Our $75 million Campaign
Will become the blueprint for the next generation of Zoos.
Already recognized as a conservation leader, Palm Beach Zoo is creating innovative habitats with a team of globally recognized architects, engineers and ecosystem specialists to build the zoo of the future in West Palm Beach.
100% of new animal habitats include immersive, outdoor classrooms
75% of the Zoo’s campus will be restored to native Florida habitat
50% of the Zoo will be completely reimagined to enhance animal wellbeing and guest experience
25% projected increase in visitor growth, which fuels wildlife conservation initiatives
Taking the steps to empower great strides.
Restored waterways with vistas of impressive animals can be explored via kayak or boat
Awe into Action
Innovations in how visitors experience animals, where barriers seemingly disappear, will create indelible memories and powerful connections to nature.
Feeding a giraffe, crossing paths with a jaguar or sharing the shade of a tree with lemurs will inspire awe in guests. These memorable and meaningful encounters ignite a passion for animals and move every visitor, from families to students to tourists, to take actions to save wildlife.
Giraffe Feeding Platform
This futuristic expansion will attract visitors from around the globe and provide unrivaled experiences for our local community, generating resources to power our conservation efforts.
With half-a-million visitors annually and millions of people over time we will create a powerful force for nature by increasing funding for the Zoo’s wildlife conservation programs and sparking the inspiration in each visitor of their role in saving wildlife in wild places.
Turn compassion into action.
Lemur Play Area
Sloth Experience
A Map of Palm Beach Zoo Reimagined
Everglades
• Outdoor Classroom
• Kayaks
• Pontoon Boat
• Lily Pad Play
Riverine
• Outdoor Classroom
• Warthogs
• Porcupines
• Hornbills
• Cypress Everglades
Wetlands Village
• Lemurs Outdoor
Classroom and Habitat
• Giant Tortoise Outdoor
Classroom and Habitat
• Kayak Beach
• Lemur Play Children’s Area
African Savanna
• Giraffe Feeding
• Cheetahs
• Jeep Tours
• Outdoor Classrooms
• River Crossing
Jaguar Maya Trails
• Jaguar Outdoor
• Jaguar Above-head Trails
• Additional jaguar habitat
• Caracol Classroom
Encounter
Lasting Impression
• Wildlife Conservation
Heroes Wall
• Guest amenities
• Market Place
Take pride in all you can do, when you invest in Palm Beach Zoo
The Zoo is the Classroom, Nature is the Teacher
Animal Classrooms
Our new animal habitats include outdoor classrooms designed to provide transformative experiences. When our animals join us ‘in class’ they create lasting impressions and important connections with nature.
A Living Laboratory
The four-acre Everglades restoration STEM classroom will be accessed at the water’s edge, by kayak and electric boats. Students will learn the science, technology, engineering and math required for habitat restoration using the Zoo’s regenerative wetlands as a living lab. They will observe and monitor the direct effect of restoration on the Zoo’s on-site conservation programs related to birds, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians and bats as well as wetlands vegetation.
1 million gallons of water will be filtered by native plants
4 acres of restored wetlands will provide habitat for countless native species
160,000 students, with a focus on Title I schools, will participate annually
Our Proud to Protect campaign builds powerful learning opportunities found nowhere else in the world and challenges students of all ages to find real-world STEM applications for wildlife conservation solutions.
The Highest Standards of Care
The Proud to Protect campaign will elevate animal care beyond what most zoos achieve. We designed complex and expansive habitats tailored for each species’ wellbeing, both physically and cognitively.
Monitoring our animal’s fitness and use of space, comparing to data from the wild, will provide superlative the wellbeing.
Using state of the art diagnostics we will measure progress in cardiology, strength, and fitness.
Behavioral training will result in animals voluntarily participating in their care including blood draws, ultrasounds and other veterinary care protocols.
Each individual animal is provided best-in-class care overseen by our veterinary team providing 24/7 care by veterinary staff and contracted specialists.
When you care to raise the standards, you raise the standards of care
The animals in our Zoo are part of a larger population throughout the world, living in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the gold standard of the zoo world. Many are several generations of zoo-born animals, such as our tigers or rescued animals like our black bears. We work closely with the Species Survival Programs (SSPs) to preserve important genetics to ensure healthy population both in zoos and the wild.
Margo McKnight President and CEO