Зоопарк Майами: История и современность

Zoo in Miami, Florida, United States
The only tropical zoo in the continental United States, Zoo Miami houses over 3,000 animals of around 500 species on almost , of which are developed. It is 4 mile (6 km) around if walked on the path, and features over 100 exhibits. The zoo's communications director is zookeeper Ron Magill. Zoo Miami is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

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. These six animals were the beginning of the Crandon Park Zoo at Crandon Park on the island of Key Biscayne, just southeast off the coast from downtown Miami. By 1967, the Crandon Park Zoo had grown to over 1,200 animals, and was considered one of the top 25 zoos in the country. Other animals were added, including a white Bengal tiger in 1968. 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 of land in the Naval Air Station Richmond property. Construction began in 1975. The zoo opened on July 4, 1980, Wings of Asia, a 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. Despite the majority of the zoo's animals remaining outside during the duration and aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, only five animals were killed from either debris or the consumption of contaminated water. MetroZoo, though looking dramatically different, reopened on December 18, 1992, with the zoo's tiger temple exhibit renamed in honor of Naomi Browning, a local 12 year old zoo volunteer who was one of the storm's casualties. 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. In 1994, stray dogs entered the zoo during off hours, and killed five Thomson's gazelles and two Grant's gazelles. In 1996, a brush fire burned 100 acres in the southeast portion of the zoo's undeveloped land. The Falcon Batchelor Komodo Dragon Encounter opened that same year, followed by exhibits featuring Andean condors (1999), meerkats (2000), Cuban crocodiles and squirrel monkeys (2001). Dr. Wilde's World, which is an indoor facility for traveling zoological exhibits, was also opened in 2001. The rebuilt Wings of Asia aviary, housing more than 300 individual birds and representing 70 species, refurbished in the spring of 2003. 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. The zoo broke ground on a $43 million project that included an Everglades exhibit and a new state of the art entryway. 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. The zoo remained closed until October. 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. Zoo Miami subsequently apologized and said it would cease these practices.

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. 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.

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. Species displayed include American alligators, American crocodiles, North American river otters, American black bears, Florida panthers, bald eagles, brown pelicans, and roseate spoonbills. The $33 million project features Lostman's River Ride, a gentle airboat ride attraction.

The African loop of the zoo offers animals from different locations on Africa. Visitors can observe species including reticulated giraffes, pygmy hippos, African bush elephants, eastern black rhinoceroses, greater kudus, nyalas, slender horned gazelles, Grevy's zebras, giant elands, chimpanzees, western lowland gorillas, mountain bongo, okapis, and servals. Oasis Grill, a small eatery plaza, is situated at the northern end of the African exhibits. Zoo Miami has one of the most diverse collections of hoofed stock in the United States. 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.

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 dedicated to the flora and fauna of South America, and is subdivided into four distinct areas: Village Plaza, Cloud Forest, Amazon Flooded Forest, and Atlantic Forest. Three areas represent native habitats that are found in the Amazonian region—the "cloud forest", the Amazon River basin, and the Atlantic Forest Pantanal—with species such as giant otters, jaguars, Orinoco crocodiles, giant anteaters, black howler monkeys, black handed spider monkeys, Hoffmann's two toed sloths, harpy eagles, fruit bats, poison dart frogs, and various Amazonian fish.

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. 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. Near the Australian habitat is a trail with Galapagos giant tortoises, babirusas, red river hogs, common warthogs, and Visayan warty pigs.

Zoo Miami Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit support organization of Zoo Miami. It was founded in 1956 and is responsible for educational programming and capital improvements at the zoo over the years. They are rated as a 4* charity by Charity Navigator (https://www. charitynavigator. org/ein/596192814) and were awarded the Platinum Seal of Transparency by Guidestar (https://www. zoomiami. org/about zoo miami foundation)