Zoo Miami facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Zoo Miami

Entrance from State Road 992.
Date opened	1948; 77 years ago (1948) (Crandon Park Zoo) July 4, 1980; 44 years ago (1980-07-04) (Miami MetroZoo)
Location	Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Land area	750 acres (304 ha) (324 acres (131 ha) developed)
No. of animals	3,000
No. of species	500
Annual visitors	1+ million
Memberships	Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Major exhibits	100

The Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, also known as Zoo Miami, is a zoological park and garden in Miami. It is the largest zoo in Florida. The zoo first opened in 1948 as the Crandon Park Zoo. It was located at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne. In 1980, the zoo moved to its current spot. It was then called Miami MetroZoo. The zoo is in southwest Miami-Dade County.

Zoo Miami is the only tropical zoo in the continental United States. It is home to over 3,000 animals. These animals belong to about 500 different species. The zoo covers almost 750 acres. About 324 acres are developed for exhibits. You can walk about 4 miles to see all the exhibits. There are over 100 exhibits to explore. The zoo is approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

History of Zoo Miami
Exhibits and Animals
Images for kids
Zoo Miami Foundation
See also

History of Zoo Miami

Entrance sign with the old Zoo name

The story of Zoo Miami began in 1948. A small traveling show got stuck near Miami. They traded three monkeys, a goat, and two black bears for truck repairs. These six animals started the Crandon Park Zoo at Crandon Park. This park is on Key Biscayne, an island near downtown Miami. The Crandon Park Zoo covered 48 acres.

The first animals at the zoo included lions, an elephant, and a rhinoceros. They came from a circus that went out of business. Other animals like Galapagos tortoises, monkeys, and pheasants were added. By 1967, the Crandon Park Zoo had over 1,200 animals. It was one of the top 25 zoos in the country. A white Bengal tiger joined the zoo in 1968.

In 1965, Hurricane Betsy hit the zoo hard. About 250 animals died. After the hurricane, people talked about building a new zoo. On December 11, 1970, officials asked for 600 acres of land. This land was at the former Naval Air Station Richmond. Construction for the new zoo began in 1975.

The new zoo opened on July 4, 1980. It was called Miami MetroZoo. It first had 12 exhibits. The Asia exhibit opened on December 12, 1981. At that time, 38 exhibits were open to the public. They covered 200 acres.

Zoo Expansion and Growth

The zoo kept growing in the 1980s. In 1982, 25 more acres opened. This area had six new exhibits for African hoofed mammals. The zoo's monorail system started in 1984. This monorail came from the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition. It helped visitors move around the zoo.

Wings of Asia, a large free-flight aviary, opened in December 1984. It covered 1.6 acres. More African exhibits opened in 1985 and 1986. The Australian section of the zoo opened in 1989. PAWS, a children's petting zoo, also opened in 1989. The Asian Riverlife Experience opened in August 1990.

Hurricane Andrew's Impact

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused a lot of damage. The powerful Category 5 hurricane hit South Florida on August 24. It knocked down over 5,000 trees. The Wings of Asia aviary was destroyed. About 100 of the 300 birds living there were lost.

Most of the zoo's animals stayed outside during the storm. Only five animals died from debris or bad water. MetroZoo looked very different after the storm. It reopened on December 18, 1992. The tiger temple exhibit was renamed for Naomi Browning. She was a 12-year-old zoo volunteer who died in the storm.

By July 1993, many animals sent to other zoos came back. Over 7,000 new trees were planted. This helped restore the zoo's tree canopy.

Dr. Wilde's World

In 1996, a brush fire burned 100 acres of undeveloped land. Nearly 30 animals were moved to safety. The Falcon Batchelor Komodo Dragon Encounter opened that year. Later, exhibits for Andean condors (1999) and meerkats (2000) opened. Cuban crocodiles and squirrel monkeys arrived in 2001. Dr. Wilde's World, an indoor exhibit space, also opened in 2001. The rebuilt Wings of Asia aviary reopened in spring 2003. It now houses over 300 birds of 70 species.

Quadricycle at Zoo Miami

On July 4, 2010, the zoo was renamed Zoo Miami. This was part of its 30th anniversary. The zoo started a $43 million project. It included an Everglades exhibit and a new entrance. The Everglades exhibit opened on December 10, 2016.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit the zoo. The Amazon and Beyond exhibit was damaged. Some birds died due to stress. The zoo was closed until October.

In May 2023, a kiwi bird named Paora was seen being handled by visitors. It was also exposed to daylight. This caused concern among people in New Zealand. Zoo Miami apologized and stopped these practices.

Conservation Efforts

Zoo Miami helps with conservation programs. These programs work locally, nationally, and globally. The zoo was a founding member of the AZA's Butterfly Conservation Initiative. This program helps protect endangered butterflies in North America.

The zoo also provides money to improve breeding facilities in Thailand. This helps endangered clouded leopards and fishing cats.

Exhibits and Animals

Zoo's former monorail system

Zoo Miami has five main exhibit areas. These are Florida: Mission Everglades, Asia, Africa, Amazon and Beyond, and Australia. The zoo's entrance has ticket booths and a gift shop. There is also an American flamingo exhibit nearby.

