Brevard Zoo

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=Brevard Zoo

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image_caption=Brevard Zoo Monument Sign at Entrance
date_opened=March 1994 http://www.brevardzoo.org/aboutthezoo/history_1.html]
area=50 acres (0.2 km²)
location=8225 North Wickham Road
Melbourne, Florida, USA
coordinates=coord|28|13|30|N|80|42|50|W|type:landmark_scale:2500
num_animals=550
num_species=165
members=AZA
website=http://www.brevardzoo.org/ Brevard Zoo

Brevard Zoo is a 50 acre (0.2 km²) zoo located near Melbourne, Florida, United States.

The zoo contains more than 550 animals representing 165 species from North and South America as well as Australia and Africa. It is one of a very small number of zoos that allows visitors to hand-feed giraffes at giraffe eye-level.Fact|date=June 2008 The zoo is a non-profit institution.

The zoo is divided into four loops. They are: Expedition Africa, Australia/Asia, Wild Florida and La Selva. These loops are accessed off of the main loop that encircles the Flamingo Pond.

Attendance

328,973 visitors attended in 2007, more than ever before. This included 175,046 paid daily guests. The others included reciprocal members of other zoos, and annual members. [cite book | author = Balancia, Donna |title = Brevard had more visitors in 2007 | publisher = Florida Today | date = January 15, 2008] The zoo has an annual budget of $5 million most of which is earned and not raised through fundraising or grants. [ [http://www.spacecoastbusiness.com/article-archive/Article20071201.html Space Coast Business.com] accessed January 19, 2008]

Park areas

Wildlife Detective Training Academy

The Wildlife Detective Training Academy, or WDTA, is a building focused specifically towards younger children and features terrariums containing many of the zoo's reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, and at least one mammal, a naked mole rat. It also features interactive activities, such as a sand pit, where children can dig up bones from an animal "crime scene", and an animal hospital where children can learn about animal anatomy and veterinary science. The WDTA also features a new mystery every month in which children can investigate and find clues throughout the zoo. The building is located to the right of the main entrance in a separate building.

Expedition Africa

Expedition Africa offers kayaking on the grounds of the zoo. Trained staff lead the kayak trips and provide informative dialogue during a slow glide past African-themed exhibits. These exhibits include: giraffes, white rhinos, and ostriches. After kayaking, visitors can climb up to an observation platform where the giraffes feed at eye-level. Siamang gibbons are located in-between the entrances to the Africa and Australia/Asia Loops.

Cape to Cairo Express

The Cape to Cairo Express is a train ride centered around Lemur Island, an island that houses the zoo's lemurs. Along the way visitors can also see Ostriches and Scimitar Oryxes.

Australia/Asia

As it's name implies, this loop features animal's from Australia and Oceania. Visitors can find animals such as the red kangaroo, emu, and wallaby . [ [http://www.brevardzoo.org/explore_australasia.php Brevard Zoo] retrieved July 1, 2008] Australia/Asia also hosts the free-flight aviary where visitors have the option of feeding rainbow lorikeets. The aviary is home to: galahs, lorikeets, cockatiels, kookaburras, shell ducks, roseate spoonbills, among others. It is divided into three sections - the "bat side" with fruit bats, the main exhibit with the lorikeets, and the turaco side with several species of turacos. The turaco side of the aviary is also where the butterfly exhibit is put up during its brief stay at the zoo of about six weeks each year. Siamang gibbons are located in-between the entrances to the Africa and Australia/Asia Loops. Visayan Warty Pigs were introduced to the zoo in June of 2008, and replaced the dingo exhibit.Fact|date=July 2008

Wild Florida

River otters, alligators, crocodiles, and bobcats are just some of the animals on exhibit. This loop also contains a pack of the nearly extinct Red Wolf Weekly feedings are demonstrated in this loop. Otters are fed every Tuesday and Saturday at 2:00 PM while the alligators are fed every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 3:00 PM. Wild Florida also offers an area for visitors to kayak out into a wetland environment.

La Selva

La Selva houses the zoo's jaguars and the zoo's Cottontop Tamarins and Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins. This loop also feature's Green Iguanas, a Baird's Tapir, a capybara, and a Patagonian Cavy. In March 2007, a newly constructed vulture exhibit opened, which houses King Vultures, Turkey Vultures, and Black Vultures. Vulture feedings and demonstrations are offered to visitors much the same way they are conducted within the Wild Florida loop.

Paws On

Paws On once provided a place for children to play in a playground, and a petting zoo for children to explore. The Contact Yard (petting zoo) has goats, chickens, a fallow deer, and a miniature horse and miniature donkey. It was closed for renovations in 2007.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.brevardzoo.org/ Official website]