Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami | |
---|---|
Date opened | 1948 July 4, 1980 (Miami MetroZoo)[1] | (Crandon Park Zoo)
Location | Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States |
Land area | 750 acres (304 ha) (324 acres (131 ha) developed)[2] |
No. of animals | 3,000[2] |
No. of species | 500[2] |
Annual visitors | 1+ million[3] |
Memberships | Association of Zoos and Aquariums |
Major exhibits | 100[2] |
Website | www |
The Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, also known as Zoo Miami, is a zoological park and garden in Miami and is the largest zoo in Florida. Originally established in 1948 at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, Zoo Miami relocated in 1980 as Miami MetroZoo to the former location of the Naval Air Station Richmond,[4] southwest of Miami in southern unincorporated Miami-Dade County,[5] surrounded by the census-designated places of Three Lakes (north), South Miami Heights (south), Palmetto Estates (east) and Richmond West (west).
The only tropical zoo in the continental United States, Zoo Miami houses over 3,000 animals of around 500 species on almost 750 acres (304 ha), 324 acres (131 ha) of which are developed. It is 4 mi (6 km) around if walked on the path, and features over 100 exhibits.[2] The zoo's communications director is zookeeper Ron Magill.[6] Zoo Miami is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
History
The history of Zoo Miami can be traced back to 1948, when a small road show, stranded near Miami, exchanged three monkeys, a goat and two black bears for approximately $270 in repairs for the truck.
In 1965, Hurricane Betsy devastated the zoo and killed 250 animals. After the hurricane, there was talk of a new zoo for Dade County, but not until 11 December 1970 did Dade County officials apply for 600 acres (243 ha) of land in the Naval Air Station Richmond property. Construction began in 1975. The zoo opened on July 4, 1980,[1] as Miami MetroZoo, with a preview section of 12 exhibits; Asia, the first major exhibit, opened on December 12, 1981. A total of 38 exhibits, covering 200 acres (81 ha), were open to the public at this time.[2]
In the 1980s, the zoo continued to expand. An additional 25 acres (10 ha), with six new African hoofed-mammal exhibits, opened in 1982, along with the zoo's monorail in 1984. After the closing of the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans, the expo’s visitor monorails were moved to Florida to be re-purposed at Miami MetroZoo and operated until 2022.[10][11] Wings of Asia, a 1.6-acre (0.6 ha) free-flight aviary, was opened in December 1984. Three additional African hoofed stock exhibits followed in 1985, and two new exhibits were opened in the African savanna section in 1986. The Australian section of the zoo was opened in 1989, and PAWS, the children's petting zoo, opened in 1989.[2] The Asian Riverlife Experience opened in August 1990.
In 1992, the zoo suffered extensive damage when
By July 1993, many of the animals that were sent to other zoos and animal parks across the United States (during the zoo's reconstruction) had been returned to Miami, and over 7,000 new trees had been planted to begin restoring the zoo's tree canopy.[13]
In 1994, stray dogs entered the zoo during off-hours, and killed five Thomson's gazelles and two Grant's gazelles.[14]
In 1996, a
On July 4, 2010, the zoo was renamed the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, or Zoo Miami (for marketing and branding purposes). This was a part of the zoo's 30th anniversary celebration.[1][16] The zoo broke ground on a $43 million project that included an Everglades exhibit and a new state-of-the-art entryway.[17] The Everglades exhibit opened on December 10, 2016.
In 2017, the zoo was struck by Hurricane Irma, which impacted South Florida on September 10. The Amazon and Beyond exhibit suffered the most damage, with widespread tree loss in that area. According to the zoo, one American flamingo, one Great hornbill, and a few other birds died reportedly due to stress.[18] The zoo remained closed until October.[19]
In May 2023, footage of a kiwi named Paora at Zoo Miami being handled by visitors and exposed to daylight caused outrage amongst New Zealanders and conservation experts, including Paora Haitana for whom the bird is named. The New Zealand Department of Conservation stated they would raise their concerns with the AZA.[20][21][22][23] Zoo Miami subsequently apologized and said it would cease these practices.[24]
Conservation efforts
Zoo Miami supports conservation programs at the local, national and global level, and was a founding member of the AZA's Butterfly Conservation Initiative (BFCI), a program designed to assemble governmental and non-governmental agencies to aid in the population recovery of vulnerable, threatened and endangered butterflies in North America.[citation needed]
The zoo has also provided financial help through the Zoo Miami Conservation Fund to upgrade captive-breeding facilities in Thailand’s zoos, notably for endangered clouded leopards and fishing cats.[25]
Exhibits and animals
There are five main exhibit sections in the zoo: Florida: Mission Everglades, Asia, Africa, Amazon and Beyond, and Australia. The zoo's main entry includes an entryway canopy structure, conjoining ticket booths and gift shop, and an adjacent American flamingo exhibit.[17] At the junction of the zoo's main pathways, is the Conservation Action Center, an indoor pavilion featuring interactive exhibits themed to conservation and wildlife preservation. The property includes a large lake, called Lake Iguana. Zoo Miami is characterized by large cage-less, moated exhibits.
