Brevard Zoo

{{Infobox zoo

|zoo_name = Brevard Zoo

|image = Brevard Zoo Monument Sign.jpg

|image_caption = Brevard Zoo Monument sign at entrance

|date_opened = March 26, 1994{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardzoo.org/aboutthezoo/history_1.html |title=BREVARD ZOO - About the Zoo |website=www.brevardzoo.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006193030/http://www.brevardzoo.org/aboutthezoo/history_1.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 |url-status=dead}}

|area = {{Convert|75|acre|1}}

|location = 8225 North Wickham Road
Melbourne, Florida, U.S.

|coordinates = {{Coord|28.225089|-80.713978|region:US_type:landmark_scale:2500|display=it}}

|num_animals = 790

|num_species = 171

|annual_visitors = 526,000 (2022)

|members = AZA

|website = {{URL|https://brevardzoo.org/}}

}}

Brevard Zoo is a 75-acre nonprofit facility located in Melbourne, Florida, United States, that is home to more than 800 animals representing more than 170 species from Florida, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The zoo features animal feedings, kayak tours, behind-the-scenes tours, and a train ride, along with the attraction Treetop Trek. The zoo has also featured a dinosaur exhibit several times in its past, including one titled "Dinosaurs are Back", which ran from November 2017 to April 2018.{{cite web|title=Dinosaurs Return to the Brevard Zoo|url=http://www.vieravoice.com/November-2017/Dinosaurs-return-to-the-Brevard-Zoo/|work=www.vieravoice.com|date=27 November 2017 |accessdate=27 June 2018}} Brevard Zoo is a nonprofit organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The zoo is divided into five loops: Expedition Africa, Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond, Wild Florida, Rainforest Revealed, and Paws On. These loops are accessed off of the main loop that encircles the flamingo pond.{{cite web|title=Brevard Zoos Newest Exhibit Lands of Change Australia and Beyond Set to Open May 27/|url=http://spacecoastdaily.com/2017/05/brevard-zoos-newest-exhibit-lands-of-change-australia-and-beyond-set-to-open-may-27/|work=www.SpaceCoastDaily.com|accessdate=27 June 2018}}

History

In 1986, the East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc. (ECZS) formed. One of their goals was to build a zoo for Brevard County to "serve as a conversation hub where people could gather to learn about animals and nature. A place to escape from the manmade world and reconnect with the diversity of the life with which we share this planet."https://brevardzoo.org/about-us/ Brevard Zoo. Our History. Retrieved April 20, 2020. In 1992, construction of the zoo began, with over 16,000 people coming together to help build the zoo. The Brevard Zoo claims to have had "The World's Largest Volunteer Community Build". Brevard Zoo celebrated its grand opening on March 26, 1994.{{cite web|title=About The Zoo|url=http://www.brevardzoo.org/about|work=www.Brevardzoo.org|accessdate=31 March 2013}}

A record 328,973 visitors attended in 2007. This included 175,046 paid daily guests. The others included reciprocal members of other zoos, and annual members.{{cite news | author = Balancia, Donna |title = Brevard Zoo had more visitors in 2007 | url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122941417/brevard-zoo-had-more-visitors-in-2007/ | via=Newspapers.com | page=C1 | 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]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} accessed January 19, 2008

In October 2012, one of the southern white rhinos from this zoo was transferred to Alabama's Birmingham Zoo to take part in a breeding program with its two female southern white rhinos.[http://www.articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-11-08/news/fl-florida-rhino-breeding-20121108_1_rhinos-brevard-zoo-aquariums-species-survival-plan Sun Sentinel]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

In 2014, the black-throated monitor died. It was donated to the zoo when it was two years old in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.centralfloridaanimaler.com/2014/07/01/aecc-brevard-zoo-say-goodbye-ollie-black-throated-monitor|title=AECC & Brevard Zoo Say Goodbye to Black-Throated Monitor Lizard|work=Animal Emergency & Critical Care Center}}

In 2017, the zoo renovated their Australia and Asia exhibits and reopened them as "Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond".

Park areas

=Expedition Africa=

The exhibit includes Masai giraffes, impalas, Grévy's zebras, white rhinos, scimitar oryxes, dromedary camels, klipspringers, meerkats, an okapi, a common ostrich, crested guineafowl, West African crowned cranes, southern ground hornbills, and marabou storks. The area also includes red ruffed and ring-tailed lemurs and radiated tortoises.

The zoo offers Giraffe feeding on the Africa platform. Siamangs are located in-between the entrances to the Expedition Africa and Lands of Change loops. Expedition Africa also offers kayaking on the grounds of the zoo.

