On July 17, 10-year-old giraffe Sammy died from "acute stress and increased body temperature" resulting from a neck injury, possibly incurred by one of the posts or cables that surround the giraffes' enclosure. Baby hippopotamus Niles died on July 7 from a punctured lung caused by her father, Kiboko. Two popular animals were found dead by zookeepers in July. In January, four kangroos died of bacteria-related illness within a three-day period. In the first seven months of 2007, a total of 44 animals had died in the Zoo from various causes. Though it remains a licensed zoo, its American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation, granted in 1988, was revoked on Maafter AZA inspectors deemed 38 Zoo practices "questionable" and 24 more "unacceptable." Animal deaths Despite a $2.7 million policy, the Zoo's insurance company only paid $59,000 of more than $600,000 in damages. It sustained massive damages in Hurricane Ivan, including a number of completely destroyed exhibits. The Zoo operated in the red since its opening in 1984. Boardwalk – Overlooked the African Adventure wildlife preserve and terminated near Chimp Island, with coin-operated telescopes for viewing the animals.Karibu Restaurant and Serengeti Room – Filled with terrariums holding frogs, tarantulas, etc.Enclosures held a variety of animals including snakes (One-Eyed Willy, Lucifer and One-Way), hedgehogs (Bubba, Hedge and Snowball) and a Leopard Gecko (Pepe). Lion's Lair Gift Shop – Zoo entrance, ticket sales and gift shop, plus administrative offices and guest relations.Giant Snake Pavilion – Anaconda, boa constrictor, and several species of python.Dragon World – Kimodo Dragon (Ivan, not named for the storm).Other animals include hippos (Kiboko and Cleo), zebras, wildebeest, kudu, elands, and African wild dogs (brothers Phoenix and Quatro). Three islands on a central pond are inhabited by gorillas (Babuka, Rwanda and Husani), chimpanzees (Zachary and Patrick) and colobi. African Adventure – A wildlife preserve with large, open areas enclosed by water features.Formerly home to Jafar (died 2007) and Limpopo. Asian Rhino Enclosure – Currently unoccupied.Wild Florida – Includes Amercian black bears (Kirby and Paddington), coyote (Sasha), barn owl, opossum, barn owl, etc.The 'Gator Hole – More than a dozen American alligators.Cat Country – Includes African lions (Larry, Kit and Kat), Bengal tigers (Raja and Asia), leopard (Osiris) and cougar (Mexica).Australian Outback – Kangaroos (including Calvin), emus, kookaburra, lorikeets and cockatoos.Perimeter enclosures – Nyala, gazelles, kudu, muntjac, ostriches, cranes, impala.Neo-Tropical Exhibit – At the southwest corner of the Zoo.Giraffes – Colby and Gabby are the two current giraffe inhabitants.Otters – Amphibious enclosure for otters Alex and Tsunami.The Farm and Petting Zoo – Featuring an assortment of barnyard animals.Gibbon Island and Lemur Island – The first exhibit to greet guests outside the gift shop, a pond with two islands inhabited by lemurs (including Omega) and gibbons (including Mai Lang).3.6 High School Musical fundraiser scamĪnimal exhibits Exhibits at time of closure, in order of a roughly clockwise progression through the Zoo. Three days later, however, the for-profit group that owned the Zoo's property announced that with "no long-term commitment from the community… we are officially, now, closing the zoo." The Zoo faced a number of problems in its later years, including extensive damage from Hurricane Ivan, dying animals and dwindling attendance.Īfter struggling to find a new source of funding, the Zoo closed its doors on August 16, 2009, with the stated intent to reopen should funding be provided. After many years under the leadership of Doug Kemper, inurance executive Danyelle Lantz was named executive director in October 2007. On September 1, 2004, weeks before being damaged by Hurricane Ivan, control was transferred to the non-profit Gulf Coast Zoological Society. The Zoo was founded in 1984 by four businessmen, including Pat Quinn, who became its director. In addition to the animals themselves, the Zoo featured amenities such as the Safari Line Train, Jungle Café, Whistlestop Snack Bar, and a gift shop in the main building. Located in the Midway area at 5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway, 10 miles east of Gulf Breeze and 19 miles west of Fort Walton, it hosted over 900 animals on more than 30 acres of preservation land. The Zoo Northwest Florida (also called The Gulf Breeze Zoo or simply The Zoo) was an animal preserve that served the Pensacola area from 1984 to 2009.
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