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Must See Wildlife Animal Attractions in Miami

Blogs Written By Colin Keohane

Long-time resident of South Florida who loves boating, great restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. I've chosen to make Miami my home because of the city's incredible culture. I love sharing my local knowledge with others through writing.

Parrot Jungle Miami, Florida

1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132

Hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Photo: Mommynearest.com

Parrot Jungle which is now known as Jungle Island is a zoological park located in the heart of Miami. The park sits right between South Beach and Downtown Miami making it a convenient destination for most parts of the city.

Jungle island is home to some of the rarest and most exotic animals in the world. Guests have the option of participating in hands-on activities with these exotic animals. You can also opt for one of the VIP tours.

Don’t forget, located right across the street from Jungle Island Park is Jungle Island Marina. This marina is home to some of the yachts in Miami. This marina offers a variety of incredible services. They marina has top-notch amenities and offers boat rentals with a captain in Miami.

Notable Animal Attractions

Hercules the Liger: This animal is a mix between a lion and a tiger. His father was a tiger, and his mother was a lion. Hercules holds a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest feline ever.

Photo: Liger-hercules.com

Peanut and Pumpkin: These two are orangutans that were born in the park and are twins. They are a fan favorite and can entertain just about anyone with their crazy gestures and behavior.

Photo: dailymail.co.uk

African Penguins:Come see some of the cutest penguins flopping around and playing in the water.

Photo: Popsci.com

American Caimans: Want to see something that looks like a crocodile but is even scarier? The American Caimans won’t disappoint. These reptiles and their menacing look are absolutely unforgettable.

Photo: Britannica.com

Monkey Jungle Miami

14805 SW 216th St, Miami, FL 33170

Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Monkey Jungle is a 30-acre zoo located outside of Miami, Florida. The park is home to over 300 primates. In the park, the monkeys are allowed to run free while the guests walk through the park in an enclosed walkway.

Photo: Monkeyjungle.com

Monkey Jungle is one of the few protected habitats for primates throughout the United States. It also happens to be the only protected primate habitat that the public can explore. The park is a truly unique experience. It’s one of the few ways you can see how monkeys behave in the natural habitat without having to travel to an exotic destination.

Monkey Jungle Miami

Wild Monkey Swimming Pool & Trail

Photo: Usawelcome.net

This exhibit gives guests the opportunity to see Java Macaques which are originally from Southeast Asia. These monkeys were the first primates introduced to the park and account for most of the wildlife there. The exhibit creates an environment that is very similar to the native habitat of the Java Macaques.

Cameroon Gorilla Forest

Photo: Monkeyjungle.com

Amazonian Rainforest

Photo: Cntraveler.com

This exhibit is North America’s only semi-natural tropical rainforest. The owners of Monkey Jungle spent years in the Amazon rainforest near Peru. They collected a huge range of plants from the region to ensure that the habitat that they created for the monkeys mimicked their natural habitat.

Squirrel Monkey – There are roughly 125 squirrel monkeys in Monkey Jungle Park. They are the second most common species in the park.

Black-Capped Capuchin – These monkeys can be easily spotted because of the black fur that they have on the top of their heads.

Red Howler Monkey – These animals have a distinctive red fur and are extremely territorial. They are the largest monkeys in the exhibit.

The Miami Zoo

12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177

Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Photo: Zoomiami.org

Located just a short drive from the heart of Miami, the Miami Zoo is an amazing place to take your family for a day of learning and fun. The zoo covers 750 acres and 4 miles of walkways. The Miami Zoo is home to 400 different species of animals.

You can see everything from jaguars, to koalas, to crocodiles. There is also a new indoor interactive exhibit called the Conversation Action Center.

The Miami Zoo gives you the opportunity to explore vibrant wildlife from around the world. It’s the perfect day trip for the family when you are looking to get outside, have an adventure, and teach your kids about wildlife.

The Miami Zoo also hosts tons of events throughout the year. Be sure to check the events page on their website to make sure that you are always up to date on the next unique event. One of our favorites is the Zoo Lights Miami. This event is such a fun way to celebrate the holidays in Miami with a unique Christmas lights display throughout the Zoo. Enjoy the holidays and amazing wildlife all in one place.

The Zoo also offer several summer camp programs for kids. These camps are a great way to give you kids something fun and educational to do during the summer. If you want your kids to develop a passion for wildlife, signing them up for summer camp at the zoo is the perfect place to start.

Final Thoughts

There are several amazing animal attractions in Miami. Whether you take a trip to Parrot Jungle in Miami Florida, Monkey Jungle Miami, or the Miami Zoo, you are sure to have an amazing experience. Each of these three parks offers fun for the entire family.

These animal attractions are perfect for enjoying a day with friends, a date with your partner, or a treat for your kids. Make your plans and have a day that will create memories for you and the people you love the most.