaby exhibit originally allowed for guests to walk through the area along a fenced in path, however, this was later discontinued due to safety concerns for the animals.
Koala
s were part of the exhibit from its opening until December 2006. The Koalas were then sent back to the San Diego Zoo
as per the terms of their lease. The Koala exhibit became an Amphibian Conservation Center on February 16.
Mammals
Birds
In April, 2010 the Play Park became home to "Tuxedo Coast", a new Magellanic Penguin exhibit, replacing the river otters formerly exhibited here. Underwater viewing is available to watch the penguins splash and swim in their new exhibit.
Mammals
Birds
, southern stingray
, and Atlantic stingray
. The exhibit replaced the Camel Rides in the same location near the Great Plains of East Africa. In 2011, the Zoo took its operation over fully from an outside contractor, allowing the exhibit to stay open year-round. There is an additional fee to enter this exhibit.
Beyond the Bamboo Garden is the Komodo Dragon exhibit, designed to appear as if the Dragons are wandering in the back yards of a rural Indonesian fishing village on the island of Komodo.
The area will eventually serve as the entrance to a future planned Monsoon Asia exhibit.
exhibit will lead to a full Asia
n exhibit.
This major exhibit is scheduled to be opened in two phases. The first phase will feature tiger
s, the first time the zoo has exhibited tigers since 1995. The second phase will feature other Southeast Asia
n and India
n animals including Komodo dragon
s and kio
. The estimated cost of the new exhibit is $26 million and it awaits further funding.
Additionally, picnic grounds are located at the south end of the Zoo's parking lot, near the Education Campus. Visitors are allowed to bring their own food and beverage into this area; food and drinks are not allowed to be brought into the Zoo. No open fire or grills are allowed. Seating is approximately 200, first come, first serve.
and the Iwokrama Forest
. Signs around the exhibit show what is being done to protect the animals shown in their native habitats. In addition, the partnership allows the zoo to receive animals that would be unable to released back to the wild, such was the case in 2006 with the addition of two jaguars who were household pets that were sent to the zoo from Guyana.
sculpture, flower beds and a lot of hardscape. There are columns topped with flowering plants, benches for seating, and a large patio area surrounding the fountain. Seven live oak
s and other native trees - red maple
s, magnolia
s, and forest pansies - have been planted in the area around the garden to provide shade.
and waterfall, along with a bamboo island. A komodo dragon
exhibit is included. The garden will serve as the entrance for a new Asian exhibit currently in design.
The area along the Trout River waterfront at the zoo is set to become formal botanical gardens in the future, as funding is obtained.
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
located in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. It sits at the mouth
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
of the Trout River
Trout River (Florida)
The Trout River is a tributary of the St. Johns River in Duval County, Florida. Located entirely within Jacksonville, the river is brackish in its lower section. The widest point of the river is near the St. Johns River, where it is across...
. The zoo occupies approximately 110 acres (44.5 ha) and has over 2,000 animals in its collection. The zoo has grown from its modest beginnings in Springfield to be considered one of the city's premiere attractions.
The zoo's marquee attraction is the Range of the Jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
, which won the 2005 AZA
Aza
Aza may refer to:*Gaza*Gaza Strip*Aza , a village or town section in the Japanese addressing system*Azadkənd, Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan*Aza, Azerbaijan*Aźa, a Tibetan name for the Tuyuhun Kingdom...
Exhibit of the year award. The exhibits highlights animals native to Neotropical Rainforests
Neotropic
In biogeography, the Neotropic or Neotropical zone is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones. This ecozone includes South and Central America, the Mexican lowlands, the Caribbean islands, and southern Florida, because these regions share a large number of plant and animal groups.It is sometimes used...
. The zoo's other exhibits include the Plains of East Africa, highlighting African Savannah animals; Great Apes of the World, featuring 3 of the 4 Great Apes among other primates; the Australian Outback, including lorikeets, cassowarys, and kangaroos.
The zoo is active in animal conservation, participating in over 20 SSP (Species Survival Plan
Species Survival Plan
The American Species Survival Plan or SSP program was developed in 1981 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered in the wild....
s.) In 2004, the zoo reached an agreement with the nation of Guyana to help promote conservation in that country, particularly the Iwokrama Rainforest. Additionally, since 1999 the zoo has been home to a large breeding colony of woodstorks.
History
The Municipal Zoo opened in the Springfield neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida on May 12, 1914. The first animal on exhibit was a red deerRed Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
fawn.
On July 19, 1925, the Zoo moved to a 37.5 acres (151,757.3 m²) site on the Trout River
Trout River (Florida)
The Trout River is a tributary of the St. Johns River in Duval County, Florida. Located entirely within Jacksonville, the river is brackish in its lower section. The widest point of the river is near the St. Johns River, where it is across...
off Heckscher Drive in North Jacksonville. Over the course of the next forty years, the Zoo continued to grow in area and in terms of animals on display.
Perhaps the most significant animal in the Zoo's history was a jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
named "Zorro." Zorro was a male, wild-born black (melanistic
Melanism
Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages, and the opposite of albinism. It is also the medical term for black jaundice.The word is deduced from the , meaning black pigment....
) jaguar that arrived at the Zoo in August, 1967. At that time, black jaguars were very rare in captivity. During Zorro's 19 years at the Zoo (he died in September, 1986) he fathered numerous kittens that were sent to other zoos across North America. In the spring of 2003, the Jax Zoo investigated and could not find a current North American captive born black jaguar that was not a descendant of Zorro.
By the end of the 1960s, the Zoo was reputed to have the largest collection of exotic animals in the Southeast, but it had fallen on hard times and a great deal of money was needed to save the zoo. Community leaders, under the direction of Mayor Hans Tanzler, appointed a seven member committee to search for an alternative to closing the Zoo.
A major redevelopment of the Zoo began in 1992. Through a combination of public funds and private donations, over $20 million was raised to complete Phase One of the Zoo's Master Plan. Projects completed include a new front entry gate and parking lot, the Main Camp entrance, Birds of the Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
Aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
, Great Apes, an expanded train ride, an elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
and breeding complex, RiverBranch Foundation Animal Medical Center, the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus, and redevelopment of the 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) Plain
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
s of East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
.The zoo also includes [stingray bay],[Tuxedo coast],and the [Asian bamboo garden and Komodo dragon exhibit]
In December 2003, the zoo's name was officially changed from the Jacksonville Zoo to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Over the next five years, several new exhibits and services, including the famed Range of the Jaguar, the Savanna Blooms botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
, and the Children's Play Park successfully opened to the public. In addition, the zoo has endeavored to become recognized as a botanical garden.
Currently, the Zoo sits on 89 acres (360,170.5 m²) of land, over twice its original size on the Trout River location. The Zoo houses over 2,000 rare and exotic animals and over 1,500 unique plant species and participates in many preservation and breeding programs to ensure the survival of endangered and threatened species as well as local fauna and flora. And now includes the Magellanic pengiuin exhibit in the education campus,and the Komodo dragon exhibit in the Asian bamboo garden
Management and finance
The Jacksonville Zoological Society was created in April 1971 and began managing the Zoo on June 21, 1971. Originally consisting of only the seven members appointed by Mayor Tanzler, the Society now consists of 85 of the city's most influential leaders. The Society. There are currently thirty Board of Trustees members, with sixteen Honorary members. The Board conducts business regarding the Zoo in the name of the Society.The City of Jacksonville contracts with the Society to manage all phases of the operation of the Zoo. All property, including land, animals and equipment, belong to the city; in turn, the city contributes an annual subsidy to offset some of the Zoo's operating expenses. All other Zoo expenses are paid through revenues earned from admissions, concession sales, memberships, the Animal Care Club program, the Annual Fund, sponsorships, as well as grants and several fund-raising events.
African Exhibits
The northern part of the zoo is dominated by a series of AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n exhibits.
River Valley Aviary
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
s, Guinea fowl, stork
Stork
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families....
s, hammerkop
Hammerkop
The Hamerkop , also known as Hammerkop,Hammerkopf, Hammerhead, Hammerhead Stork, Umbrette, Umber Bird, Tufted Umber, or Anvilhead, is a medium-sized wading bird...
s, and other African birds. In late 2008, the zoo began to add Asian animals in the aviary. These include a muntjac
Muntjac
Muntjac, also known as Barking Deer and Mastreani Deer, are small deer of the genus Muntiacus. Muntjac are the oldest known deer, appearing 15–35 million years ago, with remains found in Miocene deposits in France, Germany and Poland....
and a Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
The Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Goura victoria, is a large, bluish-grey pigeon with elegant blue lace-like crests, maroon breast and red iris. The bird may be easily recognized by the unique white tips on its crests. Both sexes are similar. It is on average 74 cm long and weighs 2,384 grams...
. In addition, the zoo has a breeding pair of saddle-billed stork
Saddle-billed Stork
The Saddle-billed Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad in west Africa.This is a close...
s in the enclosure. The zoo was just the sixth zoo in the US to successfully breed the species.
To the side of the main aviary is the Ruzizi Streambank. A milky eagle owl along with other smaller African birds are found there
Mammals
- KlipspringerKlipspringerThe Klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus, is a small species of African antelope.-Name:The word klipspringer literally means "rock jumper" in Afrikaans/Dutch...
