Jungle Island
March 11th, 2008 | by Michelle Clay, Staff Writer | Published in Attractions, Directory
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This fascinating park was originally called “Parrot Jungle” when it opened in 1936. The creator, Franz Scherr. was a carpenter who came from Austria in 1911 & moved around the United States until the 1920’s when he moved his family to Homestead, Florida. He branched out after the depression & bought a feed & supply store. This is the inspiration for a place for the birds to “fly free”. Today, 1,100 tropical birds & 2,000 varieties of plants and flowers are showcased on the island.
Nowadays, this park is known as “Jungle Island” because it displays a wide variety of different Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, Primates, Fish as well as plants.
There are three main shows you won’t want to miss on your visit:
1. “Winged Wonders” Come & see fun & perilous birds alike from all over the world as they sing, talk, ride high-wire bicycles & entertain you! They claim to be the “Best trained bird show in the world.”
2. “Tale of the Tiger” Enjoy your encounter with a number of the scarcest species of big cats. The revolving performers include Tigers, Black Panthers, Lynx, Spotted Leopards, Cougars, & Ligers. Some tag-a-longs like Orangutans, Chimpanzees, Lemurs, Gibbons join the show as well. You can also have your picture taken with one or two of the baby animals after the show!
3. “Reptiles of the Jungle” Join in on the fun & be the brave one who holds the baby alligator or an enormous snake! Snapping turtles & rattlesnakes are just a few of the other scaled friends you will find at this show!
As you journey through the paths, remember to stop by & experience the variety of exhibits: Crocodile Care, Creepy Crawly, Everglades Habitat & Walk, Feed the birds around the park, Flamingo Feeding, Tiger Habitat, Lorikeet Aviary, Manu Encounter (Squirrel Monkeys, Free-Flying Macaws & Parrots + more), Penguin Exhibit, Plant Nursery, Primate Exhibit & Presentation (Orangutans & monkeys), Tortoise Exhibit & Hippo Slide (3 story beach front slide)!
As of August 28, 2008, Jungle Island will be changing it’s admission prices. The prices are as follows:
$29.95 for adults 11+
$27.95 for senior citizens
$25.95 for children 3-10
| location | Jungle Island is located in the heart of Miami, off of I-395 between Downtown Miami & South Beach. |
| address | 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail Miami, Florida 33132 |
| parking | Parking Garage is $7 per vehicle. |
| hours | 365 days a year 10 a.m. - 6 p.m |
| website | http://www.jungleisland.com |
