Naples Zoo
Encyclopedia
The Naples Zoo was opened in September 1969 in Naples
, Florida
, in what was once the gardens for botanist Dr. Henry Nehrling
's collection of plants. The gardens were neglected after Nehrling's death, but reopened in 1954 by Julius Fleischmann. Animals were added by Larry and Jane Tetzlaff in 1969, and the gardens were reopened as a zoo.
The zoo has about 70 species, though not all of these are on display at any given time. The main path is about a mile long, and winds past the main animal exhibits through a tropical garden first planted in 1919. Primates in the zoo are housed on islands in a man made lake, and can be viewed from catamarans when visitors take the Primate Expedition Cruise.
The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA), and is an institutional member of the American Association of Zoo Keepers
(AAZK).
, who purchased the land in 1919 to protect his plant collection, which had taken heavy damage during a 1917 freeze at his original garden in central Florida. After his death in 1929, the gardens were neglected for over two decades. They were reopened in 1954, this time to the public and as "Caribbean Gardens," Julius Fleischmann. At the time they were described as being "just north of Naples."
The conversion to a zoo started in 1967, when Col. Lawrence and Nancy Jane Tetzlaff, known as Jungle Larry and Safari Jane, visited the Gardens while looking for somewhere to house their collection of rare animals during the winter. Although the property was not available at the time, shortly after Fleischmann's death the Tetzlaffs were contacted about displaying their animals within the garden, and it was opened with the animals in place on 1 September 1969.
The zoo was accredited by the AZA in 2001. In 2002 the Fleischmann family that owned the land at the time and leased it to the zoo decided that they wanted to sell it. The Tetzlaff's began trying to get the county to purchase the land, and the Fleischmann family waited to allow the community to act. In 2004, a referendum to purchase the land was approved by 73% of voters. In order to make the purchase easier, the Tetzlaffs made the Zoo a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and gave control to the newle established Naples Zoo Board of Directors.
Although Larry Tetzlaff died in 1984, Nancy Jane Tetzlaff and her family continue to be active in maintaining and updating the zoo.
Alligator Bay provides a home to the zoo's Alligators. This lake is also home to many native species including an annual rookery of herons.
African Oasis is on the South side of the path opposite Alligator Bay. This area houses many African animals including Red River Hog
s, Crested Porcupine
s, Dorcas Gazelle
s, Greater Kudu
s, and Impala
s, African Gray Parrots, and Leopard Tortoise
s. The Giraffe Preview Exhibit showcases a herd of reticulated giraffes, where guests can hand-feed them for a fee.
Leopard Rock is home to both spotted and black leopards. It features a naturalistic kopje on which the leopards can climb, separated from viewers only by glass.
Lake Victoria contains several islands that are home to the zoo's primates. Visitors can see these islands can be viewed up close by taking the 15 to 20 minute Primate Expedition Cruise around the lake on one of the zoo's catamarans. The majority of the species on these islands are endangered in the wild.
Lion's Lair is a large mesh fenced area that is home to the zoo's lions.
Panther Glade provides a home to the zoo's Florida Panther
s, as well as educational displays for visitors. Visitors and panthers are separated only by glass.
Black Bear Hammock is home to black bears, and consists of two separate habitats: one that simulates a natural environment and one that simulates a back yard. Viewing for both areas is from behind glass.
Tiger Forest provides a naturalistic bamboo forest habitat for the zoo's Malayan tigers. The Naples Zoo is a participating member of the AZA
Species Survival Plan
for this species.
Backyard Habitat is a section of the gardens set aside and certified by the National Wildlife Federation
in their Backyard Wildlife Habitat
(BWH) program. It includes a pool where visitors can feed the fish.
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, in what was once the gardens for botanist Dr. Henry Nehrling
Henry Nehrling
Henry Nehrling in Herman, Wisconsin) was an ornithologist and horticulturist. He developed an interest in nature during hikes to and from school. He was educated at the Teachers' Seminary in Addison, Il, and worked in various states as a teacher so that he might study a wider variety of birds...
's collection of plants. The gardens were neglected after Nehrling's death, but reopened in 1954 by Julius Fleischmann. Animals were added by Larry and Jane Tetzlaff in 1969, and the gardens were reopened as a zoo.
The zoo has about 70 species, though not all of these are on display at any given time. The main path is about a mile long, and winds past the main animal exhibits through a tropical garden first planted in 1919. Primates in the zoo are housed on islands in a man made lake, and can be viewed from catamarans when visitors take the Primate Expedition Cruise.
The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA), and is an institutional member of the American Association of Zoo Keepers
American Association of Zoo Keepers
The American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. is a U.S. 501c non-profit volunteer association which provides resources to animal care workers, whether they be volunteers or professionals, for training, professional development, and conservation...
(AAZK).
