Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Located between downtown and the airport, this environmentally sensitive zoo has become one of the Southeast's best. While the zoo's Wild Florida area presents 2.25 acres of local wildlife—including black bears, red wolves, Florida panthers, reptiles, birds, and alligators—the main exhibits (The African Forest) feature an extensive and growing collection of lions, rhinos, elephants, antelopes, cheetahs, western lowland gorillas, and other African wildlife. You'll enter the 120-acre park through an authentic thatched roof built by 24 Zulu craftsmen. Other highlights: the Manatee Critical Care Center rescues the lovable floating mammals and sends them back into the wild. The Range of the Jaguar exhibit focuses on a neotropical rainforest setting that can be found in Central or South America spotlighting jaguar, howler monkeys, golden lion tamarins, tapirs, capybaras, giant river otters, anteaters, and a variety of bird, amphibian, fish, and reptile species, including the anaconda. The Asian Bamboo Garden at the entry of the Asian animal exhibits has over 111 plant species and 29 varieties of bamboo, including the Parker’s Hawaiian Giant, which can grow to 70-plus feet. Kids will especially love the 2.5-acre Play Park and Splash Ground with mazes, a splash ground, a treehouse, and a rock-climbing area. Whether you go on foot or by train, allow at least 3 hours to tour this vast zoo.
Located between downtown and the airport, this environmentally sensitive zoo has become one of the Southeast's best. While the zoo's Wild Florida area presents 2.25 acres of local wildlife—including black bears, red wolves, Florida panthers, reptiles, birds, and alligators—the main exhibits (The African Forest) feature an extensive and growing collection of lions, rhinos, elephants, antelopes, cheetahs, western lowland gorillas, and other African wildlife. You'll enter the 120-acre park through an authentic thatched roof built by 24 Zulu craftsmen. Other highlights: the Manatee Critical Care Center rescues the lovable floating mammals and sends them back into the wild. The Range of the Jaguar exhibit focuses on a neotropical rainforest setting that can be found in Central or South America spotlighting jaguar, howler monkeys, golden lion tamarins, tapirs, capybaras, giant river otters, anteaters, and a variety of bird, amphibian, fish, and reptile species, including the anaconda. The Asian Bamboo Garden at the entry of the Asian animal exhibits has over 111 plant species and 29 varieties of bamboo, including the Parker’s Hawaiian Giant, which can grow to 70-plus feet. Kids will especially love the 2.5-acre Play Park and Splash Ground with mazes, a splash ground, a treehouse, and a rock-climbing area. Whether you go on foot or by train, allow at least 3 hours to tour this vast zoo.
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