Zoological Wildlife Foundation in Miami, Florida is a zoo committed to educating the public about rare and endangered animal species. Zoological Wildlife Foundation was founded by Mario and Maria Tabraue, a husband and wife team, in 2001 on their 5-acre home in Redland, just southwest of Miami-Dade.

  • What is the Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF)?
    • The Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF) is a USDA and State licensed facility that is open to the public by appointment only. It houses a wide variety of exotic animals and offers guided educational tours.
  • What types of animals are at ZWF?
    • ZWF is home to alligators, leopards, lemurs, camels, lynx, jaguars, tigers, ligers, lions, cougars, cockatoos, foxes, gibbons, vultures, macaws, mandrills, owls, servals, Bengal tigers, snow leopards, white lions, capuchins, and many more species.
  • What is the goal of ZWF?
    • The goal of ZWF is to educate visitors about the dangers these animals face in the wild and the efforts being made to help them through conservation and captive breeding programs.
  • How many animals live at ZWF?
    • ZWF is home to nearly 200 animals and partners with organizations such as Make-A-Wish, St. Jude Research Hospital, and the Zoological Association of America.
  • Are self-guided tours allowed at ZWF?
    • No, self-guided tours are not allowed. All visits must be part of a scheduled guided tour.
  • When can tours be scheduled?
    • Tours can be scheduled 7 days a week between 9 AM and 6 PM. Pricing information is available on the ZWF website.
  • What is the General Wildlife Experience Tour?
    • The General Wildlife Experience Tour is a one-hour guided tour with hands-on interaction with various animals such as monkeys, birds, and reptiles. It is the most popular tour, especially for families with young children.
  • What is the Photo Sessions experience?
    • The Photo Sessions experience is an add-on to a tour, allowing guests to take professional photos with baby animals such as chimpanzees, lions, ligers, and sloths. Each session lasts 2 minutes.
  • What are Animal Encounters?
    • Encounters allow guests to have 5 minutes of playtime with a lion, liger, or chimpanzee (ages 3 and up) or a sloth or owl (ages 10 and up). For groups of 5 or more, a maximum of 10 minutes is allowed.
  • What is the Primate Experience?
    • The Primate Experience is a 1-hour tour that includes a guided tour of the adult and juvenile primate habitats, followed by 30 minutes of playtime with three types of baby primates.
  • What is included in the Special Wildlife Experience?
    • The Special Wildlife Experience is a 3-hour tour that includes the General Wildlife Tour, Primate Experience, Feline Experience, Owl Encounter, and a photo session with a sloth.
  • What do the tours include?
    • All tours are walking tours with stops to educate visitors about the animals and conservation efforts. Guests can interact with various animals and observe large felines such as ligers, leopards, tigers, and lions from as close as 6 feet away.
  • Can visitors feed animals at ZWF?
    • Yes, visitors have the opportunity to feed camels, lemurs, and toucans during their tours.
  • What educational programs does ZWF offer?
    • ZWF offers educational programs for schools, scout groups, youth groups, and homeschool groups. Programs should be booked at least two weeks in advance.
  • Can ZWF bring animals to schools or events?
    • Yes, ZWF offers live programs that can be brought to a classroom, assembly, or outdoor education site. Programs last 45-55 minutes and cover topics such as Habitats of the World, Reptile Myths, Endangerment, and more.
  • How does ZWF support conservation?
    • ZWF supports global conservation efforts and captive breeding programs for threatened and endangered species. Projects include saving white lions from canned hunting, the Zambian Carnivore Programme, International Rhino Foundation, Niassa Carnivore Project, and Cheetah Conservation Botswana.
  • What is the Adopt Your Favorite Animal Program?
    • The Adopt Your Favorite Animal Program allows supporters to sponsor an animal and contribute to its care at ZWF.

Zoological Wildlife Foundation, 16225 SW 172 AVE, Miami, FL 33187, Phone: 305-969-3696

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