Zoos of the United States series

The zoos of today are nothing like they were 20 years ago! Zoos of yesterday were run like family attractions, with animals that were barely cared for and no thoughts about tomorrow. Today, in my opinion, the main focus is on the welfare of their animals and conservation efforts.

Wildlife Conservation is the practice of protecting wild species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services and protecting biological diversity.

The Zookeepers of today are also different, they are more caring and some get very attached to the animals under their care, even calling them by name. One famous Zookeeper that comes to mind is Jack Hanna. He was director of the Columbus zoo from 1978-1992 and remains director emeritus today. No doubt you have seen him on TV, he has hosted 3 different shows; Jack Hanna’s “Animal Adventures“(1993-2008), Jack Hanna’s “Into the Wild“(since 2007), and Jack Hanna’s “Wild Countdown“(since 2011). Lately, I have also been watching, “The Secret Life of the Zoo“, on the Animal Planet channel. It shows a different side of the zoo. The zookeepers seem to really care about the animals under their care and try to make sure they are happy and healthy. This is one of the main reasons for my post today is to help you see zoos in a new light.

Florida zoos

The Zoo at Jacksonville

The zoo in Jacksonville, Florida, has something for everyone! It’s located on 117 acres with over 2000 zoo animals. We went there in May, which is a perfect time of year to visit anything in Florida! The zoo is very large, with wide-open spaces for the zoo animals. The zoo has what they call a walking safari, where you can see a lot of exotic animals in their natural habitats, just as you would see them in the wild. Here are a few different areas of the zoo;

• African Loop
• African Forest
• Asia Loop
• Australian Adventure
• Giraffe Overlook
• Land of the Tiger
• Range of the Jaguar
• River Valley Aviary
• Stingray Bay
• Wild Florida

The zoo also has lovely garden exhibits which are integrated among the animal exhibits;

• Savanna Blooms
• Gardens at Trout River plaza
• Gardens at Range of the Jaguar
• Asian Bamboo Garden
• Rivers of Color Garden

Animal Wellness

As part of the requirements to be a member of, The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA the Zoo at Jacksonville is required to meet international standards created by AZA. Here is a list of these requirements:

• Veterinary programs
• Conservation initiatives
• Research projects
• Educational programs
• Safety procedures
• Staff experience
• Facilities and resources

“Wellness begins with a deep understanding of the preferences and needs of each species in the zoo. Optimal wellness is obtained when each animal thrives. The more the animal’s behavior resembles free-living wild animals, the more likely that wellness has been achieved.” You can read more on their website, Jacksonville zoo

We really enjoyed the way the zoo exhibits and animal habitats were more natural, just like you would see these animals in the wild. The groupings of the animals were interesting, like the Rhino and the Ostrich. Being a plant lover, I also enjoyed the beautiful gardens!

The hours of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens are 9:00 am-5:00 pm every day. Please check their website for General admission costs.

I have to admit that we could not walk the whole zoo in one day. It’s a very large zoo! We will be going back one day soon to see more! Jacksonville zoo and gardens

Tampa zoo

The Tampa Zoo(ZooTampa at Lowry park) is also a great zoo! We went there with my son and daughter-in-law on Mother’s Day, Moms get in free on Mother’s day! Once again, I have to say that visiting Florida in May is a great time of year. This zoo is also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums(AZA) and is listed as a “Top 25” zoo in the U.S by TripAdvisor.

The mission of the Tampa Zoo is; “Rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals; create exceptional personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways.” quoted from Zoo Tampa/who we are

It’s one of the most popular zoos in the southeastern US and has over 1 million visitors each year. The zoo is about 56 acres and cares for over 1300 zoo animals. The zoo focuses on endangered, threatened and vulnerable species. The different areas of the zoo are:

• Asia
• Africa
• Australia
• Florida
• Manatee Circle
• Wallaroo
• Primates
• Aviaries

Penguins are my favorite! Terry’s favorite is the giraffe! At the Tampa zoo, he was able to feed a giraffe which was awesome for him!

The Tampa zoo is big into Wildlife Conservation. The Sandy & Tom Callahan Center for Wildlife Conservation is open to the public for a 30-40 minute tour. The David A. Stratz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center has had over 400 animal rescues, namely the manatee. They are treated and released back into the wild if possible. More than 230 manatees have been reintroduced to Florida waters.

The zoo hours are 9:30 am – 5:00 pm and parking is free to all guests. Please check their website for General admission costs.

We really enjoyed these zoos! I respect what they are doing in regard to animal rescue, and wildlife conservation! I will be continuing my series on Zoos of the United States. Check back soon! We would really appreciate it if you would share our posts with your friends and follow us on social media! I would also love to hear from you, please comment below!

If you want to learn more about wildlife conservation efforts at these zoos, please go to their websites; Zoo Tampa Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

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