Zoo Miami
A zoological park and botanical garden in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and the largest zoo in Florida.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Zoo Miami, formally the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, is a large zoological park and botanical garden in southern Miami-Dade County, Florida. It is operated as a public county institution and is widely known for presenting animals in spacious, largely cage-free exhibits designed around moats, landscaped habitats, and geographic themes. The park is the largest zoo in Florida and is described as the only tropical zoo in the continental United States. Its grounds cover almost 750 acres, although only a portion is developed for exhibits and visitor facilities. The public route extends for roughly four miles and connects more than 100 exhibits. The institution traces its history to 1948, when a small traveling animal show stranded near Miami exchanged several animals for truck repairs. Those animals became the nucleus of the Crandon Park Zoo on Key Biscayne. The original zoo expanded rapidly, adding animals from circuses and private collections and eventually becoming one of the better-known American zoos of its period. Hurricane Betsy severely damaged the facility in 1965 and killed approximately 250 animals, intensifying support for a new, larger county zoo on the mainland. Miami-Dade officials selected land formerly associated with Naval Air Station Richmond. Construction began in 1975, and the new facility opened on July 4, 1980, as Miami MetroZoo. Its first major geographic area, Asia, opened in 1981, followed by African, Australian, and other habitat expansions. The park continued to add aviaries, hoofed-mammal exhibits, children’s facilities, educational spaces, and visitor transportation. A monorail operated around the property from 1984 until 2022, when maintenance costs made continued operation impractical. The most destructive event in the modern zoo’s history was Hurricane Andrew, which struck South Florida in August 1992. The storm destroyed thousands of trees, damaged buildings and exhibits, and demolished the original Wings of Asia aviary. Approximately 100 birds died, while most animals survived the storm and its immediate aftermath. The zoo reopened in December 1992 and undertook a major restoration program that included the return of animals temporarily relocated elsewhere and the planting of thousands of replacement trees. Hurricane Irma caused further damage in 2017, especially in the Amazon and Beyond area. The zoo was renamed Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, or Zoo Miami, in 2010 as part of its thirtieth-anniversary branding. Its current visitor experience is organized principally into Florida: Mission Everglades, Asia, Africa, Amazon and Beyond, and Australia. Attractions include animal exhibits, narrated tram tours, guided experiences, educational programs, an interactive Conservation Action Center, children’s activities, food service, and special presentations at the Sami Family Amphitheater. Florida: Mission Everglades includes native species and the Lostman’s River Ride, while Amazon and Beyond interprets South American habitats such as cloud forests, flooded forests, and the Atlantic Forest. Zoo Miami houses more than 3,000 animals representing approximately 500 species. Its collection includes elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, orangutans, tigers, jaguars, giant otters, koalas, alligators, crocodiles, birds, reptiles, and many threatened or endangered species. The park is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and participates in conservation work locally, nationally, and internationally. Its programs have included support for butterfly recovery efforts and assistance to breeding facilities for endangered clouded leopards and fishing cats in Thailand. Zoo Miami combines recreation, environmental education, species management, and public conservation messaging, while also facing the operational and ethical challenges associated with maintaining a large animal collection in a public setting.
