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Lions and tigers and bears, oh my - Naples Zoo is a wonderful Florida attraction

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This summer, Naples Zoo in southwest Florida welcomes one of the rarest creatures of the natural world, white tigers. For a limited time, Memorial Day through Labor Day, these four-year-old white tigers will be in the lush Tiger Forest exhibit near the new Black Bear Hammock exhibit. These striking cats will be seen stalking past giant bamboo or splashing in the naturalistic rockwork pool. In concert with the new bear exhibit and just arrived young purebred South African lions, white tigers will be a wild part of the summer fun in Southwest Florida. Visit www.napleszoo.org.

Black Bear Hammock
Many Southwest Floridians and visitors have been surprised to learn they share the region with black bears. To educate Zoo guests about living with the state’s wild bears, Naples Zoo created Black Bear Hammock featuring two distinct habitats: a natural habitat and a backyard habitat. Visitors will both have the opportunity to learn basic safety tips if a bear is encountered in the wild as well as how to avoid attracting them to their yard. They will also gain a deeper appreciation of the bears’ crucial role in the local environment.

And rounding out the famous Wizard of Oz phrase are the two young purebred South African Lions which recently debuted.
 

Black Bear Hammock is the largest Black bear exhibit at any AZA accredited zoo east of the Mississippi.  At approximately 15,000 square feet, it is thirty times larger than the state's requirements and 50% larger than long range recommendations set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

In addition to innovative presentations like Serpents: Fangs & Fiction and Planet Predator, the Zoo offers a historic botanical garden and many rare animals. Guests board the Primate Expedition Cruise to glide by islands inhabited by monkeys, lemurs, and apes living in natural habitats. Admission includes all shows, botanical tour, and the boat ride ($19.95 adults age 13+/ $11.95 children 3 to 12, under 3 free. Twenty-five cents of each admission goes to the Naples Zoo Conservation Fund to support regional and international conservation projects.) Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age.

Visitors can also pick up a healthy lunch and snacks at the SUBWAY® Cafe and shop for wild gifts at tame prices in The ZOO Gift Shop. Pursuing its mission to delight guests with the wonders of the natural world to inspire the conservation of our planet’s remaining wild areas and their wondrous inhabitants, the Zoo welcomes guests daily from 9:00 to 5:00 with the last ticket sold at 4:00. Zoo memberships and discount tickets are available online at www.napleszoo.org.