Birds
- African JacanaAfrican JacanaThe African Jacana is a jacana. The jacanas are a group of waders in the family Jacanidae, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. They are found worldwide within the tropical...
- African SpoonbillAfrican SpoonbillThe African Spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. It lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water and...
- Abdim's StorkAbdim's StorkThe Abdim's Stork, also known as White-bellied Stork, is a black stork with grey legs, red knees and feet, grey bill and white underparts. It has red facial skin in front of eye and blue skin near the bill in breeding season...
- Bali StarlingBali StarlingThe Bali Starling , also known as Rothschild’s Mynah, Bali Myna, or Bali Mynah, locally known as Jalak Bali, is a medium-sized , stocky myna, almost wholly white with a long, drooping crest, and black tips on the wings and tail. The bird has blue bare skin around the eyes, greyish legs and a yellow...
- Blue-bellied RollerBlue-bellied RollerThe Blue-bellied Roller, Coracias cyanogaster is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across Africa in a narrow belt from Senegal to northeast Zaire. It is resident, apart from some local seasonal movements, in mature moist savannah dominated by Isoberlinia trees.The Blue-bellied...
- Blue-crowned MotmotBlue-crowned MotmotThe Blue-crowned Motmot, Momotus momota, is a colourful near-passerine bird found in forests and woodlands of eastern Mexico, Central America, northern and central South America, and Trinidad and Tobago...
- Boat-billed HeronBoat-billed HeronThe Boat-billed Heron - colloquially known as the Boatbill - is an atypical member of the heron family, and was formerly thought to be in a monotypic family, Cochlearidae....
- Cape TealCape TealThe Cape Teal is a 44-46 cm long dabbling duck of open wetlands in sub-Saharan Africa.This species is essentially non-migratory, although it moves opportunistically with the rains. Like many southern ducks, the sexes are similar. It is very pale and mainly grey, with a browner back and pink...
- Chestnut-breasted MalkohaChestnut-breasted MalkohaThe Chestnut-breasted Malkoha is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family. Found in Southeast Asia from Myanmar through to eastern Java, the Philippines and Borneo, it is a large cuckoo measuring up to 49 cm with grey and dark green upperparts and chestnut underparts, and a large curved pale...
- Collared KingfisherCollared KingfisherThe Collared Kingfisher is a medium-sized kingfisher belonging to the family Halcyonidae, the tree kingfishers. It is also known as the White-collared Kingfisher or Mangrove Kingfisher. It has a wide range extending from the Red Sea across southern Asia and Australasia to Polynesia...
- Goliath HeronGoliath HeronThe Goliath Heron is a very large wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller numbers in Southwest and South Asia.-Description:This is the world's largest heron...
- Jambu Fruit DoveJambu Fruit DoveThe Jambu Fruit Dove, is a smallish colourful fruit-dove. It is a resident breeding species in southern Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan, Sumatra and Java....
- Javan Pond HeronJavan Pond HeronThe Javan Pond Heron, Ardeola speciosa is a wading bird of the heron family , found in shallow fresh and salt-water wetlands in Southeast Asia. Its diet comprises insects, fish, and crabs....
- Livingstone's TuracoLivingstone's TuracoThe Livingstone's Turaco is a species of bird in the Musophagidae family, which was named for Charles Livingstone, the brother of David Livingstone.It is distributed through the subtropical lowlands of southeastern Africa....
- Mandarin DuckMandarin DuckThe Mandarin Duck , or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan.-Description:...
- Marbled DuckMarbled DuckThe Marbled Duck, or Marbled Teal , is a medium-sized duck. It used to be included among the dabbling ducks, but is now classed as a diving duck....
- Nicobar PigeonNicobar PigeonThe Nicobar Pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica, is a pigeon found on small islands and in coastal regions from the Nicobar Islands, east through the Malay Archipelago, to the Solomons and Palau. It is the only living member of the genus Caloenas....
- Oriental Magpie RobinOriental Magpie RobinThe Oriental Magpie Robin is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered an Old World flycatcher. They are distinctive black and white birds with a long tail that is held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously...
- Racket-tailed RollerRacket-tailed RollerThe Racket-tailed Roller is a species of bird in the Coraciidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
- Roseate SpoonbillRoseate SpoonbillThe Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja, is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae...
- Palm-nut VulturePalm-nut VultureThe Palm-nut Vulture or Vulturine Fish Eagle, is a very large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers, vultures, and eagles. It is the only member of the genus Gypohierax...
- Saddle-billed StorkSaddle-billed StorkThe Saddle-billed Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad in west Africa.This is a close...
- Straw-coloured Fruit BatStraw-coloured Fruit BatThe Straw-coloured Fruit Bat is the most widely distributed of all the African megabats. It is quite common throughout its area ranging from southwestern Arabian Peninsula, forest and savanna zones of Africa and to the offshore island of Madagascar...
- Southern Screamer
- Verreaux's Eagle-owl
- White-bellied BustardWhite-bellied BustardThe White-bellied Bustard or White-bellied Korhaan is an African species of bustard.-Range and habitat:...
- White-crowned Robin-chatWhite-crowned Robin-chatThe White-crowned Robin-chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Togo.Its natural habitats are...
- White-faced Whistling DuckWhite-faced Whistling DuckThe White-faced Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna viduata, is a whistling duck which breeds in sub-Saharan Africa and much of South America.This species is gregarious, and at favoured sites, the flocks of a thousand or more birds arriving at dawn are an impressive sight...
- Yellow-billed StorkYellow-billed StorkThe Yellow-billed Stork, Mycteria ibis, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It occurs in Africa south of the Sahara and in Madagascar....
- White-winged Wood DuckWhite-winged Wood DuckThe White-winged Duck or White-winged Wood Duck is a large species of duck, formerly placed in the genus Cairina and allied with the dabbling ducks...
Plains of East Africa
The first major exhibit that guests encounter. The exhibit is primarily viewed from an elevated walkway giving guests a bird's eye view of the animals. The exhibit was renovated and expanded in 1996.Nile crocodile
Nile crocodile
The Nile crocodile or Common crocodile is an African crocodile which is common in Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Gabon, South Africa, Malawi, Sudan, Botswana, and Cameroon...
s, warthog
Warthog
The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
s, and Stanley cranes mixed with Leadbeater's ground hornbills are the first animals guests encounter. The zoo was the first in North America to successfully breed Leadbeater’s ground hornbills.
Eastern bongo
Bongo (antelope)
The western or lowland bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus, is a herbivorous, mostly nocturnal forest ungulate and among the largest of the African forest antelope species....
s, Pink-backed pelicans, and Egyptian geese are found in a center pen that is spacious and tree-shaded. In addition, this exhibit has become a home for a large breeding colony for the highly endangered Wood Stork
Wood Stork
The Wood Stork is a large American wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It was formerly called the "Wood Ibis", though it is not really an ibis.-Appearance:...
, native to Florida.
Cheetah
The cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...
exhibit, a 300 feet (91.4 m) long, 50 feet (15.2 m) wide area is home to two cheetahs. It lies across a water break from the larger exhibit containing southern white rhinoceros
White Rhinoceros
The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...
es, greater kudu
Greater Kudu
The Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting....
, sitatunga
Sitatunga
The situtunga or marshbuck is a swamp-dwelling antelope found throughout Central Africa, centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and parts of Southern Sudan as well as in Ghana, Botswana, Zambia, Gabon, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.-Description:Situtunga stand about one and a...
s, a north African ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
, black-crowned cranes, and goliath heron
Goliath Heron
The Goliath Heron is a very large wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller numbers in Southwest and South Asia.-Description:This is the world's largest heron...
s inhabit the areas at the end of the boardwalk. This 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) exhibit allows plenty of room for the animals to roam. The zoo has been a successful breeder of southern white rhinos, with over a dozen successful births.
Okapi and Grevy's Zebra
Grevy's Zebra
The Grévy's zebra , also known as the Imperial zebra, is the largest extant wild equid and one of three species of zebra, the other two being the plains zebra and the mountain zebra. Named after Jules Grévy, it is the sole extant member of the subgenus Dolichohippus. The Grévy's zebra is found in...
s are located farther along the boardwalk.
Mammals
- African elephant
- Amur LeopardAmur LeopardThe Amur leopard , also known as the Far Eastern leopard, Korean leopard, and Manchurian leopard is one of nine recognised subspecies of leopard. It is a wild feline predator native to the mountainous areas of the Russian Far East. It used to inhabit the forests of Korea and China, but it has...
- Angolan colobus
- CheetahCheetahThe cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...
- Eastern BongoBongo (antelope)The western or lowland bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus, is a herbivorous, mostly nocturnal forest ungulate and among the largest of the African forest antelope species....
- Greater KuduGreater KuduThe Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting....
- Grévy's ZebraGrevy's ZebraThe Grévy's zebra , also known as the Imperial zebra, is the largest extant wild equid and one of three species of zebra, the other two being the plains zebra and the mountain zebra. Named after Jules Grévy, it is the sole extant member of the subgenus Dolichohippus. The Grévy's zebra is found in...