On November 12, 2024, a critically endangered Eastern Bongo calf was born in the zoo’s training yard.{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jenny |date=2024-11-20 |title=Meet our New Eastern Bongo Calf |url=https://brevardzoo.org/news/meet-our-new-eastern-bongo-calf/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Brevard Zoo |language=en-US}}

On November 16, 2024, the zoo opened up an additional pathway and a new 15,150 square-feet habitat for their lions, who were previously housed in the Wild Florida loop.{{Cite web |last=Daily |first=Space Coast |date=2024-10-28 |title=Brevard Zoo Announces Open Date for New 15,150-Square-Foot Habitat Set to Debut November 16 |url=https://spacecoastdaily.com/2024/10/brevard-zoo-announces-open-date-for-new-15150-square-foot-habitat-set-to-debut-november-16/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Space Coast Daily |language=en-US}}

=Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond=

This loop features animals from Australia, Oceania, Southeast Asia and South America. Visitors can find animals such as red kangaroos, emus, dingos, North Sulawesi babirusas, Reeve's muntjac, Galapagos giant tortoises, a wrinkled hornbill, and black swans.[http://www.brevardzoo.org/explore_australasia.php Brevard Zoo] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626034315/http://www.brevardzoo.org/explore_australasia.php |date=June 26, 2008 }} retrieved July 1, 2008

Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond also hosts the free-flight aviary where visitors have the option of feeding rainbow lorikeets. The aviary is home to: galahs, cockatiels, laughing kookaburras, Victoria crowned pigeons and radjah shelducks, among others. It is divided into two sections - the "lorikeet side" and the "cockatiel side". Right across from the aviary is a state of the art kangaroo walkabout where guests can get up close and personal with the zoo's kangaroos and emus. Inside the kangaroo walkabout, there are several solar panel "trees" that were donated to the zoo by Florida Power & Light. The solar panels provide shade for the kangaroos, but their most important function is that they provide all the energy for the Komodo dragon house, where the Komodo dragons are located. Until 2025, Siamangs, a type of gibbon, were located in-between the entrances to Expedition Africa and Lands of Change.

=Rainforest Revealed=

Rainforest Revealed houses the zoo's black howler monkeys, jaguars, cotton-top tamarins, giant anteaters, golden-headed lion tamarins, black-handed spider monkeys, Chilean flamingos, macaws, tortoises, reptiles and fishes. This loop also feature's green iguanas, a Baird's tapir, a family of capybara, and a Linnaeus's two-toed sloth. 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.

=Wild Florida=

The exhibit includes American alligators, American crocodiles, bald eagles, crested caracaras, sandhill cranes, turtles, a non-native axis deer named Peach, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and bobcats. The loop is also home to three rescued American Black Bears named Cheyenne, Brody, and Betty.{{Cite web |last=Delgado |first=Lauren |date=2024-02-01 |title=Celebrating Our Florida Black Bear Trio |url=https://brevardzoo.org/news/celebrating-our-florida-black-bear-trio/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Brevard Zoo |language=en-US}} In 2021, two North American river otters fell ill and died unexpectedly.{{Cite web |last=Delgado |first=Lauren |date=2021-10-12 |title=Remembering Gladys and Finley: An update {{!}} Brevard Zoo Blog |url=https://brevardzoo.org/news/remembering-gladys-and-finley-an-update/#:~:text=The%20coccidia%20parasite%20caused%20major,and%20caused%20the%20otters'%20deaths. |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Brevard Zoo |language=en-US}} Their exhibit now houses an alligator snapping turtle.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

Paws On provides a place for children to play in a playground, a splash pad, and a petting zoo for children to explore. The exhibit includes a shallow swimming area (splash pad); an aquarium mimicking the underwater environment of the nearby Indian River Lagoon with animals such as tarpons, stingrays, and black drums; a viewing tank with horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, and Florida crown conchs; a pizzeria, and various other attractions aimed towards children of all ages. Exhibits from the old Paws On that were kept include the Soil Cube and the Whale Slide. The Barnyard (petting zoo) contains Nigerian dwarf goats, an African spurred tortoise, and chickens. Other animals include eastern box turtles.

=Caribbean Trail=

Opened in November 2013, the “Treasures of the Caribbean” trail is home to animals such as the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana and the Yellow-Naped Amazon. This exhibit also features a pirate-themed scavenger hunt.

Operations

The zoo received 363,426 visitors in 2011, up 5% from the previous year.Business Briefs, "Brevard Zoo Attendance Up in 2011", SpaceCoast Business magazine, vol. 7, no. 1 (Melbourne, FL: April 2012), pg. 21. This represented the second highest number of visitors on record.