Zoo Miami

06/26/2025

Gator feedings = just another day for our crew 🐊 Our "Croc Squad" is all about safe care, smart training, and serious respect for these reptiles!

06/26/2025

Did Aria and Poppy just drop the hottest album cover? We think so. 🥹 🌳🦘

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06/22/2025

Time’s almost up to join Zoo Miami Foundation’s Into the Wild expedition to the Galápagos Islands this October 5–14, 2025! 🌍🚨

Walk among marine iguanas, penguins, and sea lions with Zoo Miami’s Dr. Gwen Myers and naturalist Klaus Fielsch on a 10-day, small-group journey through one of Earth’s most iconic ecosystems.

🐢 Unique wildlife encounters
🌋 Volcanic island exploration
🦎 Conservation in real time

📍 Quito | Mashpi Reserve | Bartolome | Santa Cruz | Isabela | Fernandina
📅 Booking deadline: July 1, 2025
💰 $9,750 per person (double occupancy)
📧 [email protected] | (305) 753-1441

Only a few spots remain, secure yours before they’re gone! See the full itinerary here (some exclusions may apply): https://bit.ly/4dRrJxv

06/21/2025

Today we are celebrating with our herd of 6 Giraffes! 🦒 Check out these below about our long-necked friends:
🦒 Giraffe populations in the wild have decreased by 30% in the past 35 years and there are only 117,000 giraffe remaining throughout Africa.
🦒 Expanding farmland and oil drilling have reduced and fragmented
giraffe habitat across Africa.
🦒 Giraffe get much of their water from the browse they eat but still need to visit a waterhole every few days. Waterholes decrease in size and dry up faster during droughts. Unfortunately, droughts have become more frequent in many regions of Africa.
Learn more about how you can help protect giraffes from our friends at Save Giraffes Now & Giraffe Conservation Foundation!

06/20/2025

Might have another “emergency” visit this weekend! ✨

06/19/2025

has been busy expanding our efforts for the recovery of the endangered Florida bonneted bat!

Our original array of artificial roosts installed in 2018 across Miami-Dade County were so successful, that we added 10 mores this past month, bringing our total number up to 35. We also retrofitted five of the original roosts on utility poles with our latest artificial design that mimics the environmental conditions of a natural roost based on our research; this provides the bats’ choices to avoid temperature extremes.

Each one of these installations costs thousands of dollars due to the structural pipe used to make them hurricane resilient and the red cedar wood to help them survive the harsh South Florida elements. Partial funding and installation support was provided by our program partners at: Bat Conservation International, the City of Coral Gables, private property management associations, the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program, and Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces. This program has not only helped the Miami area become the home to the largest population known for this endangered species, but also helps solve an issue for our citizens and business owners by providing a safe alternative for these bats to roost besides private homes or buildings (since there's a lack of natural roosts in the region).

06/17/2025

Did you know that is home to 6 different crocodile species? 🐊 This year, our American crocs laid a clutch of eggs — our expert team was there to collect them for incubation! Take a look behind the scenes here: https://bit.ly/3FDYb9V

Join Zoo Miami Animal Specialist Ashley Lawrence as she takes us behind the scenes to search, collect, tag, and safely transfer to incubate American Crocodil...

06/16/2025

In September of 2023, you may remember the story of a flamingo being rescued off the coast of the Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida area and then successfully being rehabilitated at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores. It was affectionately named “Peaches” by those involved in his rescue and care. Well, we're happy to announce that Peaches has been confirmed to be healthy, thriving, paired up with a mate, and currently nesting in the Yucatan area of Mexico!

Our colleagues in the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) in Mexico sent us the exciting news of his spotting; they've been carefully monitoring Peaches and the rest of the nesting colony this year.

Peaches was banded so we could track him and better understand various patterns. This includes the movements of flamingos in Florida and which habitats are still favorable to them in-state, as well as seeing if Peaches left the country-- and if so, which one and why to better understand connectedness between populations.

Peaches is the second wild flamingo in Florida that Zoo Miami collaborated on banding for research purposes. Peaches and Conchy, the first banded flamingo, are the only wild flamingos that have ever been banded in the United States. Conchy was banded in 2015 in collaboration with the National Park Service & Michelle Davis, and Peaches was banded in 2023 in collaboration with Florida Audubon. Let’s hope that Peaches and the rest of his flock are successful in raising chicks this year, thus continuing to increase wild flamingo numbers across the Caribbean in hopes of them returning to Florida in greater numbers!

06/13/2025

On this Father’s Day, Zoo Miami’s oldest animal will be celebrating his 134th birthday! His name is “Goliath,” and he is a Galapagos tortoise that weighs 517 pounds! Up until this prior week, he had not fathered any offspring. That changed when after 128 days of incubation, one egg out of a clutch of 8 that was laid January 27th, successfully hatched on June 4th! Not only is this the first offspring for Goliath, but it is also the first time in the history of Zoo Miami that a Galapagos tortoise has hatched, making this an historic event on multiple levels!

