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Children's Zoo

The Mercantil Commercebank Children's Zoo is a unique place for families because it is one of the few places in the Zoo where the visitor can get up close and personal with many small animals. You can meet strange and unusual animals like Stitch, the blue-tongue skink, or Petunia, the kinkajou who makes special visits to Diego's Discovery Den, and the more recognizable like Maggie, the blue and gold macaw. You can also shoot the perfect photo with your little one astride a camel at Humpy's Camel Rides or visit one of our wonderful areas, detailed below.

Camel Rides

NEW! Humpy’s Camel Rides are now open at The Mercantil Commercebank Children’s Zoo with $5 rides from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. High a top a graceful camel, riders experience the traditional form of transportation used by the desert people of Africa and Asia for thousands of years.
Meet Mango, Charlie and Fluffy, the three trained dromedary camels that you can hop on. Decide which boy is your favorite! They each have different personalities and range in ages from two to nine.

The Diego Show

The star of Nick Jr.’s Go, Diego, Go!, one of the top pre-school shows on commercial television, is featured in performances at The Mercantil Commercebank Children's Zoo’s Diego’s Discovery Den. You can now catch him everyday at 1:00 PM with an extra show at 2:30 PM on weekends. Diego’s 20-minute shows feature a vibrant host, various animals with handlers and of course, a lively and life-sized costumed character Diego!

Playground

The playground is in the center of all the action. The playground is located in front of the main Splash Pad and next to Oasis Grill. This is a fun place to take your kids if you need a small break.

Splash Pad

This splash pad is the largest of 3 splash pads. It is located across from Oasis grill and next to the Playground. The splash pad is a safe and fun place for your children to play and cool off.

Oasis Grill

Oasis Grill is the biggest restaurant in the zoo. It is located across from the main Splash Pad and right across from the Playground. It provides all the food for the catering affairs that take place at the zoo. From the grill, you will have an excellent view of the lake where paddle boats can be seen which are available for use only on the weekends.

Carousel

Youngsters and adults alike will have a great time riding our beautiful hand-carved Carousel modeled after our Zoo's signature animals.

Open from: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Information From: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/events.asp?Id=111&parentId=54&rootId=3

Wings of Asia Aviary Terrace Room

The Wings of Asia Aviary exudes tranquility and provides your guests with a breathtaking view of our rare and exotic Asian birds. Guests have access to the aviary from the Terrace Room's balcony where they will be able to appreciate the wonder and beauty of these incredible birds.

** INCLUDES TABLES AND CHAIRS**

Available Hours: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Capacity: 45 (minimum of 20 required)
Location: Inside Wings of Asia Building
Price - T/E: $50.00 per hour(minimum of 3 hrs)
Price - Tax: $53.50 per hour(minimum of 3 hrs)

Information From: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/events.asp?Id=111&parentId=54&rootId=3

Hornbill Haven

Wide open spaces can trigger anyone's imagination to run wild. The Zoo has three different locations that will provide enough land to give wings to your creativity. Metrozoo's open fields will provide the canvas to nearly any type of event, so get those creative juices flowing.

Avainlable Hours: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Capacity: 500 (minimum of 50 required)
Location: Wings of Asia
Price T/E: $150.00
Price Tax: $160.50

information From: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/events.asp?Id=111&parentId=54&rootId=3

Monkey Meadow

Wide open spaces can trigger anyone's imagination to run wild. The Zoo has three different locations that will provide enough land to give wings to your creativity. Metrozoo's open fields will provide the canvas to nearly any type of event, so get those creative juices flowing.

Available Hours: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Capacity: 6,000 (minimum of 50 required)
Price T/E: $150.00
Price-Tax: $160.50

Location: Behind Amphitheatre

Information From: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/events.asp?Id=111&parentId=54&rootId=3

Grasslands

Wide open spaces can trigger anyone's imagination to run wild. The Zoo has three different locations that will provide enough land to give wings to your creativity. Metrozoo's open fields will provide the canvas to nearly any type of event, so get those creative juices flowing.

Available Hours: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Capacity: 4,000 (minimum of 100 required)
Price - T/E: $150.00
Price - TaX: $160.50
Location: Next to Gazelle Grove

information From: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/events.asp?Id=111&parentId=54&rootId=3

Dr. Wilde's World Side Plaza

Guests will be a few feet away from several life-like animal sculptures partially submerged in a cushioned material simulating water. Transport guests to a serene environment where they can relax and observe the Flamingo, Gibbon, Siamang, and Tiger exhibits and enjoy overlooking Flamingo Lake.