At the center of the zoo is the Conservation Action Center. This indoor area has interactive exhibits. They teach about conservation and wildlife preservation. The zoo also has a large lake called Lake Iguana. Zoo Miami is known for its large, cage-less exhibits. Animals are separated by moats.

From 1984 to 2022, a cooled monorail system traveled around the zoo. It offered aerial views and an easy way to move around. The monorail had four stations. Narrated tram rides and guided tours were also available. The monorail was stopped because it cost too much to maintain.

Florida: Mission Everglades

Florida: Mission Everglades exhibit

The Florida: Mission Everglades exhibit shows animals and plants from Florida. It focuses on the state's Everglades region. You can see American alligators, American crocodiles, and North American river otters. Other animals include American black bears, Florida panthers, and bald eagles. Birds like brown pelicans and roseate spoonbills are also here. This $33 million exhibit has a gentle airboat ride called Lostman's River Ride.

Asia Exhibit

The Asia exhibit has many animals. These include Bornean orangutans, Asian elephants, and Indian rhinoceros. You can also see Sumatran tigers, gaur, and Arabian oryx. Other animals are Bactrian camels, Malayan tapirs, and sloth bears. There are also northern white-cheeked gibbons and siamang. A variety of Asian birds live here too.

The American Banker's Family Aviary, Wings of Asia, is a walk-through aviary. It is home to about 85 species of birds.

Wings of Asia Aviary

Some Bird Species in Wings of Asia:

Carlita, a white tiger, was an iconic showcase of the zoo for nearly two decades.

The orangutan exhibit once housed Nonja. She was a female Sumatran orangutan. She was thought to be the oldest of her species until she died in 2007. Another famous resident was Carlita. She was a 21-year-old female white Bengal tiger. Carlita lived at the zoo from 1994 until her death in 2013.

The Asia exhibit has two Asian elephants. Nellie is an elderly female. Ongard is a young male. Dalip, a bull elephant, arrived at the old Crandon Park Zoo in 1967. He was the father of Spike, who now lives at the Smithsonian National Zoo.

The American Banker's Family Aviary, Wings of Asia, is also here. It has 300 rare birds of 70 species. It is the largest open-air Asian aviary in the Western Hemisphere. The Children's Zoo lets guests get close to animals. You can see meerkats and a petting zoo. There are also small reptiles, amphibians, and insects. You can enjoy butterfly gardens, an animal-themed carousel, and camel rides.

Africa Exhibit

Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station

The African part of the zoo has animals from different parts of Africa. Visitors can see reticulated giraffes and pygmy hippos. There are also African bush elephants and eastern black rhinoceroses. Other animals include greater kudus, nyalas, and slender-horned gazelles. You can also find Grevy's zebras, giant elands, and chimpanzees. Western lowland gorillas, mountain bongo, okapis, and servals live here too. Zoo Miami has many different hoofed animals.

Pongo, an 11-year-old giraffe, was the tallest at the zoo. He was 16 feet tall. He was humanely euthanized on January 4, 2021. This was because he could not recover from a foot injury.

Amazon and Beyond Exhibit

Amazon and Beyond exhibit

Amazon and Beyond opened on December 6, 2008. It is in the zoo's northwest corner. This area covers 27 acres. It is dedicated to the flora and fauna of South America. It has four parts: Village Plaza, Cloud Forest, Amazon Flooded Forest, and Atlantic Forest.

These areas show natural habitats from the Amazonian region. You can see giant otters, jaguars, and Orinoco crocodiles. Other animals include giant anteaters, black howler monkeys, and black-handed spider monkeys. Hoffmann's two-toed sloths, harpy eagles, and fruit bats are also here. You can also find poison dart frogs and various Amazonian fish.

Australia Exhibit

Sami Family Amphitheater

The Australian habitat shows animals from Australia, Oceania, and the Pacific islands. These include koalas, southern cassowaries, and southern hairy-nosed wombats. You can also see cockatiels and Matschie's tree-kangaroos.

Near this habitat is the Sami Family Amphitheater. It has 800 seats. Daily animal presentations, concerts, and cultural events are held here. The amphitheater is named after Albert and Winifred Sami. They donated a lot of money to the zoo.

Zoo Miami recently celebrated the birth of a baby koala. It was born in May 2019. It emerged from its mother's pouch on January 8, 2020. The baby koala was named Hope. This name was chosen because of the recent fires in Australia.

Near the Australian habitat, there is a trail. It has Galapagos giant tortoises, babirusas, and red river hogs. You can also see common warthogs and Visayan warty pigs.

Images for kids

African elephant at the zoo
American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber)
Rhinoceros
Orangutan at the zoo
Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica)
Lar gibbon (Hylobates lar)
Black-naped oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
Camel
Tortoise
Rosa 'Miami Moon', one of the many flowering plants at the zoo
Giraffe
Okapi
Chimpanzee
White Tiger

Zoo Miami Foundation

The Zoo Miami Foundation is a non-profit group. It helps support Zoo Miami. It was started in 1956. The foundation is in charge of educational programs and improving the zoo.