Established in 1940, Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a jungle habitat that provides a home for hundreds of native Florida birds and animals as well as other creatures from around the world. Located just south of Sarasota proper, below the town of Osprey, Sarasota Jungle Gardens is set on 10 lush acres that was once home to a swampy banana grove. The land was purchased in the early 1930s by newspaperman David Breed Lindsay, who dreamed of turning it into a botanical garden for his own enjoyment. Lindsay and his neighbor/partner, Pearson Conrad, planted thousands of trees, plants, and flowers from around the world and, in 1936, began to charge people for visiting the garden. The official opening of Sarasota Jungle Gardens occurred four years later, even though Lindsay had never meant the area to become a tourist attraction.
Many of the birds that fly around this Sarasota attraction are exotic birds that were abandoned by their owners or given to the gardens when the owner could no longer care for them. Many of the animals were sick or injured when arriving at the gardens and were rehabilitated at the expense of the gardens' owner, which has changed several times since 1940. While the Sarasota Jungle Gardens cannot accept all animals offered to them, one of their goals is to educate owners and potential owners of exotic pets as to their care.
Visitors to the gardens are free to roam the attraction on their own or may take advantage of the many pet shows offered several times each day. A fascinating "Birds of Prey'' exhibition profiles the predator birds that have been rescued by the facility. Audience members not only get to watch the birds in flight but are also educated by garden staff as to facts and fiction about these ominous birds. Another bird show, "Birds of the Rainforest'', focuses on Sarasota Jungle Gardens' exotic birds, like macaws, parrots, toucans, and other similar creatures.
Additional daily shows profile Florida's reptilian residents, like alligators and crocodiles, and the other critters that live in the gardens, including snakes and small mammals. Animal keepers are on hand at the shows and throughout the park to answer visitors' questions.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens loves children and endeavors to educate them on the proper care of animals through their unique kids' programs. The attraction offers Summer Zoo Camp for children age 5 through 12 and also sponsors a Junior Zookeeper's Club for youngsters age 3 through 10. Club membership gives children and their parents access to year-long fun and educational activities at the jungle gardens and includes an annual pass to the attraction.
The onsite Flamingo Caf, offers a variety of food for hungry park goers or visitors may take advantage of picnic pavilions where they can enjoy their own food. The Flamingo Gift Shop sells everything from traditional Florida pink flamingo statues to souvenir apparel.
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