Metro Zoo

Photos from our visit to Miami's Metro Zoo. The first visit with the Dayngrous Duo was 1/27/2007 but since then we've been back a few more times and enjoyed ourselves.

All photos are © Dayngr and cannot be used without expressed written permission.

1948
Miami Metrozoo’s beginning can be traced back to a small island off the coast of Miami. The Crandon Park Zoo, located on Key Biscayne, was created in 1948 when three monkeys, one goat and two black bears were purchased for $270 from a small road show stranded near Miami.

1967
The animal collection grew to around 1,200 animals, resulting in the Crandon Park Zoo being ranked among the top 25 zoos in the United States. The zoo received worldwide recognition for the first successful captive birth and rearing of an aardvark in 1967.

The zoo received a pair of Asian elephants in 1967. These animals, “Dalip” and “Seetna”, matured and produced three offspring, still a rather rare accomplishment in zoological collections.

1968
In 1968, the Crandon Park Zoo received a white tiger – only the second of its kind to be brought into the United States.

1970
In 1970, the rarest animals to be exhibited at the Crandon Park Zoo arrived: a pair of Indian rhinos.

Also in 1970, the Crandon Park Zoo received the first Key deer ever taken out of the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge.

1965 - 1970
In 1965, Hurricane Betsy put three feet of water over most of the zoo and caused the deaths of 250 animals. After the devastation of Hurricane Betsy in 1965, there was frequent talk of a new zoo for Dade County. However, no serious planning was done until 1970 when the Zoological Society Board became aware of the availability of the Richmond Naval Air Station property. On December 11, 1970, Dade County officially applied for 600 acres of this land for a new zoo.

1971
On February 1, 1971, T. A. Strawser was hired by the Zoological Society to develop a master plan and model for the new zoo.

1972
In August of 1972, Dade County Manager Ray Goode announced his proposed Decade of Progress bond issues which included $10 million for a new zoo as part of the park bond issue.

1973
In 1973, two southern bald eagles were hatched – the first successful captive hatching in over fifty years.

On June 13, 1973, the first animal purchased from bond issue funds specifically for the new zoo, arrived at Crandon Zoo. This was a two-year-old black rhino, named Cora.

1975 -1976
Construction began in the fall of 1975 on the perimeter moat, fence and the quarantine building. These were completed in early 1976.

1980 - 1981
The Preview Center, consisting of the initial twelve exhibits, opened to the public on July 4, 1980. The grand opening for the first major exhibit section, the Asian lobe, was on December 12, 1981. With the opening of this section, a total of 38 exhibits, covering 200 acres, were available to the public.

1982
On December 4, 1982, an additional 25 acre exhibit area opened featuring six new exhibits of African hoofed stock. This brought the total exhibit area to 225 acres featuring 44 exhibits. The monorail, which had been under construction for about a year, also opened to the public.

1984
On December 28, 1984, the Wings of Asia exhibit, a 1.6 acre, free-flight aviary, opened.

1985
On December 18, 1985, three new exhibits of African hoofed stock opened, extending the African lobe. This new section brought the total area to approximately 280 acres.

1986
In the fall and winter of 1986, two new exhibits were opened in the African savanna section. Animals were then on display on all paddocks up to Monorail Station 4 and adding approximately 10 acres to the total.

1988 - 1989
The Australian lobe of the zoo was unveiled in 1988, featuring koalas, kangaroos and wallabies. In 1989, the first koala born on the east coast was born at Metrozoo.

PAWS, the children’s petting zoo, opened in 1989, replacing the original area called Sulawasi.

1990
On August 1990, the Asian River Life Experience was opened to the public. Small-clawed Asian otters are featured, along with a blood python, Malayan water monitor, clouded leopards, land tortoises, muntjac deer, demoiselle cranes, and fly-river turtles.

1992
On August 24, 1992, Metrozoo had quite a set back when Hurricane Andrew hit. Over 5,000 trees were lost, and the 1.5 acre free-flight aviary, Wings of Asia, which was built to withstand winds of up to 120 mph, was reduced to a pile of rubbish and twisted netting. The 300 exotic birds, which represented the finest collection of Asian birds anywhere, were lost.

Although the zoo looked considerably different, it reopened on December 18, 1992.

1993
By July 1993, many animals were returned to their homes at Metrozoo and 7,000 new trees planted to restore a natural canopy to animals and visitors. Metrozoo was well on its way to recovery!

1995 - 1996
In December, 1995, the koalas returned to Metrozoo. And on January 26, 1996, the Falcon Batchelor Komodo Dragon Encounter, featuring the largest lizards on earth, was opened to the public.

1999 - 2001
Other exhibits that opened thereafter included: the Andean Condor (1999), the Meerkats (2000), the Cuban Crocodiles (2001), Squirrel Monkeys (2001) and an indoor facility, “Dr. Wilde’s World,” in which traveling zoological exhibits are to be housed.

2003
American Bankers Family Aviary, Wings of Asia opened May 03, 2003.

2006
Samburu Station, a giraffe feeding encounter, opened October 2006. It is located at the reticulated giraffe, ostrich and gazelle exhibit. For a small fee, visitors are able to feed the giraffes their favorite healthy greens and get really close to them.

2007
Amazon and Beyond, an exhibit dedicated to the flora and fauna of tropical America, is scheduled to open in late 2007. At 27 acres and with keystone species like the anaconda, giant river otters and harpy eagles, this new exhibit will be larger than the average American zoo.

2008
Camel rides began operating June 2008 in the Children's Zoo. High a top a graceful dromedary camel, visitors experience the traditional form of transportation used by the desert people of Africa and Asia for thousands of years.