- African LionLionThe lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
- OkapiOkapiThe okapi , Okapia johnstoni, is a giraffid artiodactyl mammal native to the Ituri Rainforest, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa...
- Rock Hyrax
- Southern White RhinocerosWhite RhinocerosThe White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...
- Speke's GazelleSpeke's GazelleSpeke's Gazelle is the smallest of the gazelle species. It is confined to the horn of Africa where it inhabits stony brush, grass steppes, and semi deserts . This species has been sometimes regarded as a subspecies of the dorcas gazelle though this is now widely disregarded...
- Straw-coloured Fruit BatStraw-coloured Fruit BatThe Straw-coloured Fruit Bat is the most widely distributed of all the African megabats. It is quite common throughout its area ranging from southwestern Arabian Peninsula, forest and savanna zones of Africa and to the offshore island of Madagascar...
- WarthogWarthogThe Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
Birds
- Blue CraneBlue CraneThe Blue Crane , also known as the Stanley Crane and the Paradise Crane, is the national bird of South Africa. It is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. It is 100–120 cm tall and weighs 4.0–6.2 kg...
- Egyptian GooseEgyptian GooseThe Egyptian Goose is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae, and is the only extant member of the genus Alopochen...
- Goliath HeronGoliath HeronThe Goliath Heron is a very large wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller numbers in Southwest and South Asia.-Description:This is the world's largest heron...
- Grey Crowned CraneGrey Crowned CraneThe Grey Crowned Crane is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats. This animal does not migrate....
- Hadada IbisHadada IbisThe Hadada or Hadeda Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash, is an ibis found in Sub-Saharan Africa.-Appearance:The Hadeda is a large , dark brown ibis with a white "moustache", glossy greenish purple wings, a large black bill with a red stripe on the upper mandible, and blackish legs.-Call:It has a...
- Lappet-faced VultureLappet-faced VultureThe Lappet-faced Vulture or Nubian Vulture is a mostly African Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Torgos. A distinct subspecies T. t. negevensis occurs in the Sinai, the Negev...
- Marabou StorkMarabou StorkThe Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips...
- Common OstrichOstrichThe Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
- Racket-tailed RollerRacket-tailed RollerThe Racket-tailed Roller is a species of bird in the Coraciidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
- Southern Ground Hornbill
- Violet-backed StarlingViolet-backed StarlingThe Violet-backed Starling , also known as the Plum-coloured Starling or Amethyst Starling, is a relatively small species of starling in the Sturnidae family. This strongly sexually dimorphic species is found widely in woodland of mainland sub-Saharan Africa.-References:* BirdLife International 2004....
- Violet TuracoViolet TuracoThe Violet Turaco is a large turaco, a group of African near-passerines. It is a resident breeder in the forests of tropical west Africa. It lays two eggs in a tree platform nest....
- Wattled CraneWattled CraneThe Wattled Crane, Bugeranus carunculatus is a large bird found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It is monotypical for its genus.At a height of up to , it is the largest crane in Africa and is the second tallest species of crane, after the Sarus Crane. The wingspan is , the length is...
- White-bellied BustardWhite-bellied BustardThe White-bellied Bustard or White-bellied Korhaan is an African species of bustard.-Range and habitat:...
- White-headed Buffalo Weaver
- Yellow-billed DuckYellow-billed DuckThe Yellow-billed Duck, Anas undulata, is a 51–58 cm long dabbling duck which is an abundant resident breeder in southern and eastern Africa.This duck is not migratory, but will wander in the dry season to find suitable waters...
Reptiles
- African Bush ViperAtherisAtheris is a genus of venomous vipers found only in tropical subsaharan Africa, excluding southern Africa. Confined to rain forest areas, many members have isolated and fragmented distributions. In an interesting example of convergent evolution, they show many similarities to the arboreal pit...
- Bell's hinge-back tortoise
- African Rock PythonPython sebaePython sebae is a large, non-venomous snake of Sub-Saharan Africa. The African rock python is one of seven species in the Python genus. It has two subspecies, one found in Central and Western Africa and the other in Southern Africa....
- Egyptian cobraEgyptian cobraThe Egyptian cobra is a species in the genus Naja found in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the largest Naja species in Africa.- Description :...
- Gaboon ViperBitis gabonicaBitis gabonica is a venomous viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa. This is not only the largest member of the genus Bitis, but also the world's heaviest viperid and it has the longest fangs ,and the highest venom yield of any venomous snake...
- Lowland Swamp ViperProatherisProatheris is a monotypic genus created for a venomous viper species, P. superciliaris. This is a small terrestrial species found in Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:...
- Slender-snouted crocodileSlender-snouted CrocodileThe African Slender-snouted Crocodile is a species of crocodile. Recent studies in DNA and morphology suggest that it may belong in its own genus, Mecistops, but at present most continue to use Crocodylus for this species.African Slender-snouted Crocodile are native to freshwater habitats in...
- Pancake tortoisePancake tortoiseThe pancake tortoise is a flat-shelled tortoise native to Tanzania and Kenya. Its name is derived from the flat shape of its shell. It is the only member of the genus Malacochersus.-Description:...
- Puff adderPuff adderPuff adder is the common name of several snake species:* Bitis arietans, a venomous snake species found in Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula* Bitis, any other member of this genus...
- Red Spitting CobraRed Spitting CobraThe Red Spitting Cobra , is a species of spitting cobra native to Africa. This species is one of several spittings cobra in Africa. Spitting cobras do not spit their venom...
- Western green mambaWestern green mambaThe Western green mamba , or also known as the West African green mamba or Hallowell's green mamba, is a long, thin and highly venomous arboreal snake of the family Elapidae.-Geographic range:...
- Western Plated LizardCordylusThe genus Cordylus includes a wide variety of small to medium sized spiny lizards from Africa, collectively called girdle-tailed or girdled lizards. All are diurnal and ovoviviparous . Most species are rupicolous while a few species are arboreal or live in burrows...
Amphibians
- African BullfrogAfrican BullfrogThe African Bullfrog is a species of frog in the Ranidae family. It is also known as the Pixie frog due to its Latin name....
- Painted Mantella
Elephant Plaza
Offers an intimate view of the four African elephants at the zoo in their 275,000-gallon pool. The zoo is one of the few who house male elephants. The Zoo has a male African elephant named Ali, who was donated from Michael Jackson in 1997. The others are three females in age order: Moki, Chana, and Sheena. The area features a reptile house that exhibits Egyptian cobraEgyptian cobra
The Egyptian cobra is a species in the genus Naja found in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the largest Naja species in Africa.- Description :...
s, green mamba
Green mamba
Green mamba may refer to:* Eastern green mamba* Western green mamba...
s, and a 12 feet (3.7 m) African rock python
Python sebae
Python sebae is a large, non-venomous snake of Sub-Saharan Africa. The African rock python is one of seven species in the Python genus. It has two subspecies, one found in Central and Western Africa and the other in Southern Africa....
named Solomon. White bellied bustard
Bustard
Bustards, including floricans and korhaans, are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World...
s, fruit bat
Fruit Bat
Fruit Bat can refer to:* Megabats, a species of bat which eats fruit* Les "Fruitbat" Carter, guitarist of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine* Fruit Bats , an American band...
s, klipspringer
Klipspringer
The Klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus, is a small species of African antelope.-Name:The word klipspringer literally means "rock jumper" in Afrikaans/Dutch...
s, and Lappet-faced vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
The Lappet-faced Vulture or Nubian Vulture is a mostly African Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Torgos. A distinct subspecies T. t. negevensis occurs in the Sinai, the Negev...
s are found in smaller side exhibits in the area.
Further down the boardwalk is Mahali Pa Simba ("Place of the Lion" in Swahili), the 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) home of the Zoo's two male lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s, Catali and Mshoni and two female lions Tamu and Laini. The exhibit was the first to be opened and has evolved over the years. The largest change was the addition of a third viewing area across a moat on the north side of the exhibit.
Colobus monkeys live in the area in front of the lions. From East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, they move by leaping from tree to tree and can be seen in action in their lively exhibit.
Leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
s are along the southern end of the boardwalk. The exhibit is highlighted by the gigantic artificial tree in the center of the exhibit that the leopards love to sleep and play on. The zoo successfully bred this rare species in 2010. An interesting side note, the Leopards on exhibit are Amur leopard
Amur Leopard
The Amur leopard , also known as the Far Eastern leopard, Korean leopard, and Manchurian leopard is one of nine recognised subspecies of leopard. It is a wild feline predator native to the mountainous areas of the Russian Far East. It used to inhabit the forests of Korea and China, but it has...
s, a subspecies native to Eastern Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and one of the most endangered cat species in the world, despite their placement near an African Exhibit.
Giraffe Overlook
A short distance away is the renovated giraffeGiraffe
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant...
exhibit. The covered boardwalk gives guests a breathtaking view across a replica of the African Savanna and guests can also get eye-to-eye with a giraffe. Drinks and giraffe food are sold at the overlook. The renovation more than doubled the original exhibit from 3/4 of an acre to more than 2 acres (8,093.7 m²). Giraffes and several other species, including, Wattle Cranes, Saddle Billed storks, and White Backed Vultures walk and graze freely in this 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) exhibit, adjacent to the new Savanna Blooms botanical garden. The giraffe herd currently comprises nine giraffes. Duke is the only adult male. Shingo, a juvenile male, passed away in August 2011. The rest of the group are females, named in age order: Zawadi, Chloe, Spock, Faraja, Naomi, Luna, and Savannah.