Available Hours: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Capacity:100 (minimum of20 required)

Location: Across Tiger Exhibit

Price T/E: $150.00

Price-Tax: $160.50

Information From: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/events.asp?Id=111&parentId=54&rootId=3

Gazelle Grove

Have your picnic in a different type of "park" that is home to some of the most amazing creatures in the animal kingdom. Your guests will be impressed when stepping out of their picnic to find themselves in a playground like no other!Includes: 4 shelters seating 400 people, volleyball sand court, tetherball, restrooms located onsite.

Available hours: 9:30 A.M-4:00 P.M

Capacity: 1,500 (minimum of100 required)

Location: East of Main Entrance

Price T/E: $400.00

Price-Tax: $428.00

Information From: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/events.asp?Id=111&parentId=54&rootId=3

Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station

The Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station, open everyday from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, gives visitors the opportunity to walk up a custom built ramp that leads to an elevated platform overlooking the African Plains exhibit. For the first time at the Zoo, visitors can view a giraffe's 14-inch long tongue as it extends out to gently take food out of their hands while getting a close look at what many consider the most beautiful eyelashes in nature. For $2.00, guests can feed our giraffes delicious veggie treats like romaine or iceberg lettuce, kale or collard greens.

Giant Tortoise

The Galapagos tortoise isn't only one of the oldest living creatures it is also the largest living tortoise. Goliath is the largest tortoise here at the zoo and weighs over 500 pounds. He is also over 100 years old. Reptiles are the dominant type of land animals on the Galapagos Islands. Many of the reptile species found on Galapagos are endermic; they are found nowhere else in the world. The giant Galapagos tortoise is characterized by a huge upper shell (the caraapce), long neck and massive limbs.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Flamingo

Bright and colorful, flamingos are among the most sociable of all birds. Their pink color is a result of the food they eat. Flamingos are filter feeders putting their bills into the water to sift out the tiny plants and animals they eat. Flamingos are well adapted for wading, the long legs keep their feathers from getting wet and their webbed feet keep them from sinking into the soft soil or mud. Although seen in a group there really is no leader and they seem to do everything as a group even courtship displays. When it is time to build a nest for the anticipated egg, the flamingos mud and sticks together and build miniature volcano looking nest, just out of reach of the flamingo next door. Flamingo babies are white with downy feathers when they hatch.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Red Kangaroo

In this exhibit you will see a small "mob" of kangaroos. Mobs are what Australians call a group of kangaroos. In the wild, they may travel in mobs of up to 100 individuals. Red kangaroos are also known as the great kangaroos. They are one of the largest group of marupials. Marsupials are pouched mammals. Red kangaroos may stand about 5 feet tall and weigh 55-200 pounds. Their tail is 3 feet long and very strong. The kangaroos back legs do not move independently meaning they don't walk, they must either jump or walk. Using these powerful back legs kangaroos bound over feet in one jump. They can also reach 30 miles per hour for short periods. While moving at faster speeds the heavy tail moves like a pendulum swinging up and down providing momentum and the kangaroo actually becomes more energy efficient this way.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

White Handed Gibbons

The white handed gibbon has long, muscular arms that exceed the length of his body. This acrobatic ape is a lesser ape. Lesser apes are like their relatives the great apes but are smaller in size; they have a more slender form and longer canine teeth. In addition when they swing from branch to branch, a form of locomotion called brachiating, they use their finger tips as hooks. The hands have long fingers and the small thumb is set close to the wrist, keeping it out of the way as the gibbon swings. This gibbon spends most of the day looking for fruit, leaves and insects. Time is usually spent on mutual grooming each day. The gibbons perform a daily duet usually around dusk or dawn. It is a call of long hootsto each other and to neighboring groups.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Orangutans

Orangutans are orange apes. Orangutans means "Persons of the forest" in the Malay language. This great ape is more than visually different from chimps and gorillas. The orangutan is usuually solitary, not living in groups with other of its species. The orangutan is also the largest arboreal mammal spending most of its time in the trees of tropical forest. Its arms span is about 7 feet and its hands almost reach the ground when walking. The orangutan will take leafy branches and use them as shelter and during the rain storms the plants may serve as umbrellas. Orangutans will use their hands to strip plants to get to the juicy parts inside and will take a leaf, dip it into the water and let the water drip into its mouth. Each night an orangutan makes a new nest among the treetops by bending branches to make a platform where it sleeps.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Asian Small-Clawed River Otter

The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of all the otters. It is under 10 pounds in weight and 2-3 feet in length. An excellent swimmer and diver this otter can stay underwater for over 5 minutes. Surprisingly are not a mainstay in its diet, as it prefers crabs and other shellfish. An otter's fur can is cleaned and well groomed. There is another of shorter underneath that traps air and keeps the skin dry. Social groups usually number less than a dozen members and they stay together through noise and scents.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Meerkats

A Meerkat is a small sociable animal that lives in colonies. It is active during the day and shares in the work of the colony. Some Meerkats go hunting for prey and others tend to burrows or warm in the sun but there is always someone on guard duty. Sentries will take a high spot and watch the skies for potential danger from predators. If danger is spotted warnings are sounded through barks or cries of alarm. In captivity, Meerkats have mistaken planes and helicopters for predators.