From 1984 until 2022, an
Florida: Mission Everglades
The Florida: Mission Everglades exhibit features native fauna and flora species found in Florida, particularly from the state's Everglades region.[26] Species displayed include American alligators, American crocodiles, North American river otters, American black bears, Florida panthers, bobcats, gray foxes, raccoons, bald eagles, burrowing owls, wood storks, great egrets, brown pelicans, roseate spoonbills, and gopher tortoises. The $33 million project features Lostman's River Ride, a gentle airboat ride attraction.
Asia
The zoo's Asian exhibit features dozens of animals such as
.The American Banker's Family Aviary, Wings of Asia is a walkthrough aviary that's home to approximately 85 species of birds.
Bird Species List:
- Buff-banded rail
- Masked lapwing
- Nicobar pigeon
- Red-knobbed imperial pigeon
- Pied imperial pigeon
- Victoria crowned pigeon
- Mindanao bleeding-heart
- Luzon bleeding-heart
- Crested pigeon
- Pheasant pigeon
- Chestnut-breasted malkoha
- Oriental dollarbird
- Red-vented bulbul
- White-eared bulbul
- Black bulbul
- Black-throated laughingthrush
- White-crested laughingthrush
- Metallic starling
- Black-collared starling
- White-breasted woodswallow
- Black-naped oriole
- White-eared catbird
- Fawn-breasted bowerbird
- Azure-winged magpie
- Javan pond heron
- Painted stork
- White stork
- Straw-necked ibis
- Magpie goose
- Bar-headed goose
- Red-breasted goose
- Spotted whistling duck
- Mandarin duck
- Indian spot-billed duck
- Australian shoveler
- Marbled teal
- Falcated duck
- Tufted duck
- Scaly-sided merganser
- White-winged duck
- Ruddy shelduck
- Great argus
- Germain's peacock-pheasant
- Edward's pheasant
- Green junglefowl
- Green peafowl
- Sarus crane
- Grey-headed swamphen
The zoo's orangutan exhibit once housed Nonja, a female Sumatran orangutan that was relocated from a Dutch zoo to Zoo Miami. She was widely believed to be the oldest living specimen of her species, until her death in 2007.[28] Another notable resident was Carlita, a 21-year-old female white Bengal tiger, who resided in the zoo's tiger enclosure from 1994 until her death in 2013.[29][30]
The Asian exhibit is home to two Asian elephants: an elderly female named Nellie and a young male named Ongard. Dalip (a bull born on June 8, 1966, in Kerela), arrived at the old Crandon Park Zoo on Key Biscayne as a young calf in August 1967, along with his mate Seetna and he is the father to Spike (born on July 2, 1981, in Zoo Miami and he is Dalip's only surviving offspring) who currently lives in the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington. Seetena and Dalip were separated due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Both were separated during the storm, Seetna moved to Two Tails Ranch (Patricia Zerbini) and stayed there for breeding purposes but died of labor issues in 1996 while Dalip returned to Zoo Miami in 1995 where he remained until his death in 2022.[31]
The American Banker's Family Aviary, Wings of Asia is also located here. The aviary features 300 rare birds of 70 species in a
Africa
The African loop of the zoo offers animals from different locations on
Eleven-year-old "Pongo," at sixteen feet the tallest giraffe in the zoo, was euthanized on January 4, 2021, after failing to recover from a foot injury.[35]
Amazon and Beyond
Amazon and Beyond, situated in the zoo's northwest corner, opened on December 6, 2008 and is a collection of South America animals. This area has 27 acres (10.9 ha) dedicated to the
Near Amazon and Beyond, is a South American exhibit home to guanacos and Chacoan peccaries.
Australia
The zoo's Australian habitat showcases specimens from throughout the region of Australia, Oceania, and the Pacific islands, including koalas, southern cassowaries, southern hairy-nosed wombats, cockatiels, and Matschie's tree-kangaroos. Situated near this to habitat, is the 800-seat Sami Family Amphitheater, where daily animal presentations, concerts and cultural events are held.