Mammals
- Reticulated GiraffeSomali GiraffeThe Somali Giraffe, or more commonly known as Reticulated Giraffe , is a subspecies of giraffe native to Somalia, northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia...
Birds
- White-backed VultureWhite-backed VultureThe White-backed Vulture is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is closely related to the European Griffon Vulture, G. fulvus...
Reptiles
- Leopard tortoiseLeopard TortoiseThe Leopard tortoise is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape. It is the only member of the genus Stigmochelys, but in the past it was commonly placed in Geochelone instead...
Great Apes of the World
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
s that inhabit our planet. Although monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
s and prosimian
Prosimian
Prosimians are a grouping of mammals defined as being primates, but not monkeys or apes. They include, among others, lemurs, bushbabies, and tarsiers. They are considered to have characteristics that are more primitive than those of monkeys and apes. Prosimians are the only primates native to...
s are also featured, as the name suggests the ape
Ape
Apes are Old World anthropoid mammals, more specifically a clade of tailless catarrhine primates, belonging to the biological superfamily Hominoidea. The apes are native to Africa and South-east Asia, although in relatively recent times humans have spread all over the world...
s are the stars of the exhibit. The exhibit opened in two phases in 1998 and 1999 at a cost of $20 million. Phase I included western lowland gorillas
Western Lowland Gorilla
The western lowland gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in montane, primary, and secondary forests and lowland swamps in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is the gorilla usually found in zoos...
and bonobo
Bonobo
The bonobo , Pan paniscus, previously called the pygmy chimpanzee and less often, the dwarf or gracile chimpanzee, is a great ape and one of the two species making up the genus Pan. The other species in genus Pan is Pan troglodytes, or the common chimpanzee...
s, the first time the zoo had exhibited either species. In addition, the exhibit provided new homes for the zoo's siamang
Siamang
The siamang is a tailless, arboreal, black-furred gibbon native to the forests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. The largest of the lesser apes, the siamang can be twice the size of other gibbons, reaching 1 m in height, and weighing up to 14 kg...
s and pygmy marmoset
Pygmy Marmoset
The pygmy marmoset or dwarf monkey is a New World monkey native to the rainforest canopies of western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia. It is one of the smallest primates, and the smallest true monkey, with its body length ranging from...
s. Phase II included a second gorilla yard, along with new exhibits for the Zoo's chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s and mandrill
Mandrill
The mandrill is a primate of the Old World monkey family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the drill. Both the mandrill and the drill were once classified as baboons in genus Papio, but recent research has determined they should be separated into their own genus, Mandrillus...
s, along with renovating the old monkey island area for a lemur
Lemur
Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits of some species...
exhibit.
Since the exhibit opened, it has gradually changed over the years. The Pygmy Marmosets were relocated to the zoo's Range of the Jaguars exhibit in 2004 and the Chimpanzees were sent to another zoo in 2007.
Mammals
- Black-and-white ruffed lemurBlack-and-white ruffed lemurThe black-and-white ruffed lemur is the more endangered of the two species of ruffed lemurs, both of which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities...
- BonoboBonoboThe bonobo , Pan paniscus, previously called the pygmy chimpanzee and less often, the dwarf or gracile chimpanzee, is a great ape and one of the two species making up the genus Pan. The other species in genus Pan is Pan troglodytes, or the common chimpanzee...
- Eastern black-and-white colobus
- MandrillMandrillThe mandrill is a primate of the Old World monkey family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the drill. Both the mandrill and the drill were once classified as baboons in genus Papio, but recent research has determined they should be separated into their own genus, Mandrillus...
- Ring-tailed lemurRing-tailed LemurThe ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar...
- SiamangSiamangThe siamang is a tailless, arboreal, black-furred gibbon native to the forests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. The largest of the lesser apes, the siamang can be twice the size of other gibbons, reaching 1 m in height, and weighing up to 14 kg...
- Western lowland gorillaWestern Lowland GorillaThe western lowland gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in montane, primary, and secondary forests and lowland swamps in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is the gorilla usually found in zoos...
Wild Florida
Wild Florida was built where the old Florida Wetlands were. The exhibit highlights animals native to the state as well as some that have been extirpated. The exhibit is home to the Zoo's group of American alligatorAmerican Alligator
The American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
, American black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, red wolves
Red Wolf
The red wolf is a North American canid which once roamed throughout the Southeastern United States and is a glacial period survivor of the Late Pleistocene epoch...
, Florida panther
Florida Panther
The Florida panther is an endangered subspecies of cougar that lives in forests and swamps of southern Florida in the United States. Its current taxonomic status is unresolved, but recent genetic research alone does not alter the legal conservation status...
s, white-tail deer, otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
s, bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s, and formerly American flamingo
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
s.
In 2007, the old flamingo exhibit was renovated to accommodate the eagles, so that their exhibit could be used for a pair of whooping cranes the zoo acquired. The reptile house in the exhibit shows off the variety of reptiles and amphibians native to the region. Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, cottonmouth
Cottonmouth
Cottonmouth may refer to:Snakes* Agkistrodon piscivorus, a.k.a. the water moccasin, a venomous and semiaquatic pitviper found in the US* Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen, a.k.a...
s, and indigo snake
Indigo snake
The eastern indigo snake is a large nonvenomous snake with an even blue-black coloration, with some specimens having a reddish-orange to tan color on the throat, cheek and chin. This smooth- scaled snake is considered to be the largest native snake species in the United States with the longest...
s are among the main attractions.
Mammals
- American black bearAmerican black bearThe American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
- BobcatBobcatThe bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
- Florida pantherFlorida PantherThe Florida panther is an endangered subspecies of cougar that lives in forests and swamps of southern Florida in the United States. Its current taxonomic status is unresolved, but recent genetic research alone does not alter the legal conservation status...
- Red WolfRed WolfThe red wolf is a North American canid which once roamed throughout the Southeastern United States and is a glacial period survivor of the Late Pleistocene epoch...
- White-tailed deerWhite-tailed DeerThe white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
Birds
- Bald EagleBald EagleThe Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
- Cooper's HawkCooper's HawkCooper's Hawk is a medium-sized hawk native to the North American continent and found from Canada to Mexico. As in many birds of prey, the male is smaller than the female...
- Sandhill CraneSandhill CraneThe Sandhill Crane is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills in the American Midwest...
- Screech-owlScreech-owlScreech owls or Screech-owls are typical owls belonging to the genus Megascops. Twenty-one living species are known at present, but new ones are frequently recognized and unknown ones are still being discovered on a regular basis, especially in the Andes...
- Whooping CraneWhooping CraneThe whooping crane , the tallest North American bird, is an endangered crane species named for its whooping sound. Along with the Sandhill Crane, it is one of only two crane species found in North America. The whooping crane's lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild...
Reptiles
- Alligator snapping turtleAlligator Snapping TurtleThe alligator snapping turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. It is not closely related to, but is often associated with the common snapping turtle. They are the sole living member of the genus Macrochelys--while common snappers are in the genus Chelydra...
- American alligatorAmerican AlligatorThe American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
- Canebrake rattlesnakeCrotalus horridusCrotalus horridus, the timber rattlesnake, is a species of venomous pitviper found in the eastern United States. This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States. No subspecies are currently recognized....
- Corn SnakeCorn SnakeThe Corn Snake , or Red Rat Snake, is a North American species of Rat Snake that subdues its small prey by constriction. The name "Corn Snake" is a holdover from the days when southern farmers stored harvested ears of corn in a wood frame or log building called a crib...
- Eastern Coral SnakeCoral snakeThe coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be subdivided into two distinct groups, Old World coral snakes and New World coral snakes...
- Eastern Diamondback RattlesnakeCrotalus adamanteusCrotalus adamanteus is a venomous pit viper species found in the southeastern United States. It is the heaviest venomous snake in the Americas and the largest rattlesnake. It featured prominently in the American Revolution, specifically as the symbol of what many consider to be the first flag of...
- Sistrurus miliarius barbouriSistrurus miliarius barbouriSistrurus miliarius barbouri is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the southeastern United States.-Description: Adults grow to between 35.5 and 76 cm in length . In a study that involved 103 males and 80 females, the average length was 53.5 cm. Snellings and Collins reported a specimen...
- Eastern indigo snake
- Eastern mud turtleEastern Mud TurtleThe eastern mud turtle or common mud turtle is a common species of turtle found in the United States.-Appearance:...
- Florida box turtle
- Florida CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorusAgkistrodon piscivorus is a venomous snake, a species of pit viper, found in the southeastern United States. Adults are large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite. When antagonized they will stand their ground by coiling their bodies and displaying their fangs...
- Florida Pine SnakePine snakePine snake may refer to:* Pituophis melanoleucus, a harmless colubrid found in North America.* Lampropeltis g. getula, a.k.a. the eastern kingsnake, a harmless colubrid found in the eastern United States....
