Central Florida Zoo

The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, located in Sanford, Florida, about 25 miles north of Orlando, has a wide variety of fascinating animals and plants.

Among the zoo's mammals are elephants, leopards, monkeys, lemurs and porcupines.

Birds that you can see at the Central Florida Zoo include magpies, eagles, vultures and kookaburras.

At the herpetarium, crocodiles, gila monsters, iguanas and rattlesnakes can be found among the reptiles, and frogs, toads and salamanders among the amphibians.

Guests can see insects, spiders and scorpions at the Massey Insect Zoo.

Herbs and flowers attract beautiful butterflies in the Butterfly Sensory Garden.

The Central Florida Zoo has a children's zoo where children can pet sheep, goats and llamas.

On weekends, visitors can meet an Asian elephant up close.

An aerial adventure park provides guests with the opportunity to travel from tree to tree along ropes and zip lines, seeing the forest from the viewpoint of an animal that lives in the trees.

There is a water playground, where children splash and cool off from the Florida heat.

The Central Florida Zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and helps to implement Species Survival Plans (SSPs).

An SSP manages the breeding of species so that its population can be maintained in captivity and performs research and educational activities.

Most SSP species are either threatened or endangered.