Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Entrance to the Central Florida Zoo
Date opened	1923 July 4, 1975 in current location
Location	Sanford, Florida, United States
Land area	116 acres (47 ha)
Coordinates	28°49′40″N 81°18′58″W / 28.827832°N 81.31623°W / 28.827832; -81.31623
No. of animals	400
Annual visitors	300,000
Memberships	AZA

The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a fun place to visit in Sanford, Florida. It's a large zoo and botanical garden located north of Orlando, Florida. This special place is a non-profit organization. It works hard to protect wildlife and teach people about animals. The zoo has been a trusted member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1986. This means it meets high standards for animal care.

History of the Zoo
Amazing Animals
Fun Attractions
Exciting Events
Conservation Efforts
Gallery
See also

History of the Zoo

Green-winged macaw with a zookeeper

The Central Florida Zoo first opened in 1923. Back then, it was called the Sanford Municipal Zoo. It started with a small group of animals given by the local fire department. In 1941, the zoo moved to a new spot.

On July 4, 1975, the zoo moved to its current home. This was made possible by a group of dedicated people and a gift of land from Seminole County. The zoo opened along Lake Monroe. In 1986, the Central Florida Zoo earned its special accreditation from the AZA. This showed its commitment to excellent animal care.

In 2005, the Wayne M. Densch Discovery Center and ZooLab opened. These buildings offer classrooms and hands-on learning spaces. They also have a large room for events. In 2007, the zoo officially became the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens. This was because of its beautiful plant collections. The same year, the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground opened, offering a fun water play area. The zoo temporarily closed for over three weeks in 2022 because of Hurricane Ian.

Amazing Animals

Elephants at the zoo

The Central Florida Zoo is home to more than 400 animals. These animals represent over 100 different species from around the world. Visitors can learn a lot about them. You can even join keeper chats and special animal encounters.

Mammals at the Zoo

You can see many interesting mammals here. Some of them include the speedy cheetah and the slow Hoffmann's two-toed sloth. There are also llamas, alpacas, and playful river otters. Other mammals include the powerful puma, colorful red ruffed lemurs, and the giant Indian rhino. Don't miss the tall giraffes and the unique Amur leopard.

Birds of the World

The zoo has many beautiful birds. You might spot the bald eagle, a symbol of freedom. There are also tropical birds like the green-winged macaw and the noisy kookaburra. Other birds include the Palawan peacock-pheasant and the striking silvery-cheeked hornbill.

Reptiles and Amphibians

The Herpetarium is where you'll find many reptiles and amphibians. Some of the reptiles include the huge Aldabra giant tortoise and the native American alligator. You can also see venomous snakes like the eastern green mamba and the king cobra. Other reptiles include the Gila monster and the colorful green tree python.

Fun Attractions

The zoo offers more than just animal viewing. There's a splash park where you can cool off on hot days. For an extra fee, you can even feed a giraffe or have a special rhino encounter!

The Little Florida Railroad is a miniature train ride. It has a classic G-16 streamliner locomotive built in 1951. The train started running at the zoo in 2003. After a temporary closure, the zoo introduced its new train in early 2023.

Exciting Events

The Central Florida Zoo hosts several fun events each year. These include ZOO Boo Bash around Halloween and the Hippity Hop Adventure for Easter. There's also Brews Around the Zoo, an event for adults.

In 2019, the zoo held its first Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild. This event featured 35 amazing, hand-crafted illuminated lanterns. They transformed the zoo into a magical place. More than 38,000 guests enjoyed this special event.

Bird Lanterns at the Asian Lantern Festival

Conservation Efforts

The Central Florida Zoo is dedicated to protecting wildlife. It works with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. They help monitor Florida's amphibians. This helps save species at risk from habitat loss and other dangers.

The zoo also takes part in several AZA Species Survival Plans (SSP). These plans help manage and breed endangered animals. Some of the animals in these plans include the Asian elephant, cheetah, Amur leopard, and rock iguana.

The zoo also runs a special offsite center called the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation. This facility helps breed eastern indigo snakes. The goal is to release these snakes back into the wild where they have disappeared.