- Eastern Glass LizardGlass lizardThe glass lizards or glass snakes, genus Ophisaurus, are a group of reptiles that resemble snakes, but are actually lizards. Although most species have no legs, their head shape and the fact that they have movable eyelids and external ear openings identify them as lizards. A few species have very...
- Gopher tortoise
- Gray Rat Snake
- Scarlet Milk SnakeMilk SnakeThe milk snake or milksnake is a species of king snake. There are 25 subspecies among the milk snakes, including the commonly named scarlet kingsnake...
- Yellow Rat SnakeRat snakeRat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
- Southern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrixAgkistrodon contortrix is a species of venomous snake found in North America, a member of the Crotalinae subfamily. The more common name for the species is "copperhead". The behavior of Agkistrodon contortrix may lead to accidental encounters with humans...
- Southern WatersnakeNerodia fasciataThe banded water snake or Southern water snake is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake found in the central and southeastern United States, from Indiana, south to Texas and east to Florida.-Description:...
Fish
- BluegillBluegillThe Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
- Fat Sleeper GobyEleotridaeSleeper gobies are members of the Eleotridae fish family, found predominantly in the tropical Indo-Pacific. There are approximately 35 genera and 150 species. While many eleotrids pass through a planktonic stage in the sea and some spend their entire lives in the sea, as adults the majority live in...
Amphibians
- American green tree frogAmerican green tree frogThe American green tree frog is a common species of New World tree frog belonging to the genus Hyla. It is a common backyard species that is popular as a pet, and is the state amphibian of Georgia and Louisiana.-Description:...
- Cuban tree frogCuban tree frogOsteopilus septentrionalis, commonly known as the Cuban tree frog, is an amphibian native to the Caribbean region of the Western Hemisphere. It is the largest tree frog of North America...
- Eastern newtEastern NewtThe Eastern Newt or Red-spotted Newt is a common salamander of eastern North America. Eastern newts dwell in wet forests with small lakes or ponds. They can coexist in an aquatic environment with fish, however, their skin secretes a poisonous substance when the newt is threatened or injured...
- Gray tree frog
- Barking Tree FrogHyla gratiosaThe barking tree frog is a tree frog, 5 to 7 centimeters long, and variable in color but easily recognizable due to the characteristic dark round markings on its dorsum. Individuals may be bright or dull green, brown, yellowish, or gray in color. It has prominent round toe pads and the male has a...
- Gopher FrogGopher FrogThe Gopher Frog is a species of frog in the Ranidae family. It is endemic to the Southeastern United States. It primarily inhabits the threatened sandhill communities, flatwoods, and scrub in the Atlantic coastal plain, where it is usually found near ponds.-Subspecies:Its two subspecies include...
- Greater SirenGreater SirenThe greater siren is an eel-like amphibian. The largest of the Sirens, they can grow from to in length. They range in color from black to brown, and have a lighter gray or yellow underbelly....
- Lesser SirenLesser SirenThe Lesser Siren is a species of aquatic salamander native to the eastern United States and northern Mexico. They are referred by numerous common names, including Two-legged Eel, Dwarf Siren, and Mud Eel...
- Marbled SalamanderMarbled SalamanderThe Marbled Salamander is a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States.- Description :The Marbled Salamander is a stocky, boldly banded salamander. The bands of females tend to be gray, while those of males are more white. Adults can grow to about 11 cm, , a bit small compared...
- Squirrel Treefrog
Invertebrates
- CrayfishCrayfishCrayfish, crawfish, or crawdads – members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related...
- Two-striped WalkingstickAnisomorpha buprestoidesAnisomorpha buprestoides is a stick insect which occurs throughout the southeastern United States.-Defense:...
Range of the Jaguar
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
exhibit of the year award. The exhibit is the largest in terms of number of animals. The exhibit features the largest jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
exhibit in North America, with many pools of water for the animals to play in. In the water is a school of giant pacu
Pacú
Pacu or pacú is the common name of several South American fishes.PACU, Pacu or pacú may also refer to:*Piaractus mesopotamicus , a South American ray-finned fish that is endemic to the Paraguay-Paraná River basin*Tambaqui , known as black pacu, black-finned pacu, giant pacu*Philippine Association...
. Currently, the zoo has six jaguars in its collection. One of the rare scenes in the exhibit is to see a jaguar actually fish for food. The jaguars are in age order: Zenta, Zassi, Salsa, Onca, Gigi, and Tuco (the only male).
The Lost Temple serves as another animal exhibit. Constructed to look like an old Central American temple, the exhibit highlights Central and South American reptiles and amphibians such as anaconda
Anaconda
An anaconda is a large, non-venomous snake found in tropical South America. Although the name actually applies to a group of snakes, it is often used to refer only to one species in particular, the common or green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, which is one of the largest snakes in the world.Anaconda...
s, caiman lizards, poison dart frogs
Poison dart frog
Poison dart frog is the common name of a group of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae which are native to Central and South America. These species are diurnal and often have brightly-colored bodies...
, Panamanian golden frog
Panamanian golden frog
The Panamanian golden frog is a critically endangered toad which is endemic to Panama. It has been considered a subspecies of A. varius, but is now generally regarded as a separate species. While the IUCN still lists it as critically endangered, it may have been extinct in the wild since 2007...
s, and bushmasters
Lachesis (genus)
Lachesis is a genus of venomous pitvipers found in remote forested areas of Central and South America. The generic name refers to one of the Three Fates in Greek mythology who determined the length of the thread of life...
. In addition, Hoffman's two-toed sloths, pygmy marmosets
Pygmy Marmoset
The pygmy marmoset or dwarf monkey is a New World monkey native to the rainforest canopies of western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia. It is one of the smallest primates, and the smallest true monkey, with its body length ranging from...
, and cotton-top tamarins are also found in the exhibit.
The River's Edge features a pair of giant anteater
Giant Anteater
The Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest species of anteater. It is the only species in the genus Myrmecophaga. It is found in Central and South America from Honduras to northern Argentina...
s, a Baird's Tapir
Baird's Tapir
Baird’s Tapir is a species of tapir that is native to Central America and northern South America. It is one of three Latin American species of tapir.-Names:...
, a pair of capybara
Capybara
The capybara , also known as capivara in Portuguese, and capibara, chigüire in Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador ronsoco in Peru, chigüiro, and carpincho in Spanish, is the largest living rodent in the world. Its closest relatives are agouti, chinchillas, coyphillas, and guinea pigs...
s, a troop of squirrel monkey
Squirrel monkey
The squirrel monkeys are the New World monkeys of the genus Saimiri. They are the only genus in the subfamily Saimirinae.Squirrel monkeys live in the tropical forests of Central and South America in the canopy layer. Most species have parapatric or allopatric ranges in the Amazon, while S...
s, howler monkey
Howler monkey
Howler monkeys are among the largest of the New World monkeys. Fifteen species are currently recognised. Previously classified in the family Cebidae, they are now placed in the family Atelidae. These monkeys are native to South and Central American forests...
s, and white-faced sakis
White-faced Saki
The white-faced saki , also known as the Guianan saki and the golden-faced saki, is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey, found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, and Timbuktu...
(a type of monkey).
The Emerald Forest Aviary is the largest aviary on zoo grounds. The aviary houses over 100 neo-tropical birds. The primary attraction in the aviary is the Harpy Eagles enclosure. The harpy eagle featured at the zoo is a young male named Supay. In the main aviary, visitors can see macaw
Macaw
Macaws are small to large, often colourful New World parrots. Of the many different Psittacidae genera, six are classified as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca...
s, cuckoo
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
s, heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s, ducks, Pudú
Pudú
The pudús are two species of South American deer from the genus Pudu; the world's smallest deer. The name is a loanword from Mapudungun the language of the indigenous Mapuche people of southern Chile...
, and one of the largest freshwater fish, the arapaima
Arapaima
The arapaima, pirarucu, or paiche is a South American tropical freshwater fish. It is a living fossil and one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world.-Anatomy and morphology:...
. As of November 2007, giant river otters have replaced the smaller otters in the aviary. Just outside the aviary are American flamingo
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
s and various swan species native to South America.
Mammals
- Baird's TapirBaird's TapirBaird’s Tapir is a species of tapir that is native to Central America and northern South America. It is one of three Latin American species of tapir.-Names:...
- Black howlerBlack HowlerThe Black howler is a species of howler monkey, a large New World monkey, from northeast Argentina, east Bolivia, east and south Brazil and Paraguay. Together with the brown howler, it is the southernmost member of the Alouatta genus. Only the adult male is black; adult females and juveniles of...
- CapybaraCapybaraThe capybara , also known as capivara in Portuguese, and capibara, chigüire in Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador ronsoco in Peru, chigüiro, and carpincho in Spanish, is the largest living rodent in the world. Its closest relatives are agouti, chinchillas, coyphillas, and guinea pigs...
- Cottontop tamarinCottontop TamarinThe cotton-top tamarin , also known as the Pinché tamarin, is a small New World monkey weighing less than 1 lb...
- Giant AnteaterGiant AnteaterThe Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest species of anteater. It is the only species in the genus Myrmecophaga. It is found in Central and South America from Honduras to northern Argentina...
- Giant OtterGiant OtterThe giant otter is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators. Unusually for a mustelid, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members...
