Jungle Island a Long-Time Miami Visitor Favorite

Originally known as Parrot Jungle, Miami's Jungle Island had its start in 1936. Founded by Austrian immigrant Franz Sherr, the attraction started with just a handful of macaws and a 20-acre location just south of Miami. Early visitors paid 25 cents each to visit the site, which Sherr rented for $25 a year, and were treated to a personal tour by the owner, who educated visitors about the birds and the flora of the Miami area.

The Jungle Island of today is now home to about 1,100 tropical birds and approximately 2,000 species of plants, flowers, and trees. In 2003, the attraction made a move from its original location south of the city to a spot on Miami's man-made Watson Island, accessible via the Rickenbacker Causeway. The site is larger and accommodates more visitors but critics say it is not as natural a setting as the original acreage among the hammocks and coral rock.

Admission to Jungle Island allows visitors to enjoy a number of shows, exhibits, and other activities. The Winged Wonder show is one of the most popular with visitors and features the creatures that gave Jungle Island its start. The presentation includes a large variety of birds, from friendly parrots, macaws, and bicycle-riding cockatoos, to menacing-looking creatures such as hawks and vultures.

Gator X-treme showcases Jungle Island's crocodilian creatures. This aquatic adventure pits man against alligator is a show that usually has visitors clutching their seats in anticipation. Lastly, the long-running Tale of the Tiger showcases the attraction's mammalian residents, including tigers, panthers, leopards, cougars, and ligers. Jungle Island's primates also join the show.

At the center of the attractions jungle population is a 20 foot-long, 2,000 pound crocosaurus known as Hank. This animal is the largest crocodilian in the world and was brought to Jungle Island from a farm in Thailand.

In addition to birds, mammals, primates, and reptiles, visitors can also find a number of fish ponds located throughout Jungle Island, usually showcasing koi and other similar varieties of fish. Staff also allow visitors to view (and sometimes participate in) the feeding of the animals and birds.

Jungle Island's trees, plants, and flowers are also fascinating to view. Many are native to the area while others have been imported from different parts of the world. Most are marked with small placards that help guests identify them and some park staff members are well-versed in horticulture and botany.

When visitors are through with shows and exhibits, they can visit Jungle Island's large Hippo Slide, which operates both wet and dry, depending on the season and the temperature. The 168-foot beachfront slide accommodates visitors of all ages.

General admission tickets are good for all attractions. About four hours should be allotted for a visit in order to view all the shows and exhibits. Annual passports are available as well.