Gulf Breeze Zoo facts for kids
Gorillas at Gulf Breeze Zoo
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| Date opened | 1984 (as The Zoo Northwest Florida), 18 February 2010 (as Gulf Breeze Zoo) |
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| Location | Woodlawn Beach, Florida, United States |
| Land area | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| Coordinates | 30°24′04″N 86°59′04″W / 30.401141°N 86.984391°W |
| No. of animals | 900 |
| Major exhibits | train ride, petting area |
The Gulf Breeze Zoo is a fun place to visit in Woodlawn Beach, Florida. It's close to Navarre and Gulf Breeze, Florida. This amazing zoo is about 50 acres big and is home to over 900 different animals! You can see exciting animals like rhinos, hippos, gorillas, and orangutans. Many animals can be seen during a special train ride through an African-style preserve. You can even hand-feed some animals, like giraffes! The Gulf Breeze Zoo also helps protect animals by supporting captive breeding, wildlife conservation, and saving animal homes.
Contents
History of the Zoo
The Gulf Breeze Zoo has an interesting past. It first started on a small piece of land. Later, it moved to a bigger area in Cantonment, Florida.
How the Zoo Began
In 1984, four local business people opened the zoo at its current spot. It was first called The Zoo Northwest Florida. One of the founders, Pat Quinn, became its first director. The zoo began with about 60 animals on 19 acres of land.
Changes and Challenges
By 2004, the zoo was not making enough money. So, the original owners gave it to a non-profit group called the Gulf Coast Zoological Society.
In 2004 and 2005, strong storms named Ivan and Dennis hit the area. They caused a lot of damage to the zoo. Because of this, the zoo had to close for a while on August 17, 2009. It was waiting for money from the governments of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. On August 20, 2009, officials said the zoo would close for good.
A New Beginning
Luckily, in December 2009, a group of animal experts from Virginia Safari Park bought the zoo. They fixed it up and reopened it on February 18, 2010. That's when it became known as the Gulf Breeze Zoo!
New Arrivals and Growth
On January 20, 2018, something very special happened. The first baby white rhino was born at the Gulf Breeze Zoo! This was the first rhino calf born there in its 34-year history.
Also in 2018, the zoo bought 35 more acres of land. This made the zoo even bigger, adding to its 50 acres. In February 2019, a family of six orangutans came to live at the zoo from a conservation center.
Exploring the Zoo's Animals
The Gulf Breeze Zoo is split into two main parts. There are 20 acres where you can walk around and see animals up close. Then, there's a 30-acre preserve area where animals roam freely. You can take a special train ride through this preserve.
Walking Trails and Exhibits
As you walk around, you'll see many different animals. These include American black bears, powerful lions, striped tigers, and shy clouded leopards. You might also spot red kangaroos, giant Galapagos tortoises, and many kinds of birds. Look for bright American flamingos, colorful Indian peafowl, wise owls, and talking macaws. You can also see king vultures, laughing kookaburras, tall ostriches, and amazing toucans.
Interactive Animal Fun
The zoo has several places where you can get closer to the animals. There's a large petting area where you can meet friendly animals. You can also feed giraffes and walk through a special area with budgerigars (small parrots). Other animals you might see include warthogs, playful Asian small-clawed otters, American alligators, and tall dromedary camels.
Primate Paradise
The zoo has many different types of primates. These include ring-tailed lemurs, lar gibbons, siamangs, Schmidt's guenon, tiny golden-headed lion tamarins, black-headed spider monkeys, western lowland gorillas, and Bornean orangutans. You can also feed goats, Scottish Highland cattle, and alligators in certain areas.
Raised Boardwalk Views
One special part of the walking area is a raised boardwalk. This allows you to look down and see herds of different hoofed animals. You can also spot capybaras, small pygmy hippos, and orangutans from above.
The Train Ride Adventure
A special train called the C.P. Huntington locomotive takes visitors on a 20-minute guided tour. On this ride, you can see animals like axis deer, blackbuck, blue wildebeest, greater kudu, sable antelope, and Thomson's gazelle roaming freely. You'll also get a close look at an Indian rhino, white rhinos, gorillas, and hippos.
The Gulf Breeze Zoo is dedicated to helping animals. It supports programs that help animals reproduce, protect wildlife, and save their natural homes.
