Brevard Zoo
Brevard Zoo Monument Sign at Entrance
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| Date opened | March 1994 |
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| Location | 8225 North Wickham Road Melbourne, Florida, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 28°13′30″N 80°42′50″W / 28.225089°N 80.713978°WCoordinates: 28°13′30″N 80°42′50″W / 28.225089°N 80.713978°W |
| Land area | 50 acres (20.2 ha) |
| Number of animals | 550 |
| Number of species | 165 |
| Annual visitors | 464,000 (2015) |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Website | www |
Brevard Zoo is a 75 acres (30 ha) not-for-profit facility located in Melbourne, Florida, United States that is home to more than 650 animals representing more than 165 species from Florida, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The zoo features animal feedings, kayak tours, paddle boats in the wetlands, behind-the-scene tours, and a train ride. It also has the attraction Treetop Trek. Brevard Zoo is a not-for-profit organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The zoo is divided into four loops: Expedition Africa, Australia/Asia, Wild Florida, and La Selva. These loops are accessed off of the main loop that encircles the flamingo pond.
In 1986, the East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc. (ECZS) formed, one of their goals was to build a zoo for Brevard County. In 1992, building of the zoo began, over 16,000 people came together to help build the zoo. The Brevard Zoo claims to have had "The World's Largest Volunteer Community Build." The Brevard Zoo celebrated its grand opening on March 26, 1994.
In 2006, the zoo erected an exhibit with animatronics of dinosaurs including: Dilophosaurus, Omeisaurus, Deinonychus, Megalosaurus, Euoplocephalus, Spinosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, and Pachycephalosaurus.
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. The zoo has an annual budget of $5 million most of which is earned and not raised through fundraising or grants.
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.
In 2014, the black-throated monitor died. It was donated to the zoo when it was two years old in 2005.
The Wildlife Detective Training Academy, or WDTA, is a building focused specifically towards younger children and features terrariums containing many of the zoo's reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, and at least one mammal, a naked mole rat. It also features interactive activities, such as a sand pit, where children can dig up bones from an animal "crime scene", and an animal hospital where children can learn about animal anatomy and veterinary science. The WDTA also features a new mystery every month in which children can investigate and find clues throughout the zoo. The building is located to the right of the main entrance in a separate building. After Paws On reopened in 2009, visitors now have to go through Paws On to enter the WDTA.
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Wikipedia