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2009 Calendar of Events:
See what's coming up for the year!
Plan ahead for a wild year of fun times
with your family in the Zoo!
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It’s black and white and can make you red all over with its spiky quills but it’s likely the cutest rodent you’ve ever seen. It’s a baby Cape porcupine from Sub-Saharan Africa born at Naples Zoo. These rodents grow up fast. Born at 458 grams (about a pound) on April 29, she weighed in at 3,180 grams at eight weeks- about 7 times her birth weight. She can be seen in the Zoo’s Planet Predator show presented daily at noon.
This is the first porcupine to be born at the Zoo in about thirty years. Much to the mother’s benefit, the baby porcupine’s quills are soft at birth and begin to harden almost immediately. Like most rodents, porcupines mature rapidly. As early as three days old, they can defend themselves like an adult by running their quills into a predator. Males can reach maturity as early as eight months. Cape porcupines live an average of ten years in the wild and about twenty outside the wild. According to the International Species Information System, only about 100 Cape porcupines can be seen in North American zoos.
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Now Open: Young South African Lions Just ten months old, these South African lions (Panther leo krugeri) are as adorable as they are rare. Accredited zoos have the responsibility to provide safe havens for purebred animals that represent their relatives in the wild. The genetics of these young cats can be directly traced to southern African populations. In order to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population outside the wild for at least 100 years, these South African lions participate in a Species Survival Plan® coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In a few years, we’ll exchange one of these lions with another accredited zoo to breed this rare subspecies. More info and video |
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Memorial Day to Labor Day: White Tiger People have always been fascinated by rarities in the natural world. White tigers (Panthera tigris tigris), one of the most stunning of the planet’s variations, stepped out of the jungles of India in the 1950s and into the world’s imagination. And their popularity has only grown over the last half century. This natural variation on the coat color occurs only in the Bengal tiger subspecies. They are neither Siberian tigers nor are they albinos. This summer, Naples Zoo welcomes one of these stunning cats to the lush Tiger Forest exhibit where he will be seen stalking past giant bamboo or splashing in the naturalistic rockwork pool. More info and video |
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Now Open: Black Bears |
Why black bears? Although some American black bear populations are stable in the nation, Florida’s bears have been designated as a threatened species. As one of just over 200 zoos in the United States that has achieved the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ high accreditation standards, Naples Zoo plays a global role in visitor education and conservation. By focusing on Florida Black Bears, Naples Zoo continues its commitment to educating visitors about the world’s threatened species including those found here at home. |
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Active and Retired Military Welcomed
at No Charge July 3 - 6, 2009!
In honor of those who serve our country, Naples Zoo is offering free admission to all active and retired military personnel.
Military personnel receive this benefit at the Zoo’s ticket box by presenting any valid military identification including member card from a veteran's organization.
Plus, adult and child guests in their party can also purchase online tickets at $2 off regular Zoo admission during the weekend.
Emergency Workers Free in August!
To show appreciation for the police, paramedics, and firefighters who help keep everyone safe, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is offering FREE admission to emergency workers from August 1 – 31, 2009.
Active and retired emergency workers will receive free admission to Naples Zoo by printing a coupon from www.napleszoo.org and presenting it at the Zoo along with identification from their workplace. Other adult and child guests in their party also receive $2 off regular Zoo admission throughout the month of August as well when accompanied by the emergency worker.
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Choosing
Seafood Wisely in 2009
The new cards have arrived. Learn how to be an informed consumer of seafood with Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Program. A simple dining choice
can help preserve ocean life and your own health.
Download the card now
or
Stop by the zoo to pick up
your free card!
Go paperless! Always have the latest recommendations. If you have an internet-enabled phone, visit mobile.Seafoodwatch.org to see the latest pocket guides. And if you have an iphone, there's a specialized iphone application just for you!
Entertainment
"Nature/Education"
Naples Daily News readers also just voted Naples Zoo the first place "Champion" winner in the Entertainment "Nature/Education" category in the Southwest Florida Choice Awards!
Best Place to Take Kids
The May 2009 issue of Gulfshore Life magazine included the annual Best of the Gulfshore Awards. Naples Zoo has once again received the award for "Best Place to Take Kids" as judged by the editors and expert panelists.
Thanks to everyone who voted
and judged!
Benefits for Collier County Residents
Following the successful vote to preserve the land under and around the zoo, Naples Zoo is now offering benefits to the residents of Collier County in thanks for their overwhelming support. To learn more, click here.