Discover All the Fun Things in Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Naples, Florida

Naples Zoo is a charitable institution and nationally accredited zoo. Its operations are not subsidized by taxes. Because of that, it's your visits, memberships, and donations that fund the care of flora and fauna here in the gardens and around the world! Naples Zoo's mission is "to inspire people of all ages to respect, value, and,  help conserve wildlife and our natural world." Since 2014, Naples Zoo has invested over $2.5 million to save plants and animals in nature, fully funding the annual salaries of 16 field staff in 7 countries encompassing biologists, researchers, village games scouts, and two wildlife veterinarians. 

 

Visit Naples Zoo and explore our conservation education programs. Discover how to connect with wildlife through special Wild Encounters and Field Trip Experiences. Explore your world, learn more, and get closer to nature! Learn more about Naples

 

Visit the Naples Zoo and explore unique experiences! Get up close with original wildlife, enjoy interactive exhibits, and get hands-on educational experiences. Make sure to check out our events, conservation programs, and educational activities.

 

A zoo is a place that brings us closer to the living beings that we co-exist with on this earth – animals, birds, reptiles, insects, and so on. It tells us about the balance between the animal species and their habitats. It shows us that animal life is as important as human life.

 

The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a 43-acre zoo and historic botanical garden. The first plantings were done by botanist and ornithologist Dr. Henry Nherling in 1919. The gardens were neglected after Nehrling died in 1929. In the 1950s, Julius Fleischmann added new plantings, created lakes and a pathway, introduced parrots and waterfowl, and opened Caribbean Gardens in 1954. After his passing in 1968, the exotic animals were introduced in 1969 by Larry and Jane Tetzlaff, aka Jungle Larry and Safari Jane.

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 the tropical garden first planted in 1919.] Primates in the zoo are housed on islands in one of the lakes created by Fleischmann and can be viewed from guided catamarans when visitors take the Primate Expedition Cruise.

The zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is an institutional member of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK). The garden itself is accredited by The Moreton Register of Arboreta and is a member of the American Public Garden Association and the Association of Zoological Horticulture. It is also a designated historic site by Collier County.