History
The Naples Zoo began as a personal project of botanist Dr. Henry NehrlingHenry Nehrling
Henry Nehrling in Herman, Wisconsin) was an ornithologist and horticulturist. He developed an interest in nature during hikes to and from school. He was educated at the Teachers' Seminary in Addison, Il, and worked in various states as a teacher so that he might study a wider variety of birds...
, who purchased the land in 1919 to protect his plant collection, which had taken heavy damage during a 1917 freeze at his original garden in central Florida. After his death in 1929, the gardens were neglected for over two decades. They were reopened in 1954, this time to the public and as "Caribbean Gardens," Julius Fleischmann. At the time they were described as being "just north of Naples."
The conversion to a zoo started in 1967, when Col. Lawrence and Nancy Jane Tetzlaff, known as Jungle Larry and Safari Jane, visited the Gardens while looking for somewhere to house their collection of rare animals during the winter. Although the property was not available at the time, shortly after Fleischmann's death the Tetzlaffs were contacted about displaying their animals within the garden, and it was opened with the animals in place on 1 September 1969.
The zoo was accredited by the AZA in 2001. In 2002 the Fleischmann family that owned the land at the time and leased it to the zoo decided that they wanted to sell it. The Tetzlaff's began trying to get the county to purchase the land, and the Fleischmann family waited to allow the community to act. In 2004, a referendum to purchase the land was approved by 73% of voters. In order to make the purchase easier, the Tetzlaffs made the Zoo a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and gave control to the newle established Naples Zoo Board of Directors.
Although Larry Tetzlaff died in 1984, Nancy Jane Tetzlaff and her family continue to be active in maintaining and updating the zoo.
Exhibits
The Naples Zoo is laid out with one major loop about 1 mile long that winds through the botanical gardens past the main exhibits. The main exhibits, going clockwise around the main loop, include the following:Alligator Bay provides a home to the zoo's Alligators. This lake is also home to many native species including an annual rookery of herons.
African Oasis is on the South side of the path opposite Alligator Bay. This area houses many African animals including Red River Hog
Red River Hog
The red river hog , also known as the bush pig , is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests...
s, Crested Porcupine
Crested Porcupine
The crested porcupine is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family.It is extant in mainland Italy, Sicily, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.-Physical Attributes:...
s, Dorcas Gazelle
Dorcas Gazelle
The Dorcas Gazelle , also known as the Ariel Gazelle, is a small and common gazelle. The Dorcas Gazelle stands approximately 55-65 cm . Dorcas gazelle have a head and body length of 90-110 cm and a weight of 15-20 kg...
s, Greater Kudu
Greater Kudu
The Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting....
s, and Impala
Impala
An impala is a medium-sized African antelope. The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning "gazelle"...
s, African Gray Parrots, and Leopard Tortoise
Leopard Tortoise
The Leopard tortoise is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape. It is the only member of the genus Stigmochelys, but in the past it was commonly placed in Geochelone instead...
s. The Giraffe Preview Exhibit showcases a herd of reticulated giraffes, where guests can hand-feed them for a fee.
Leopard Rock is home to both spotted and black leopards. It features a naturalistic kopje on which the leopards can climb, separated from viewers only by glass.
Lake Victoria contains several islands that are home to the zoo's primates. Visitors can see these islands can be viewed up close by taking the 15 to 20 minute Primate Expedition Cruise around the lake on one of the zoo's catamarans. The majority of the species on these islands are endangered in the wild.
Lion's Lair is a large mesh fenced area that is home to the zoo's lions.
Panther Glade provides a home to the zoo's Florida Panther
Florida Panther
The Florida panther is an endangered subspecies of cougar that lives in forests and swamps of southern Florida in the United States. Its current taxonomic status is unresolved, but recent genetic research alone does not alter the legal conservation status...
s, as well as educational displays for visitors. Visitors and panthers are separated only by glass.
Black Bear Hammock is home to black bears, and consists of two separate habitats: one that simulates a natural environment and one that simulates a back yard. Viewing for both areas is from behind glass.
Tiger Forest provides a naturalistic bamboo forest habitat for the zoo's Malayan tigers. The Naples Zoo is a participating member of the AZA
Aza
Aza may refer to:*Gaza*Gaza Strip*Aza , a village or town section in the Japanese addressing system*Azadkənd, Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan*Aza, Azerbaijan*Aźa, a Tibetan name for the Tuyuhun Kingdom...
Species Survival Plan
Species Survival Plan
The American Species Survival Plan or SSP program was developed in 1981 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered in the wild....
for this species.
Backyard Habitat is a section of the gardens set aside and certified by the National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is the United States' largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization, with over four million members and supporters, and 48 state and territorial affiliated organizations...
in their Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Backyard Wildlife Habitat is a program of the National Wildlife Federation that encourages homeowners in the United States to manage their gardens and yards as a wildlife garden, with the goal of maintaining healthy and diverse animal habitats and ecosystems...
(BWH) program. It includes a pool where visitors can feed the fish.