Goliath’s official record has him hatching out on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos on June 15th, 1885. He arrived at the Bronx Zoo on July 23rd, 1929, and finally came to Zoo Miami on July 30th, 1981. During his time at Zoo Miami, he had bred with several different females but had never successfully sired an offspring.

The mother is “Sweet Pea,” and she arrived at the Crandon Park Zoo on Key Biscayne, Florida as an adult in 1960, indicating that she is between 85-100 years old.

An application has been made to the Guinness Book of World Records to officially recognize Goliath as “The Oldest First-Time Father in History!” Considering the age of Sweet Pea, their combined age is over 200 and they may also qualify as “The Oldest First-Time Parents in History!”

Both Goliath and Sweet Pea are doing well on their public habitat and are not aware of their newly hatched offspring. In the wild, hatchlings are on their own from the moment they emerge from the egg and the parents have no further connection to them. The hatchling appears to be healthy and has been removed from the incubator and placed in a separate enclosure where it is active and full of energy!

This Father’s Day will be extra special at Zoo Miami as we not only celebrate Goliath’s birthday, but we will also be celebrating how the stars have finally aligned to make him a father for the first time in his amazing 135-year life! He is an inspiration to never give up hope!

📸: Ron Magill

06/12/2025

*Knock knock*
Who’s there?
Just the best day ever at !! 🦒

06/10/2025

Don’t call it a comeback 🦏

Once on the brink of extinction, greater one-horned rhinos have made an incredible 180 thanks to conservation efforts across the globe. These rhinos can grow up to 6 feet tall, hit 30 mph, and flex a horn that’s basically nature’s way of saying, “Don’t mess with me.” 💥

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06/08/2025

We all rely on the ocean, no matter how far from the shore. The ocean is the world’s largest carbon sink and creates over 50% of the world’s oxygen. Here in Miami, the ocean is our backyard and protecting it is paramount to not only the earth’s health but our own!

While you may not see many ocean dwelling species at , we strive to we do our part by partnering with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium to conduct coral restoration off of the Florida Keys. 🌊 Protect Our Reefs

06/07/2025

Ready to shell-ebrate sea turtle recovery? 🌊🐢 Zoo Miami's Sea Turtle Hospital and Zoo Miami Foundation are looking for dedicated volunteers to help rehabilitate and release these incredible animals back into the wild.

From tank scrubbing to tour guiding, you'll get hands-on experience helping our flippered patients thrive. Must be 18+, able to lift 50 lbs, and down to commit a year of service at least one shift a week.

Apply now to join our crew: https://bit.ly/3ZiSXXO

06/06/2025

Did you know the largest snake in Earth’s history is at ? Ron Magill is here to introduce you to Titanoboa, a prehistoric predator that could once grow up to 48 feet long and weigh over a ton. See this life-size, slithering, and hissing beast now at our Dinos Among Us exhibit and learn how this ancient snake ruled the swamps 60 million years ago with dinosaurs! 🐍

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4gh330Q

06/06/2025

Calling all families with multiple future zookeepers! 🐾 Siblings now get 10% off the base price! And if you’re a Zoo Miami member? Stack that discount for even more savings.

📅 Ages 5–12
💰 Base price: $275/week
💸 Member price: $220/week
👯‍♀️ Sibling discount: $247.50 (non-member) or $198 (members)

Spots are going fast. Lock in your week before it fills up! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4mL8dXk

06/06/2025

On May 3rd, Zoo Miami welcomed the birth of “Piggy Sue,” an African warthog! Her mother is 9-year-old Zoe, who was born at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in California, and her father is 10-year-old “Beebop Wilson,” who was born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Though Beebop Wilson has fathered previous offspring at Zoo Miami, this is the first time Zoe has given birth. As a first-time mom, Zoe did not demonstrate the ability to properly care for the newborn piglet, so the decision was made to hand-raise her with the goal of having her join Zoo Miami’s ambassador team. Thankfully, she was in excellent health and took to the bottle very quickly.

During the past several weeks, zoo staff has been caring for Piggy Sue behind the scenes, feeding her a bottle every two hours! In her enclosure, she is surrounded by several enrichment items that she enjoys playing with including balls and plush toys. She has been conditioned to be comfortable around her keepers while learning fundamental behaviors that will be necessary for her to be a successful ambassador. Thanks to her excellent progress, she is now, along with a rotation of some of Zoo Miami’s other ambassador animals, making regular appearances in the new ambassador habitats adjacent to the Sami Family Amphitheater. Though there is no guarantee when she will be out on the public habitat, the goal is to have her out daily for a limited amount of time. She is a bundle of energy, frequently sprinting and vocalizing in typical warthog fashion, giving her zookeepers a welcome challenge as they train her to become what is certain to be a crowd favorite!