- Hoffmann's Two-toed SlothHoffmann's Two-toed SlothHoffmann's two-toed sloth is a species of sloth from Central and South America. It is a solitary nocturnal and arboreal animal, found in mature and secondary rainforests and deciduous forests...
- JaguarJaguarThe jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
- PudúPudúThe pudús are two species of South American deer from the genus Pudu; the world's smallest deer. The name is a loanword from Mapudungun the language of the indigenous Mapuche people of southern Chile...
- Pygmy marmosetPygmy MarmosetThe pygmy marmoset or dwarf monkey is a New World monkey native to the rainforest canopies of western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia. It is one of the smallest primates, and the smallest true monkey, with its body length ranging from...
- Seba's Short-tailed BatSeba's Short-tailed BatSeba's Short-tailed Bat, Carollia perspicillata, is a common and widespread bat species from South and Central America.C. perspicillata dwells in both moist evergreen and dry deciduous forests, usually below 1,000 meters altitude, typically roosting in groups of 10-100 bats in caves, hollow trees,...
- Southern Three-banded ArmadilloSouthern Three-banded ArmadilloThe Southern Three-banded Armadillo , also called the La Plata Three-Banded Armadillo, is an armadillo species from South America...
- White-faced sakiWhite-faced SakiThe white-faced saki , also known as the Guianan saki and the golden-faced saki, is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey, found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, and Timbuktu...
Birds
- American Flamingo
- American OystercatcherAmerican OystercatcherThe American Oystercatcher , occasionally called the American Pied Oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. The bird is marked by its black and white body and a long, thick orange beak...
- Blue-and-yellow MacawBlue-and-yellow MacawThe Blue-and-Yellow Macaw , also known as the Blue-and-Gold Macaw, is a member of the group of large Neotropical parrots known as macaws. It breeds in forest and woodland of tropical South America from Trinidad and Venezuela south to Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay...
- Black-bellied Whistling DuckBlack-bellied Whistling DuckThe Black-bellied Whistling Duck , formerly also called Black-bellied Tree Duck, is a whistling duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the USA, it can be found year-round in parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast...
- Black-necked SwanBlack-necked SwanThe Black-necked Swan is the largest waterfowl native to South America. Males are and weigh 4.5-6.7 kg ; females are and weigh 3.5-4.4 kg . The wingspan ranges from . The body plumage is white with a black neck, head and greyish bill. It has a red knob near the base of the bill and...
- Blue-knobbed Curassow
- Blue-throated Piping-guanBlue-throated Piping-guanThe Blue-throated Piping Guan, Pipile cumanensis is a South American bird of the family Cracidae that is somewhat similar in appearance to the turkey.-Composition, range and habitat:There are two subspecies. P...
- Brazilian DuckBrazilian DuckThe Brazilian Teal or Brazilian Duck is the only duck in the genus Amazonetta. It was formerly considered a "perching duck", but more recent analyses indicate that it belongs to a clade of South American dabbling ducks which also includes the Crested Duck, the Bronze-winged Duck, and possibly the...
- Brown PelicanBrown PelicanThe Brown Pelican is the smallest of the eight species of pelican, although it is a large bird in nearly every other regard. It is in length, weighs from and has a wingspan from .-Range and habits:...
- Chestnut-mandibled ToucanChestnut-mandibled ToucanThe Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, or Swainson’s Toucan is a near-passerine bird which breeds from eastern Honduras to northern Colombia to western Ecuador. This subspecies is replaced from southern Colombia to eastern Peru by the nominate subspecies Black-mandibled Toucan, R. ambiguus ambiguus...
- Double-crested CormorantDouble-crested CormorantThe Double-crested Cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It occurs along inland waterways as well as in coastal areas, and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico...
- Double-striped Thick-kneeDouble-striped Thick-kneeThe Double-striped Thick-knee, Burhinus bistriatus, is a Stone-curlew, a group of waders in the family Burhinidae.It is a resident breeder in Central and South America from southern Mexico south to Colombia, Venezuela and northern Brazil...
- Green AracariGreen AracariThe Green Aracari, Pteroglossus viridis, is a toucan, a near-passerine bird found in the lowland forests of northeastern South America , in the northeast Amazon Basin, the Guianas and the eastern Orinoco River drainage of Venezuela. At 30-40 cm...
- Guira Cuckoo
- Harpy Eagle
- Hooded MerganserHooded MerganserThe Hooded Merganser is a small duck and is the only member of the genus Lophodytes.Hooded Mergansers have a crest at the back of the head which can be expanded or contracted. In adult males, this crest has a large white patch, the head is black and the sides of the duck are reddish-brown...
- Inca TernInca TernThe Inca Tern is a seabird in the family Sternidae. It is the only member of the genus Larosterna.This uniquely-plumaged bird breeds on the coasts of Peru and Chile, and is restricted to the Humboldt current...
- Orinoco GooseOrinoco GooseThe Orinoco Goose is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae, and is the only living member of the genus Neochen...
- Plush-crested JayPlush-crested JayThe Plush-crested Jay is a jay of the Corvidae family, which includes the crows and their many allies. It is found in central-southern South America in southwestern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina, including southern regions of the Amazon Basin river systems,...
- Red-and-green MacawRed-and-green MacawThe Red-and-green Macaw , also known as the Green-winged Macaw, is a large mostly-red macaw of the Ara genus.This is the largest of the Ara genus, widespread in the forests and woodlands of northern and central South America...
- Red-capped CardinalRed-capped CardinalThe Red-capped Cardinal, Paroaria gularis, is a small South American bird. It belongs to Paroaria, a genus of red-headed cardinal-tanagers in the family Thraupidae, unlike the cardinals proper which are in the Cardinalidae...
- Red-legged SeriemaRed-legged SeriemaThe Red-legged Seriema or Crested Cariama is a mostly predatory terrestrial bird in the seriema family , included in the "Gruiformes" in the old paraphyletic circumscription, but increasingly placed in a distinct order Cariamae...
- Roseate SpoonbillRoseate SpoonbillThe Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja, is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae...
- Scarlet IbisScarlet IbisThe Scarlet Ibis is a species of ibis that inhabits tropical South America and also Trinidad and Tobago. It is the national bird of Trinidad and is featured on the Trinidad and Tobago coat of arms along with Tobago's national bird, the Rufous-vented Chachalaca.-Taxonomy:This species is very...
- Scarlet MacawScarlet MacawThe Scarlet Macaw is a large, colorful macaw. It is native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics. Range extends from extreme south-eastern Mexico to Amazonian Peru, Bolivia and Brazil in lowlands up to up to...
- SunbitternSunbitternThe Sunbittern, Eurypyga helias is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae and genus Eurypyga.-Description and reproduction:...
Reptiles
- Amazon tree boa
- Arrau turtle
- Aruba Island RattlesnakeCrotalus durissus unicolorCrotalus durissus unicolor is a venomous pitviper subspecies found only on the Caribbean island of Aruba, off the coast of Venezuela. Critically endangered, it is estimated that fewer than 230 adults survive in the wild. Sometimes still treated as a full species.-Description:Moderately sized, this...
- Brazilian Rainbow Boa
- Brown Rainbow BoaEpicrates cenchria maurusEpicrates cenchria maurus is a subspecies of Epicrates cenchria, in the family of Boinae, found in Amazon region of South America. Common name is Colombian rainbow boa. While a terrestrial species, with its moderate size and weight it has a semi-arboreal life...
- BushmasterLachesis (genus)Lachesis is a genus of venomous pitvipers found in remote forested areas of Central and South America. The generic name refers to one of the Three Fates in Greek mythology who determined the length of the thread of life...
- Central American river turtle
- Emerald Tree Boa
- Eyelash Palm Pit ViperBothriechisBothriechis is a genus of venomous pitvipers found predominantly in Mexico and Central America, although one species, B. schlegelii, ranges as far south as Colombia and Peru. All members are relatively slender and arboreal. The name Bothriechis is derived from the Greek words bothros and echis...
- Green Anaconda
- Knight AnoleKnight AnoleThe knight anole is a species of lizard in the Polychrotidae family, and the largest species of anole. Other common names include Cuban knight anole.-Geographic range:...
- Mata mataMata mataThe mata mata or matamata is a freshwater turtle found in South America, primarily in the Amazon and Orinoco basins.-Taxonomy:...
- Meso-American sliderMeso-American sliderThe Meso-American slider is a species of turtle belonging to the Trachemys genus of the family Emydidae with a distribution from Mexico to Honduros.- Distribution :This species is found from Mexico to Colombia:...
- Mexican Beaded LizardBeaded lizardThe Beaded lizard is a species of venomous lizard found principally in Mexico and southern Guatemala. Along with its congener, the Gila monster , it is the only lizard to have evolved an overt venom delivery system, and has long been considered the only venomous lizard...
- Red-footed tortoiseRed-footed tortoiseThe red-footed tortoise is a tortoise native to South America. It has also been introduced to many islands in the Caribbean. It draws its name from the red or orange scales visible on its limbs, as well as its head and tail...