Information from:http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Siamangs

Siamang's are also lesser apes. Their arms are twice the length of their body and they are the largest gibbons. Like the white-handed gibbon this species can walk upright among the branches with its arms stretched out for balance. The gibbon can leap 30 feet to another branch quickly. The siamangs are a close family usually staying with 30 feet of each other at all times are rarely more than 100 feet apart. Underneath the chin is an inflatable throat skin that the siamangs use to increase or amplify the volume and distance of their duets. Each siamangs has a distinct voice and while they are performing they also do acrobatic moves through the trees. This special duet can be heard every day mid-morning at the Zoo, and you don't have to be next to the exhibit to hear it, the sound travels for more than a mile.

Information from:http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Gorillas

The lowland gorilla is the largest member of the great apes. A mature male may weigh over 500 pounds. Females are usually lighter weighing about 200 pounds. Gorillas live in groups led by mature male, a silverback. He determines when they move, when they eat, where they eat, and where they rest. The family group spends the day together foraging for leaves, shoots, and stems. Gorillas are docile creaturesand use a variety of facial expressions, body gestures and sounds to reinforce the bonds within a group. Be sure to check out the gorilla cave viewing window to get a close-up look at these gentle creatures.

Information from:http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Warthogs

The warthog is one of the fiercest looking mammals with its tusk and warts over its face. It is a peaceful animal though, preferring to run instead of fight. It can run 30 miles per hour and holds its turfed tail straight up in the air as it does. The tusks are canine teeth that grow out and upward. These are used primarily for digging and rooting. When warthogs fight another warthog it is face-to-face trying to knock the other off balance. They are generally active in the daytime and like to wallow in mud but prefer to clean water to lie in when available.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Children's Zoo

The Childrens Zoo is one of the main attraction for todlers and young kids at the Metro Zoo. In the Childrens Zoo you can enjoy a bumpy ride on one of the three camels, or enjoy a smoother ride on the carousel which is theme based with a variety of animals from around the world. There is a larger playground outside of the Childrens Zoo but there is a small playground inside the Childrens Zoo where the kids can run around and have fun. You can also go and pet some of the animals in the petting zoo. One of the other exciting things to see at in Chhildrens Zoo is the Meerkat exhibit.

Asian River Life

Wings of Asia

Asian Elephant

Elephants can live about 60 years longer than other all other non-human mammals. The Asian elephants seen here include Dahlip a mali who was originally in Crandon Zoo and was born in 1966. The female Nellie who is 3 years younger than Dahlip and weighs in around 9,300 pounds. Asian elephants in general are a little smaller and weigh less than the African elephants. Elephants eat huge amounts of food but only digest about 40% of what they eat. They eat a variety of plant species and may spend more than half the day foraging for food. What don't digest comes out as dung balls. Elephants are very sociable animals and live in matriarch herds led by the oldest and most experienced female. Unfortunately human encroachment and the killings of elephants for their ivory has led to the elephants endangered species status.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Giraffe

As everyone knows the Giraffe is the tallest living animal standing over 18 feet tall when full grown. Its legs alone may be 6 feet tall. When a baby giraffe is born it averages 6 feet tall and 150 pounds. A baby grows up fast adding around 4 feet in the first year and by the time it is 5 years old it's almost a full-grown giraffe. Reticulated giraffes all have large brown spots with white borders but no two giraffes have the exact same pattern. With their height and good eyesight giraffes keep a look out for danger. Adult giraffes can run fairly fast, about 35 miles per hour, but usually meander 10 miles per hour. Like other animals giraffes do sleep but they usually sleep standing up and only for a few minutes at a time. When feeding among the treetops , giraffes use their very long, black tongue to grasp leaves; the tongue can be 18 inches long and gives the giraffes that extra little bitit needs to get the choicest leaves. Each giraffe needs to eat hundreds of leaves a week.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm

Tiger

Tigers are the largest members of the cat family and easily recognized by their orange coat with vertical stripes. Each tiger has a distinctive stripping pattern. The tigers here at Miami Metro Zoo are Bengal Tigers. There are 3 females usually on exhibit, 2 oranges cats and a white one. The orange tigers are sisters and the white tiger has been their adopted sister since they were 6 months old. The white tiger is not albino; the white coat is a variation of the orange coat. When tigers meet they rub heads or make a poofing [make the sound] sound as a greeting. A tiger may rest 20 hours a day under a tree in the shade or even take a dip in some water. Tigers are also excellent swimmers. The temple buuilding in this exhibit was designed based on the 5 ruins in India. In their natural habitat in Asia tigers have been known to take over abandoned temples.

Information from: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/map2.htm