Central Florida Zoo, Brevard Zoo in the running for top zoos in the nation

Two Central Florida attractions are contenders for USA Today’s list of the top zoos in the nation.

The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Brevard Zoo are competing against zoos in Colorado, Texas, California and beyond for recognition in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, an annual travel ranking of everything from “best cruise ship” to “best small town for adventure.” ZooTampa at Lowry Park is also in the top 20 nominees.

Voting is open through March 6 for the public to elevate their favorite zoo and push it to the top of the list. At the time of writing, Brevard Zoo, which ranked number four on the list last year, sat at number eight and Central Florida Zoo at number 12 on the leaderboard.

The national ranking, in which the 20 nominees are chosen by a panel of travel experts and industry professionals, takes into account “facilities that excel in the fields of animal care and enrichment while also facilitating meaningful interactions between animals and human visitors.”

Here’s what makes each of these Central Florida destinations unique and worthy of consideration.

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

In nominating this Orlando-area animal attraction, Orlando blogger and owner of ThemeParkHipster NikkyJ said, “This Florida hidden gem is a staple in the Sanford community.”

She pointed out the myriad tours, exhibits and classes available to visitors, who can spend time with 350 animals from more than 100 species during their visit.

The zoo fell on hard times when it was forced to close for a month in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Since then, Central Florida Zoo hosted its most well-attended Asian Lantern Festival during the holiday season and now welcomes back school groups and visitors daily.

“We’ve got a beautiful setting, and we’re a zoo that a lot of people might not realize is around. Once people come here, they might find themselves pleasantly surprised,” said Richard Glover, the zoo’s CEO. “We’re up against San Diego and the Philadelphia Zoo and Omaha — these are huge zoos with giant collections and huge resources. To be anywhere near that top 20 was an honor for us.”

Curious guests can view rare species such as foosas, which are endemic to Madagascar, and an array of big cats, including leopards, a cougar and cheetahs.

Special experiences include Seminole Aerial Adventures zipline courses, rhinoceros encounters and giraffe feedings. The property also serves as a certified botanical garden with butterflies and other pollinators fluttering about.

Glover said being a part of this ranking can help elevate the profile of this local hidden gem.

“People who travel a lot, they see these lists and think maybe they should stop while they’re in town,” he said. “We’re not necessarily able to compete with Disney and Universal on an advertising level. It’s a lot of word-of-mouth for us. With a contest like this, we’re getting in front of a lot of people who might not know we’re here.”

Brevard Zoo

Since its founding in 1994, the Brevard Zoo has always been an institution supported by the community and volunteers. Built on passion and dreams, the attraction shines brightly among Space Coast destinations.

The experts behind the 10Best nominations highlighted the zoo’s more than 900 animals and adventurous experiences, including kayaking through the African savanna habitat or ziplining across the jungles of South America.

“We think our zoo is amazing, but any chance we get to have our name out there on a national list is a great opportunity to get people to notice us and come to visit,” said Lauren Delgado, the zoo’s communications manager. “We want our animals to live the most natural life possible. We’ll make sure they have special enrichment and everything they need to thrive.”

Visitors can experience species from spider monkeys to giant otters and lions. Special draws include giraffe feeding, Treetop Trek Aerial Adventures, a kangaroo walkabout and the chance to feed lorikeets.

The Brevard Zoo takes pride in the fact that animals have the ability to roam between enclosures and plenty of ways to stay engaged and stimulated.

“You’ll never see the same animal doing the same thing twice. They have so much choice and variety,” Delgado said. “When animals are happy and living their best life, everyone has a good time.”

To view the nominees and vote, visit 10best.com/awards/travel/best-zoo.

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