Made famous through the memorable character, “Pumba,” in Disney’s hit movie, “The Lion King,” the African warthog has become an extremely popular animal and is found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. Though not naturally aggressive, these wild pigs are quite capable of protecting themselves with large, powerful tusks which they normally use to tear up the ground in search of roots and grubs, and to establish dominance between them. Males develop considerably larger tusks than the females. The name warthog is a bit misleading because the protrusions that come out of the sides of their head are not actual warts but rather fatty, granular tissue. Males can grow to weigh over 200 pounds with females being closer to 150 pounds.

Come out to Zoo Miami this weekend and see if you can catch a glimpse of this wonderful new addition!

📸: Ron Magill

06/05/2025

Did you hear the news? $15 MONDAYS ARE BACK, BABY! That’s right! Experience everything has to offer for only $15 every Monday from June 9th - September 30th.

Offer is only valid for online purchases: https://bit.ly/3BiVVjT

06/05/2025

Zoo Miami is saddened to announce the passing of Kali, its female Indian gaur. After months of extensive care, the Animal Health and Animal Science teams determined that further treatments were no longer effective in providing her with a satisfactory quality of life. At 16 years old, Kali had exceeded her normal lifespan. She arrived at Zoo Miami in January 2011 from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska.

For the past several months, she has faced a range of issues related to old age, the most severe being debilitating arthritis in all four legs. Despite extensive treatments, including physical therapy, aimed at improving her quality of life, these interventions were no longer effective. With no options available for a cure or further relief, the difficult decision was made to euthanize her this morning.

📸: Ron Magill

06/05/2025

Looking for a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife adventure, minus the crowds? 🌎

Zoo Miami Foundation’s Into the Wild travel program is heading to the Galápagos Islands this October 5–14, 2025 for an intimate, small-group journey led by Zoo Miami’s Dr. Gwen Myers and naturalist Klaus Fielsch.

🐢 Encounter species found nowhere else on Earth
🌋 Explore dramatic volcanic landscapes
🦎 Learn firsthand about conservation in action

This 10-day, family-friendly expedition (ages 6+) includes premium accommodations and exclusive access to sites in Quito, Mashpi Reserve, and the Galápagos Islands: Bartolome, Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Fernandina.

📅 Booking closes July 1, 2025
💰 $9,750 per person (double occupancy)
📧 [email protected] | (305) 753-1441

Spots are extremely limited. Travel like a true explorer with experts, not tour buses!

📸: Ron Magill

06/04/2025

You may have noticed some updates around lately! This a part of our ongoing commitment to animal care, habitat enhancements, and guest experience. 🛠️

Here's everything that has gotten a little extra TLC as of recent:
🪨 Fresh rock work near/in our Galapagos tortoise, Sumatran tiger, and Bornean orangutan habitats
🌿 Updated fence-lines for our giant elands
👀 Expanded overlooks at our pygmy hippo, greater-one-horned rhino and Asian elephants

We’re also making behind-the-scenes upgrades, including new fencing and expanded spaces to meet the highest standards in animal welfare and prep for future expansions. Stay tuned for more and thanks for growing with us! 🐘🦛

06/03/2025

Due to inclement weather, Zoo Miami will be closed today, June 3rd at 2PM. The safety of our visitors and animals is our top priority. Please check our website for updates on operating hours.

06/02/2025

June is , a time to recognize the vital role accredited zoos and aquariums play in conservation, education, and protecting wildlife for future generations. From caring for endangered species to inspiring the next generation of animal lovers, we’re proud to be your local zoo. 🐘🦒🌎

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06/01/2025

DINO ROLL CALL 📢

What’s your favorite dinosaur? Could it be the OG t-rex? Or maybe a triceratops? Let us know in the comments, and learn more about the Dinos Among Us exhibit here: https://bit.ly/4gh330Q

05/31/2025

It’s and we’re throwin’ some respeck on the beak! : Parrots are brainiacs with big personalities, some species can live up to 80 years, mimic human voices, and even use tools. 🦜

05/30/2025

Our North American river otter pups are now being given access to their habitat on a rotating basis for a limited amount of time. Born on February 12th of this year, the one male and two female pups have remained behind the scenes with their mother, Zinnia, to ensure that they were developing well with minimum distractions. Once the staff felt that the pups had met all the benchmarks of development to help ensure their safety on the habitat, the decision was made to give mom and pups access this week. Though there is no guarantee that the pups will be out on any given day, the hope is to give them daily access for a limited amount of time each day, usually between the hours of 11:30AM and 2PM. This not only gives the pups some time to perfect their swimming technique while enjoying special enrichment items being provided by the staff, it enables Edison, the male, to also enjoy the habitat when mom and the pups are rotated off. Male North American otters do not normally remain with the female and pups after birth as they can present a threat to the pups which is why Edison remains separated during this process. However, the plan is to introduce Edison to the pups in the near future so that the entire family can be viewed together.

Again, there are no guarantees that the pups will be out on any given day or time, but this is to let you know to not be surprised if you see them on your next visit!

📸: Ron Magill