Miami's zoo gets new name and upgrade

Zoo Miami is the new name of one of the most famous, most visited and most award-winning zoo’s in the United States. Consistently rated among the top ten zoos in the country, many Miami residents may not realize what an immense resource this facility is to the city. In 2010 the zoo turned 30, but its roots can be traced back much further, in this landmark year for Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens (the official new name of the centre) Miami News.net pays homage to the only sub-tropical zoo in North America.

The current zoo houses over 2000 animals of 500 different species and the Principality of Monaco could fit inside the zoo three times, it has 80 exhibits of some of the most impressive and endangered species in the world, in habitats closely modeled on the wild and split into four sections: Africa, Amazon and Beyond, Australia and Asia.

The zoo turned 30 in 2010, but its real roots start in 1948 on the island of Key Biscayne. This is where the first major zoo for Miami was located, but it had humble beginnings, just one goat, three monkeys and two black bears, all purchased for under $300. Crandon Park Zoo, as it became known, quickly became a major visitor magnet and one of the top 25 zoos in the US.

But, in 1965 tragedy struck. Hurricane Betsy roared ashore in September of that year, battering the Florida Keys and leaving a trail of chaos and destruction in her wake. Louisiana and the Bahamas were particularly effected, along with Florida and while 76 human fatalities and $9.8 billion (adjusted for inflation) of damage were the result, 250 animals at the zoo were also killed and the actual infrastructure of the facility was all but destroyed.

So started the history of the zoo Miami knows today. Crandon Park Zoo hobbled through the rest of the decade and in 1970 a new site, the current location in Dade County, was chosen for the zoo and a new facility was opened here in 1980. It was called the Miami MetroZoo and has seen the world change around it, now the zoo is going to undergo a change itself with a re-naming and re-branding campaign, as well as major expansion plans.

Zoo Miami is the name under which the centre is marketed, and it is this new name that appears on the sign at the entrance to the zoo. The entrance was entirely re-developed with a huge sign almost as large as a small building; this was intended to catch the attention of motorists driving by on the nearby motorway.

Ron McGill of Zoo Miami told Miami news media that the new name will mark “the new beginning of the next 30 years” and the zoo has ambitious expansion plans in the works, including a family-friendly hotel and water park connected to the current zoo park. There are also plans for upgrades and redevelopment of much of the zoo’s facility in order to keep it modern and in-line with advances in knowledge on keeping animals happy in captivity.