History
Zoo Miami began in 1948 at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne. The initial collection came from a stranded animal show that exchanged three monkeys, a goat, and two black bears for vehicle repairs. Additional animals, including lions, an elephant, and a rhinoceros from a failed circus, were added soon afterward, along with animals from the Matheson plantation. The 48-acre facility expanded steadily and held more than 1,200 animals by 1967. Hurricane Betsy devastated the Crandon Park Zoo in 1965 and killed approximately 250 animals. The disaster encouraged plans for a larger mainland facility. In 1970, county officials applied for about 600 acres of the former Naval Air Station Richmond property. Construction began in 1975, and Miami MetroZoo opened on July 4, 1980. The first public phase contained 12 exhibits; Asia became the first major geographic section when it opened in December 1981. Expansion continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s. African hoofed-mammal areas, a monorail, the Wings of Asia aviary, Australian habitats, a children’s petting zoo, and the Asian Riverlife Experience were added. Amazon and Beyond opened in 2008 as a major South American complex. Other additions included exhibits for Komodo dragons, Andean condors, meerkats, Cuban crocodiles, squirrel monkeys, and indoor traveling zoological displays. Hurricane Andrew struck on August 24, 1992, causing extraordinary damage. More than 5,000 trees were toppled, the original Wings of Asia aviary was destroyed, and roughly 100 birds died. Five other animals died from debris or contaminated water. The zoo reopened in December of that year, and reconstruction involved relocating animals to other institutions, restoring facilities, and replanting the grounds. By 1993, many animals had returned and more than 7,000 trees had been planted. A brush fire in 1996 burned roughly 100 acres of undeveloped property and led to the evacuation of nearly 30 nearby animals. The rebuilt Wings of Asia opened in 2003. On July 4, 2010, the institution adopted the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens name while using Zoo Miami as its public brand. A major capital program included a new entrance and the future Florida: Mission Everglades exhibit, which opened in December 2016. Hurricane Irma caused substantial vegetation damage in 2017, especially around Amazon and Beyond, and the zoo temporarily closed. The former monorail, which had operated since 1984 using trains including equipment transferred from the Louisiana World Exposition, was retired in 2022 because maintenance costs had become unaffordable. Zoo Miami remains an AZA-accredited institution with a collection of more than 3,000 animals representing about 500 species. Its conservation work includes participation in the AZA Butterfly Conservation Initiative and financial support for endangered-species breeding infrastructure in Thailand. The park also continues to develop public education and habitat-based exhibits, while incidents such as the 2023 kiwi-handling controversy have highlighted the importance of animal-welfare procedures and culturally informed conservation practice.
- 2025
Andean bear arrives
[1]A female Andean bear transfers from the National Zoo and later becomes viewable by the public.
- 2023
Kiwi-handling controversy
[1]Public criticism follows footage of visitors handling a kiwi in daylight; the zoo apologizes and announces procedural changes.
- 2022
Monorail service ends
[1]The long-running monorail is decommissioned because maintenance was no longer affordable.
- 2016
Florida: Mission Everglades opens
[1]The Florida-focused exhibit opens with native wildlife interpretation and the Lostman’s River Ride.
- 2010
Zoo Miami branding is adopted
[1]The institution adopts the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens name and Zoo Miami public brand.
- 2008
Amazon and Beyond opens
[1]The 27-acre South American complex opens with cloud-forest, Amazonian, Atlantic Forest, and related habitat zones.
- 2003
Rebuilt Wings of Asia opens
[1]A reconstructed aviary returns as a major bird exhibit with hundreds of birds representing dozens of species.
- 1992
Hurricane Andrew causes major destruction
[1]The storm destroys the aviary and severely damages the landscape and infrastructure.
- 1984
Monorail and Wings of Asia are introduced
[1]The zoo adds its monorail and opens the original Wings of Asia free-flight aviary.
- 1981
Asia becomes the first major exhibit region
[1]The Asia section opens in December as the first major geographic area at the new zoo.
Products and positioning
A large, tropical, conservation-oriented zoological park offering geographic habitat exhibits, public education, family recreation, and participation in species-protection programs.
Geographic habitat exhibit · 2016
Florida: Mission Everglades
A Florida-focused exhibit interpreting Everglades wildlife and ecosystems. Animals include American alligators and crocodiles, river otters, bobcats, black bears, Florida panthers, raccoons, foxes, bald eagles, pelicans, and roseate spoonbills. The area also includes the Lostman’s River Ride, a gentle airboat-style attraction.
Geographic habitat exhibit · 1981
Asia
The Asia section presents species such as Asian elephants, orangutans, Indian rhinoceroses, Sumatran tigers, Malayan tapirs, sloth bears, Komodo dragons, Bactrian camels, Arabian oryx, and Asian birds. It also includes the Wings of Asia aviary, children’s activities, and several close-viewing animal experiences.