The amphitheater is named in memory of Albert and Winifred Sami, who anonymously donated an estimated $3 million to the zoo from 1993 until their deaths in 2007 and 2014, respectively.[37] Zoo Miami recently celebrated the birth of a baby koala, who was actually born in May, 2019, but only emerged from its mothers pouch on January 8, 2020. The baby koala was named Hope in light of the recent fires that devastated Australia.[38]
Near the Australian habitat is a trail with
Gallery
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African elephant at the zoo
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American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber)
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Orangutan at the zoo
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Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica)
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Lar gibbon (Hylobates lar)
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Black-naped oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
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Camel
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Tortoise
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Rosa 'Miami Moon', one of the many flowering plants at the zoo
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Giraffe
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White Tiger
Zoo Miami Foundation
The Zoo Miami Foundation is a group setup as the non-profit support organization of Zoo Miami. It was founded in 1956 and is responsible for improvements over the years of the zoo.[39] Key members of the foundation include Senator Dwight M. Bullard and Diana L. Fitzgerald, among others.[39]
See also
- Gold Coast Railroad Museum (adjacent to Zoo Miami)
- Nonja (Malaysian orangutan)
- Rosie the Elephant
References
- ^ a b c "Renaming of Miami MetroZoo". miamidade.gov. Miami-Dade County. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "About Zoo Miami: Keepin' it wild since 1948". Zoo Miami. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ Castelblanco, Cindy. "Zoo Miami breaks attendance mark, welcomes over 1M guests in 2021". Miami's Community Newspapers. Kendall Gazette.
- ^ Destroyed Richmond Naval Air Station
- U.S. Census Bureau. p. 62 (PDF p. 63/154). Retrieved 2022-08-13.
- ^ Hanks, Douglas (April 30, 2015). "The face of Zoo Miami enjoys a star turn in Havana". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ "Zoo Miami". SOMI Magazine. 12 (4): 15. April–May 2017.
- ISBN 1-56164-096-4. pp. 158-160, 163-164.
- ^ Abraham, Kristin (28 January 2010). "Visiting Zoo Miami". miamibeachadvisor.com. Miami Beach Advisor. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ISBN 0-7385-6856-2
- ^ a b Garcia, Amanda Batchelor, Annaliese (2022-04-01). "Zoo Miami's monorail takes its final ride". WPLG. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Abbady, Tal (1992). "Miami's zoo teems with new life 10 years after Hurricane Andrew". The Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ Lohr, Steve (May 21, 2015). "AFTER THE STORMS: THREE REPORTS; Miami". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ a b San Martin, Nancy (March 24, 1996). "Animals Unharmed As Fire Consumes 100 Acres At Zoo". The Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ "Fire Erupts Near Zoo; Animals Evacuated". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. March 24, 1996. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ "Miami MetroZoo Celebrates its 30th Birthday with a New Name". miamimetrozoo.com. Miami Zoo. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b Morejon, Liane (May 7, 2014). "Groundbreaking ceremony held at Zoo Miami for Mission Everglades exhibit". Local 10 News. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ Herrera, Chabeli (September 13, 2017). "South Florida's attractions suffered severe damage during Irma. But most animals survived". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
- ^ Herrera, Chabeli (September 25, 2017). "Tourism industry to visitors: Don't #prayforMiami. We're fine". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
- ^ Marriner, Chris (May 23, 2023). "Miami Zoo's treatment of Paora the kiwi sparks petition". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ Anderson, Ryan; Dunseath, Finlay (May 23, 2023). "DOC to raise concerns with Miami Zoo over treatment of kiwi". Stuff.
- ^ Ternouth, Louise (May 23, 2023). "Paora Haitana concerned at treatment of namesake kiwi at Miami Zoo". RNZ.
- ^ Wilton, Perry (May 23, 2023). "Conservation specialist slams viral kiwi video at Miami zoo as DoC raises concerns". Newshub.
- ^ Anderson, Ryan (May 24, 2023). "Miami zoo to stop mistreatment of kiwi after concerns raised over welfare". Stuff.
- ^ "Zoo Miami Conservation: Asian Projects". miamimetrozoo.co. Zoo Miami. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ Staletovich, Jenny (December 2, 2016). "Zoo Miami's mission: to make sure the zoo isn't the last place you see these animals". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- ^ Torres, Andrea (August 4, 2023). "Zoo Miami's last black-necked stork dies". local10.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
- ^ "'World's oldest' orang-utan dies". BBC News. BBC. 2002-12-31. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ Dixon, Lance (September 16, 2014). "Iconic Zoo Miami white tiger euthanized". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ Martin, Vanessa (September 19, 2014). "Carlita Dead: White Bengal Tiger Dies At Zoo Miami". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ Hanks, Douglas (November 24, 2022). "Dalip, a Miami zoo elephant since the 1960s and one of the nation's oldest, dies at 56". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ "Wings of Asia". Zoo Miami. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ "Children's Zoo". Zoo Miami. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ "Zoo Miami". Trip Advisor.
- ^ Teproff, Carli (January 4, 2021). "Pongo was the tallest giraffe at Zoo Miami. A fractured foot has led to a sad goodbye". news.yahoo.com. Miami Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ "Amazon and Beyond Exhibit". Zoo Miami. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ Ron Magill; Dan LeBatard (August 14, 2014). "Zoo Miami's Ron Magill reveals identity of long-anonymous donors of millions". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ "South Florida zoo celebrates birth of baby koala". FOX 13 News. 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- ^ a b "Our Mission". Zoo Miami. Retrieved September 10, 2016.