- Taylor's Cantil
Amphibians
- Blue Poison Dart FrogDendrobates azureusDendrobates azureus is a type of poison dart frog found in the forests surrounded by the Sipaliwini savannah, which is located in southern Suriname and northern to central Brazil. Dendrobates azureus is widely known as the Blue Poison Dart Frog or by its Tirio Indian name, Okopipi...
- Ornate Horned FrogArgentine horned frogThe Argentine Horned Frog , also known as the Argentine wide-mouthed Frog or Pacman frog, is the most common species of Horned Frog, from the rain forests of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil...
- Panamanian golden frogPanamanian golden frogThe Panamanian golden frog is a critically endangered toad which is endemic to Panama. It has been considered a subspecies of A. varius, but is now generally regarded as a separate species. While the IUCN still lists it as critically endangered, it may have been extinct in the wild since 2007...
- Red-eyed Tree FrogAgalychnis callidryasThe Red-eyed Treefrog is an arboreal hylid native to Neotropical rainforests in Central America.- Description :...
- Vietnamese Mossy Frog
Fish
- ArapaimaArapaimaThe arapaima, pirarucu, or paiche is a South American tropical freshwater fish. It is a living fossil and one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world.-Anatomy and morphology:...
- Bandit CatfishBandit corydorasBandit corydoras or bandit cory is a common name shared by two similar but distinct species of fish:*Corydoras metae, also known as the masked corydoras, bandit catfish, or Meta River corydoras....
- Brittlenose CatfishAncistrusAncistrus is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Loricariidae of order Siluriformes. Fish of this genus are commonly known as the bushynose or bristlenose plecos.-Taxonomy:The type species is Ancistrus cirrhosus...
- Bronze CatfishBronze corydorasThe bronze corydoras , green corydoras, bronze catfish, lightspot corydoras or wavy catfish is a tropical freshwater fish in the "armored catfish" family. It is widely distributed in South America on the eastern side of the Andes, from Colombia and Trinidad to the Río de la Plata basin...
- Cardinal tetraCardinal tetraThe cardinal tetra, Paracheirodon axelrodi, is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. It is native to the upper Orinoco and Negro Rivers in South America....
- Emerald catfishEmerald catfishThe emerald catfish , emerald brochis, emerald cory, green catfish, or shortbody catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. The fish has appeared on a stamp in Brazil. This species is sometimes called the emerald cory...
- Giant freshwater stingray
- Gold tetraGold tetraThe gold tetra is a species of small freshwater fish in the family Characidae native to lowland South America, where they are abundant in coastal floodplains. Their name comes from a powdery golden tint on their body that is thought to be caused by internal parasites.- In the Aquarium :Gold tetras...
- Leopard whiprayLeopard whiprayThe leopard whipray is a little-known species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans from South Africa to Australia. It is found close to shore at depths shallower than , over soft substrates...
- PacuPacúPacu or pacú is the common name of several South American fishes.PACU, Pacu or pacú may also refer to:*Piaractus mesopotamicus , a South American ray-finned fish that is endemic to the Paraguay-Paraná River basin*Tambaqui , known as black pacu, black-finned pacu, giant pacu*Philippine Association...
- Peacock bassPeacock BassPeacock bass is the common name in English for a group of closely related species of tropical, freshwater fish of the genus Cichla, native to the Amazon River basin of South America. They also inhabit the waters of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Venezuela and parts of the United States,...
- Porthole shovelnose catfishPorthole shovelnose catfishThe porthole shovelnose catfish or spotted shovelnose catfish, Hemisorubim platyrhynchos, is the only species in the genus Hemisorubim of the catfish family Pimelodidae.-Taxonomy:...
- Spotted HypostomusHypostomus punctatusThe Suckermouthed Catfish is a tropical fish known as a Plecostomus belonging to the armored suckermouth catfish family . Hypostomus punctatus is a freshwater fish native to South America, in the coastal drainages of southeastern Brazil...
- Suckermouth catfishSuckermouth catfishSuckermouth catfish may refer to:* Any species of armored catfish , most notably:** Hypostomus plecostomus and Hypostomus punctatus, two species of armored catfish popular with aquarists....
- Stick CatfishFarlowellaFarlowella is a genus of catfish of the family Loricariidae. These fish resemble twigs or sticks, hence the common names twig catfish or stick catfish. They may also sometimes be referred to as whiptail catfish...
Invertebrates
- Pinktoe tarantulaPinktoe TarantulaThe pinktoe tarantula, Avicularia avicularia, is a species of tarantula native to South America, Costa Rica to Brazil, and the southern Caribbean...
Australian Adventure
Opened March 2002, the Outback Steakhouse's Australian Adventure attraction was the first new major exhibit at the south end of the Zoo in seven years.Animals included in this South Pacific attraction include the cassowary
Cassowary
The cassowaries are ratites, very large flightless birds in the genus Casuarius native to the tropical forests of New Guinea, nearby islands and northeastern Australia. There are three extant species recognized today...
, Lories and lorikeetss, kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
s, and wallabies
Wallaby
A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
.
For a dollar, guests are given cups of nectar and are allowed to feed the lorikeets. The Kangaroo and Wallaby exhibit originally allowed for guests to walk through the area along a fenced in path, however, this was later discontinued due to safety concerns for the animals.
Koala
Koala
The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
s were part of the exhibit from its opening until December 2006. The Koalas were then sent back to the San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, is one of the most progressive zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species...
as per the terms of their lease. The Koala exhibit became an Amphibian Conservation Center on February 16.
Mammals
- Red KangarooRed KangarooThe Red Kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest mammal native to Australia, and the largest surviving marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, avoiding only the more fertile areas in the south, the east coast, and the northern rainforests.-Description:This species is a very...
- Red-necked WallabyRed-necked WallabyThe Red-necked Wallaby is a medium-sized marsupial macropod, common in the more temperate and fertile parts of eastern Australia, including Tasmania.- Description :...
Birds
- Blue-streaked LoryBlue-streaked LoryThe Blue-streaked Lory is also known as the Blue-necked Lory. It a medium size parrot , primarily red with blue streaks from eye through ear coverts, brown-black tail, and black variegation on wing coverts....
- Chattering LoryChattering LoryThe Chattering Lory, Lorius garrulus is a forest-dwelling parrot endemic to North Maluku, Indonesia. It is considered vulnerable, the main threat being from trapping for the cage-bird trade.The race L. g...
- Grey-winged TrumpeterGrey-winged TrumpeterThe Grey-winged Trumpeter is a member of a small family of birds, the Psophiidae. It is found in the northern Amazon Rainforest and Guiana Shield in tropical South America...
- Helmeted GuineafowlHelmeted GuineafowlThe Helmeted Guineafowl is the best known of the guineafowl bird family, Numididae, and the only member of the genus Numida...
- Rainbow LorikeetRainbow LorikeetThe Rainbow Lorikeet, is a species of Australasian parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia , Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In Australia, it is common along the eastern seaboard, from Queensland to South Australia and northwest Tasmania...
- Southern CassowarySouthern CassowaryThe Southern Cassowary, Casuarius casuarius, also known as Double-wattled Cassowary, Australian Cassowary or Two-wattled Cassowary, is a large flightless black bird...
- Streaked Lory
Children's Play Park
Phase one of the Jacksonville Zoo's 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) Play Park opened in May 2006 across from the Range of the Jaguar. The Play Park replaced the outdated Okovango Village which was demolished a year earlier. The exhibit includes a Splash Ground water park (open seasonally) for children, as well as an outdoor jungle gym and hedge maze. Animals featured include Squirrel Monkeys with themed activities for kids by their exhibit. In addition, a barnyard area where children can pet farm animals is located there. The Discovery Center features educational programs for children.In April, 2010 the Play Park became home to "Tuxedo Coast", a new Magellanic Penguin exhibit, replacing the river otters formerly exhibited here. Underwater viewing is available to watch the penguins splash and swim in their new exhibit.
Mammals
- Pygmy goatPygmy goatA pygmy goat is a small breed of domestic goat. Although they produce a very large amount of milk for their size, and can be eaten, pygmy goats are not typically used for milk or meat, unlike larger dairy and meat goat breeds. Pygmy goats tend to be more robust and breed more continually throughout...
- Squirrel monkeySquirrel monkeyThe squirrel monkeys are the New World monkeys of the genus Saimiri. They are the only genus in the subfamily Saimirinae.Squirrel monkeys live in the tropical forests of Central and South America in the canopy layer. Most species have parapatric or allopatric ranges in the Amazon, while S...
Birds
- Magellanic PenguinMagellanic PenguinThe Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus, is a South American penguin, breeding in coastal Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands, with some migrating to Brazil where they are occasionally seen as far north as Rio de Janeiro. It is the most numerous of the Spheniscus penguins. Its nearest...
Stingray Bay
Stingray Bay opened on March 1, 2008 and features several species of rays housed in a 17,000-gallon, 30-by-40 feet (12.2 m) saltwater pool, guests are able to touch and feed both cownose rayCownose ray
The cownose ray is a species of eagle ray found throughout a large part of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, from New England, USA to southern Brazil. Cownose rays grow rapidly, and male rays often reach about in width and weigh . Females typically reach in width and weigh .-Gestation:The...