Aviary · 2003
Wings of Asia
An open-air walkthrough aviary designed around a temperate mixed-forest setting. The rebuilt facility houses approximately 85 bird species and interprets the evolutionary relationship between birds and dinosaurs. It replaced the original aviary destroyed by Hurricane Andrew.
Geographic habitat exhibit · 1982
Africa
The African loop includes giraffes, African bush elephants, eastern black rhinoceroses, chimpanzees, pygmy hippos, Grevy’s zebras, kudus, nyalas, okapis, mountain bongos, duikers, gazelles, and other hoofed mammals. The zoo is recognized for the breadth of its hoofed-mammal collection.
South American habitat exhibit · 2008
Amazon and Beyond
A 27-acre complex devoted to South American habitats. Its themed areas include Village Plaza, Cloud Forest, Amazon Flooded Forest, and Atlantic Forest. Exhibited species include jaguars, giant otters, Orinoco crocodiles, giant anteaters, sloths, howler and spider monkeys, harpy eagles, bats, poison dart frogs, fish, guanacos, and Chacoan peccaries.
Geographic habitat exhibit · 1989
Australia
The Australian habitat presents animals from Australia, Oceania, and Pacific islands, including koalas, cassowaries, southern hairy-nosed wombats, cockatiels, and Matschie’s tree-kangaroos. It is adjacent to the Sami Family Amphitheater, which hosts animal presentations and cultural or public events.
Controversies
2023
Kiwi Paora handling controversy
Footage showed visitors handling Paora, a kiwi, and exposing the nocturnal bird to daylight. The incident prompted criticism in New Zealand and from conservation experts, and New Zealand’s Department of Conservation said it would raise concerns with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Zoo Miami apologized and said it would discontinue the practices shown.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Florida: Mission Everglades conservation interpretation
United States
The zoo introduced a major exhibit centered on Florida species, Everglades ecology, and visitor engagement with native conservation issues.
Outcome. The exhibit became one of the park’s principal geographic areas and added the Lostman’s River Ride.
- 2010Zoo Miami rebranding and anniversary program
United States
The county zoo adopted the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens name while promoting Zoo Miami as its public-facing identity during its thirtieth-anniversary year.
Outcome. Zoo Miami became the institution’s principal public brand.
Brand decisions
2023
Revision of kiwi visitor-interaction practicesStrategyBackground
Public criticism followed footage of visitors handling a kiwi in daylight, a practice considered inappropriate for the species.
Action taken
The zoo apologized and said it would cease the practices depicted.
Aftermath
The episode generated renewed attention to animal-welfare protocols and the cultural expectations surrounding New Zealand’s national bird.
2022
Monorail decommissioningOtherBackground
The monorail had operated for decades, including with trains transferred from the Louisiana World Exposition, but maintenance became unaffordable.
Action taken
Zoo Miami discontinued and decommissioned the monorail system.
Aftermath
Visitors continued to use walking routes, narrated trams, and guided tours for movement around the park.
2010
Adoption of the Zoo Miami public brandStrategyBackground
The institution marked its thirtieth anniversary and sought a clearer public-facing identity alongside its formal county name.
Action taken
Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens began using Zoo Miami for marketing and branding.
Aftermath
Zoo Miami became the name most associated with the park in public communications.
Recent events
- 2025
Zoo Miami receives a female Andean bear[1]
Other · Product launch
A female Andean bear arrived from the National Zoo in June and later made a public debut in a former gorilla exhibit.
- 2017
Hurricane Irma affects Amazon and Beyond[1]
Other
The storm caused extensive tree loss and other damage, with several birds reportedly dying from stress. The zoo remained closed until October.
- 2010
Zoo Miami adopts its current public name[1]
Other
The Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens began using Zoo Miami for marketing and branding during its thirtieth-anniversary observances.
- 1992
Hurricane Andrew damages Zoo Miami[1]
Other
The Category 5 storm destroyed the Wings of Asia aviary, toppled thousands of trees, and caused animal deaths, but most of the collection survived.
- 1980
Zoo Miami opens to the public as Miami MetroZoo[1]
Other
The replacement zoo on the former Naval Air Station Richmond site opened on July 4 with an initial group of exhibits.
Sources2 sources
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