Facts:
The teeming wildlife is something that the Naples Zoo is very much proud of. This 43-acre zoo has been making families and animals happy for generations. The monkeys, giraffes and panthers are all cared for greatly by their passionate and dedicated staff and they live in an environment that’s surrounded by old and sturdy trees and exotic plants. Because of this type of set up, visitors will stand very close to the animals, being able to appreciate them better. One highlight of the zoo is that you can take a boat that leads to a winding river surrounded with mangrove trees and within those trees are playful monkeys that play around as if they seem to be excited to see new visitors. Moreover, you can find tigers, anteaters, tortoises and even penguins. Aside from the adorable animals, one notable feature this zoo has is its conservation program. The people in Naples Zoo seek to rehabilitate sick or injured animals that they’ve rescued from the wild until the animals are back to full health. There is also an educational program where the staff gives lectures to parents and kids about the importance of the natural environment and how to show care for animals. Visit the zoo for some fun time with all the family.
History:
Naples Zoo has a history almost as long as the city of Naples itself. It has been since 1919. It first began as a small “tropical garden” project by botanist Dr. Henry Nehrling. During that time lands around Naples were slowly being sold as lands for agricultural use and this made the doctor concerned about his plants. He purchased a plot of land in 1917 so that his plant collection would have some place to call their home. With a permanent home, his collection grew in size and by 1925; he wrote that there were over 3000 species of plants in his garden property. Nehrling passed away four years later and there was no one to care for his plants until the early 1950’s, when a man named Julius Fleischmann ordered a reconstruction of Nehrling’s garden. The garden went intensive renovation as Fleischmann’s team had to remove years of accumulated debris, the restoration of old plants, digging of new man-made lakes and the installation of new species of plants and even species of birds. By 1954, the garden was reopened and this time it was opened to the public. Col. Lawrence and Nancy Jane Tetzlaff ran the garden after Fleischmann death some 2 decades or so later after the garden opened and the Tetzlaffs introduced a Safari theme to the garden plus a rigid animal conservation effort. This slowly turned the garden into the Naples Zoo we recognize today.
Tips:
- Penguins, panthers and anteater exhibits have a minimum age requirement which varies depending on the animal you want to visit.
- The zoo accepts donation and sponsorship from people who care for animals.
- The zoo is open everyday except Thanksgiving and Christmas day.
- The zoo accepts school field trips.
