The Jax zoo is a typical southern zoo with open paddocked/moated exhibits and lots of reptiles. The zoo has grown by leaps and bounds not only in the last 15 years, but a lot has happened in just the last 5 years. The zoo layout is based on a main circular loop (not yet completed) that circles the zoo with several loops leading off the main path into the exhibit areas. Currently the zoo has 6 major exhibit areas:
Plains of East Africa
Visitors walk on a rised boardwalk adjoining large paddocked pens containing white rhinoceros, greater kudu, bongo, warthog, nile crocodile, cheetah, amur leopard, colobus monkey, grevy's zebra, african buffalo, and African Elephants. Nearby the african loop path is the adjacent giraffe mixed species exhibit with a large elevated shelter for viewing and feeding the giraffes.
Range of the Jaguar
The local football team is the Jacksonville Jaguars and a sponsor of one of the zoo's newest exhibits. The zoo has one of the largest complexes for Jaguars in the US. The area also has the zoo's largest reptile house, giant anteaters, baird's tapir, giant otters, harpy eagle, walk-through aviary, and a large open plaza to host special events.
Trout River Gardens
This area is still in developement but is supposed to bring horticulture to the zoo and create a relaxing atmosphere along the trout river. This area used to have the old african themed children's zoo and an australian exhibit that has kinda fallen apart since it opened in 2002 with koalas, cassowary, walk through kangaroo exhibits and looriket aviary. The Kangaroo exhibit is closed and the koalas left in 2006. The Koala building is now an amphibian conservation center.
Kid's Zone
A big play area for children of all ages. Animals involved are pygmy goats, river otters (one of the best otter exhibits i've seen!), and squirrel monkeys. There is also a discovery center, classrooms, a water splash park, playground, and hedge maze. It wasnt quite what I imagined it to be -a dissapointment, but it is well used and now showing a lot of wear and tear since it opened in 2006. This area will require a lot of intensive maintenacne and renovation to keep up with the traffic.
Great Apes of the World
Originally built to house all 4 great ape species, but now only contains bachelor lowland gorillas and bonobos. One of the enclosures has large trees that the ape are allowed to climb and enjoy. The area also has lemurs, mandrills, and siamangs.
Wild Florida
Houses pretty much all species of florida wildlife (minus the manatees). A great reptile house incorporates a lot of mixed species exhibits for herps. Alligators, Red Wolves, Whooping Cranes, Bald Eagle, White tailed Deer, Florida Panther, Black Bear, Bobcat, Otters, and various raptors are housed here.
The zoo still has a lot of development going on and I will try and post them as they happen.
Plains of East Africa
Visitors walk on a rised boardwalk adjoining large paddocked pens containing white rhinoceros, greater kudu, bongo, warthog, nile crocodile, cheetah, amur leopard, colobus monkey, grevy's zebra, african buffalo, and African Elephants. Nearby the african loop path is the adjacent giraffe mixed species exhibit with a large elevated shelter for viewing and feeding the giraffes.
Range of the Jaguar
The local football team is the Jacksonville Jaguars and a sponsor of one of the zoo's newest exhibits. The zoo has one of the largest complexes for Jaguars in the US. The area also has the zoo's largest reptile house, giant anteaters, baird's tapir, giant otters, harpy eagle, walk-through aviary, and a large open plaza to host special events.
Trout River Gardens
This area is still in developement but is supposed to bring horticulture to the zoo and create a relaxing atmosphere along the trout river. This area used to have the old african themed children's zoo and an australian exhibit that has kinda fallen apart since it opened in 2002 with koalas, cassowary, walk through kangaroo exhibits and looriket aviary. The Kangaroo exhibit is closed and the koalas left in 2006. The Koala building is now an amphibian conservation center.
Kid's Zone
A big play area for children of all ages. Animals involved are pygmy goats, river otters (one of the best otter exhibits i've seen!), and squirrel monkeys. There is also a discovery center, classrooms, a water splash park, playground, and hedge maze. It wasnt quite what I imagined it to be -a dissapointment, but it is well used and now showing a lot of wear and tear since it opened in 2006. This area will require a lot of intensive maintenacne and renovation to keep up with the traffic.
Great Apes of the World
Originally built to house all 4 great ape species, but now only contains bachelor lowland gorillas and bonobos. One of the enclosures has large trees that the ape are allowed to climb and enjoy. The area also has lemurs, mandrills, and siamangs.
Wild Florida
Houses pretty much all species of florida wildlife (minus the manatees). A great reptile house incorporates a lot of mixed species exhibits for herps. Alligators, Red Wolves, Whooping Cranes, Bald Eagle, White tailed Deer, Florida Panther, Black Bear, Bobcat, Otters, and various raptors are housed here.
The zoo still has a lot of development going on and I will try and post them as they happen.