, southern stingray
Southern stingray
The southern stingray, Dasyatis americana, is a stingray of the family Dasyatidae found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to Brazil. It has a flat, diamond-shaped disc, with a mud brown, olive, and grey dorsal surface and white underbelly...
, and Atlantic stingray
Atlantic stingray
The Atlantic stingray is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, common along the Atlantic coast of North America from Chesapeake Bay to Mexico, including brackish and freshwater habitats. It may be distinguished from other stingrays in the area by its relatively elongated snout...
. The exhibit replaced the Camel Rides in the same location near the Great Plains of East Africa. In 2011, the Zoo took its operation over fully from an outside contractor, allowing the exhibit to stay open year-round. There is an additional fee to enter this exhibit.
Asian Bamboo Garden and Komodo Dragon exhibit
The beautiful Asian Bamboo Garden opened in March 2009. It features plantings and design elements drawn from throughout Asia, and is not intended to represent a specific country or culture. Entry is from Trout River Plaza through a traditional circular Moon Gate. A large Lotus pond and Koi pool incorporate rock and water features intended to evoke Chinese yin and yang principles. An Orchid Pavilion patterned after a Japanese tea house overlooks the pond. The garden also features a Moon Bridge, reflecting the shape of the moon in the water of the Lotus pool, and a bamboo grove containing a bronze sculpture of a giant panda.Beyond the Bamboo Garden is the Komodo Dragon exhibit, designed to appear as if the Dragons are wandering in the back yards of a rural Indonesian fishing village on the island of Komodo.
The area will eventually serve as the entrance to a future planned Monsoon Asia exhibit.
Monsoon Asia/Asian Bamboo Garden
The new Asian Garden and komodo dragonKomodo dragon
The Komodo dragon , also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami. A member of the monitor lizard family , it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of in rare cases...
exhibit will lead to a full Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n exhibit.
This major exhibit is scheduled to be opened in two phases. The first phase will feature tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
s, the first time the zoo has exhibited tigers since 1995. The second phase will feature other Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n animals including Komodo dragon
Komodo dragon
The Komodo dragon , also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami. A member of the monitor lizard family , it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of in rare cases...
s and kio
KIO
KIO is part of the KDE architecture. It provides access to files, web sites and other resources through a single consistent API. Applications, such as Konqueror which are written using this framework can operate on files stored on remote servers in exactly the same way as they operate on those...
. The estimated cost of the new exhibit is $26 million and it awaits further funding.
Renovation of the Plains of East Africa
A renovation is expected of the Plains of East Africa Exhibit some time in the next few years. The planned renovations include replacing many of the old post railings and putting in plexi-glass so it is easier for small children and wheel-chair bound guests to see the animals. The boardwalk will be lowered in some spots to provide up-close encounters with the animals. In addition, the Cheetah and White Rhino exhibits will be reconfigured allowing for a new Hippo exhibit between them.Restaurants
Two full-sized restaurants, a snack bar and an ice cream pavilion are located on the Zoo's grounds. The Main Camp Café snack bar offers drinks, popcorn, ice cream, coffee and other quick refreshments as you enter the park. As part of the Range of the Jaguar exhibit, the Palm Plaza Café offers a southwestern menu with nachos, burritos, tacos, wraps and salads. At the back of the Zoo near the location of the Gardens of Trout River Plaza exhibit and the former Trout River pier entrance, the Trout River Grill offers sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream and pretzels. Near the Children's Play Park, the Play Park Cafe serves ice cream, cold drinks and other refreshments.Additionally, picnic grounds are located at the south end of the Zoo's parking lot, near the Education Campus. Visitors are allowed to bring their own food and beverage into this area; food and drinks are not allowed to be brought into the Zoo. No open fire or grills are allowed. Seating is approximately 200, first come, first serve.
Iwokrama Forest and Guyana
With the opening of the Range of the Jaguar exhibit, the zoo also unveiled their project with the nation of GuyanaGuyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
and the Iwokrama Forest
Iwokrama Forest
The Iwokrama Forest is nearly 3710 square kilometres of central Guyana located in the heart of the Guiana Shield, one of the four last pristine tropical forests in the world,...
. Signs around the exhibit show what is being done to protect the animals shown in their native habitats. In addition, the partnership allows the zoo to receive animals that would be unable to released back to the wild, such was the case in 2006 with the addition of two jaguars who were household pets that were sent to the zoo from Guyana.
Wood Storks
The antelope exhibit in the Plains of East Africa has become home to a large breeding colony of wood storks. The storks return every year because of the abundance of water and fish in the immediate area. The colony has grown from just 7 nesting pairs that produced no chicks in 1999 to 82 pairs that produced 219 chicks in 2005. The zoo's colony has been deemed the most important established breeding colony of woodstorks in North Florida. At the end of the 2006 breeding season, several firsts occurred. It was the first year birds that were tagged as hatching at the zoo returned to breed, along with the first sighting of a bird tagged at another rookery. At the end of the 2006 season, it is estimated over 800 chicks have been successfully raised in the colony since 2000.SSP Breeding programs
| Animal Group | Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Program, Significant Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cats | |||
| Jaguar | Panthera onca | SSP, largest Jaguar exhibit in North America, 1 successful birth | |
| Transvaal Lion | Panthera leo krugeri | SSP | |
| Florida Panther | Puma concolor coryi | SSP | |
| Amur Leopard | Panthera pardus orientalis | SSP, 2 successful birth | |
| Cheetah | Acinonyx jubatus | SSP | |
| Primates | |||
| Siamang | Hylobates syndactylus | SSP | |
| Bonobo | Pan paniscus | SSP, one of only zoos in North America to house species, 4 successful births | |
| Western Lowland Gorilla | Gorilla gorilla gorilla | SSP | |
| Chimpanzee | Pan troglodytes | SSP, note the zoo had sent the chimpanzees to another | |
| Mandrill | Mandrillus sphinx | SSP, 2 successful births since 2003 | |
| Ring Tailed, Red Ruffed, and Black & White Ruffed Lemurs | Lemur catta, Varecia variegata rubra, Varecia variegata variegata | SSP | |
| Lion Tailed Macaque | Macaca silenus | SSP | |
| Colobus Monkey | Colobus guereza | SSP | |
| Large Mammals | |||
| African Elephant | Loxodonta africana | SSP, one of few zoos to house male elephant | |
| Southern White Rhino | Ceratotherium simum simum | SSP, over a dozen successful births have occurred since 1980. One of a few zoos, worldwide, to produce 2nd generation white rhino calves. | |
| Eastern Bongo | Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci | SSP, several Bongos born at the zoo participated in repatriation on Mount Kenya, Kenya | |
| Other Mammals | |||
| Red Wolf | Canis rufus | SSP | |
| North American River Otter | Lontra canadensis lataxina | SSP | |
| Birds | |||
| Harpy Eagle | Harpia harpyja | SSP |
Savanna Blooms
This first Themed Pocket Garden was completed in spring 2005. Nestled beneath the Giraffe Overlook, visitors will find acacia groves that flank two entrances into the one-half acre garden. This unique garden, fashioned after a South African oasis, transitions from soft grasslands and fine textured acacia leaves at each entrance into a bold contemporary garden at its core. Kopje outcrops erupt from the landscape, and a weep trickles down the face of the rocks. The spring feeds a serene pool that showcases African water lilies and water edge plants. Visitors rest beneath the curved trellis laden with fragrant flowering vines and view the garden’s splendor from an internal vantage point.Gardens of Trout River Plaza
In 2005-2007, the area encompassing the old Okovango Landing, as well as the children's play area was renovated. In September 2007, the $1.9 million Trout River Plaza botanical garden opened. The entire area - which also includes a grassy area named "The Lawn" which will be used for special events - encompasses 1.6 acres (6,475 m²). The heart of the new addition is the 1/4 acre garden space, partially walled with a fountain with an anhingaAnhinga
The Anhinga , sometimes called Snakebird, Darter, American Darter, or Water Turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word "anhinga" comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means devil bird or snake bird.It is a cormorant-like bird with an average body length of , a...
sculpture, flower beds and a lot of hardscape. There are columns topped with flowering plants, benches for seating, and a large patio area surrounding the fountain. Seven live oak
Live oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
s and other native trees - red maple
Red Maple
Acer rubrum , is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern North America. It ranges from the Lake of the Woods on the border between Ontario and Minnesota, east to Newfoundland, south to near Miami, Florida, and southwest to east Texas...
s, magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
s, and forest pansies - have been planted in the area around the garden to provide shade.
Future Gardens
More themed pocket and primary gardens are planned to open in the future, in coordination with new animal exhibits as they are constructed. The second primary garden is the Asian Bamboo Garden, which opened in 2009. The exhibit features a koi pondKoi pond
Koi ponds are ponds used for holding koi, usually as part of a landscape. Koi ponds can be designed specifically to promote health and growth of the Nishkigoi or Japanese Ornamental Carp....
and waterfall, along with a bamboo island. A komodo dragon
Komodo dragon
The Komodo dragon , also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami. A member of the monitor lizard family , it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of in rare cases...
exhibit is included. The garden will serve as the entrance for a new Asian exhibit currently in design.
The area along the Trout River waterfront at the zoo is set to become formal botanical gardens in the future, as funding is obtained.