Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens first came into being in 1919 when botanist Doctor Henry Nehrling bought a plot of land just north of the town to create his Tropical Garden. Dr Nehrling was one of the early conservationists and was passionate about “protecting and preserving” plants and wildlife. His Tropical Gardens had many visitors, including Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Edison, who marvelled at his stunning collection of rare and beautiful flora.
Julius Fleischmann and Restoration
Dr Nehrling died in 1929 and his gardens soon became a wilderness until they were rediscovered in the early 1950’s by Julius Fleischmann, an entrepreneur from Ohio. Fleischmann was determined to re open the gardens to the public and, after much work clearing vegetation, building lakes and tending to the plants, he did so in 1954, under the name of The Caribbean Gardens.
Wild Animals and Endangered Species
The gardens were taken over by the Tetzlaff family in the late 1960’s following the death of Fleischmann and it was them who first introduced animals to the gardens, exhibiting them to the public for the first time on 1st September 1969. Since then the zoo has played an important part in many breeding and conservation programmes and in 2001 they achieved national accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, recognising their high standards and important work.
Naples Zoo Exhibits and Shows
Naples Zoo features animals from all over the world and presents them to you in an interactive and natural setting. Throughout the day there are many opportunities to meet the animals, with shows such as Planet Predator, Snakes; Fangs & Fiction and Alligator Bay. Some exhibits, such as the lions and the tigers, offer “Meet the Keeper” experiences, where the animals keepers will talk you through how the animals are cared for, their particular needs and how the zoo is contributing to the conservation of the species outside of the zoo. The keepers will also answer any questions you might have, providing an informal chance to find out things you always wanted to know about these fascinating and often dangerous creatures from the people who know them best.
Walking and Cruising
The zoo features a mile of walkways which take you past the various enclosures and exhibits through some of the original Tropical Gardens plants. There is also a cruise around the islands which house the primates, making use of water as a natural barrier between the different species. From the boat you can watch the apes, monkeys and lemurs as they climb trees and play or, if your timing is good, whilst they are fed.
Finding Naples Zoo
Naples Zoo is located on Goodlette-Frank Road, opposite the Coastland Centre Mall and Naples itself is easily reached off Interstate 75. The zoo opens at 9am and the staff recommend that you arrive early to give yourself plenty of time to explore all that they have to offer. On site there is a café and a shop offering snacks, drinks and lunches but picnics are also allowed (subject to some restrictions).
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