Miami’s Wildlife Sanctuary is home to some of the world’s most fascinating creatures.
From gentle sea mammals to exotic birds and playful primates, this sanctuary offers visitors a chance to connect with wildlife from across the globe. Each animal has a unique story and plays an important role in our ecosystem.
1. Manatee
Gentle giants of Florida’s waterways, manatees find refuge at Miami’s Wildlife Sanctuary. These endangered mammals, weighing up to 1,200 pounds, feed on seagrass and help maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems.
The sanctuary’s rehabilitation program has successfully treated injured manatees from boat collisions, eventually returning them to the wild when possible.
2. Pygmy Goat
Smaller than your average dog, pygmy goats bounce around their enclosure with infectious joy. Visitors can’t help but smile at their playful antics and curious nature.
Originally from West Africa, these pint-sized goats serve as animal ambassadors at the sanctuary, helping educate children about farm animals and their care.
3. American Alligator
Kings of the Everglades, American alligators showcase Florida’s wild heritage at the sanctuary. These armored reptiles have survived since prehistoric times, outlasting even dinosaurs!
The sanctuary houses rescued alligators that couldn’t survive in the wild, giving visitors a safe glimpse at these powerful predators while educating about wetland conservation.
4. Sloth
Moving at their own peaceful pace, sloths captivate sanctuary visitors with their perpetual smiles and laid-back attitude. These remarkable mammals spend most of their lives hanging upside-down in trees.
The sanctuary’s two-toed sloths enjoy a specialized habitat mimicking their rainforest home, complete with tropical plants and carefully monitored humidity levels.
5. Bald Eagle
America’s national symbol soars again thanks to rehabilitation efforts at Miami’s sanctuary. These majestic birds arrive with injuries from collisions or lead poisoning, receiving expert veterinary care.
Non-releasable eagles become permanent residents, serving as living lessons in conservation success. Their comeback from near-extinction represents one of America’s greatest wildlife recovery stories.
6. Kangaroo
G’day from Down Under! The sanctuary’s eastern grey kangaroos hop into visitors’ hearts with their powerful legs and adorable joeys. These Australian marsupials thrive in the sanctuary’s spacious grassland habitat.
Born tiny and underdeveloped, joeys grow safely in their mothers’ pouches for months before venturing out, giving visitors a unique glimpse into marsupial family life.
7. Fennec Fox
Those enormous ears aren’t just for show! Fennec foxes use their distinctive feature to radiate body heat in their native Sahara Desert. At night, these pint-sized predators come alive, showcasing their natural behaviors.
The sanctuary’s fennec fox habitat recreates desert conditions, allowing these adaptable creatures to dig elaborate burrow systems just as they would in the wild.
8. Tortoise
Ancient wanderers with homes on their backs, Galapagos tortoises at the sanctuary can live over 100 years! These gentle giants munch on vegetation while visitors marvel at their prehistoric appearance.
The sanctuary participates in breeding programs helping preserve these endangered reptiles. Each tortoise’s shell pattern is unique, like a fingerprint, allowing keepers to identify individuals easily.
9. Macaw
Bursting with tropical colors, scarlet macaws bring the rainforest to life at the sanctuary. Their intelligence shines through enrichment activities where they solve puzzles and manipulate toys with their dexterous feet and beaks.
Many sanctuary macaws were rescued from improper pet situations. Their loud calls, heard throughout the sanctuary, remind visitors why these wild birds make challenging pets despite their beauty.
10. Giraffe
Reaching for the sky, the sanctuary’s reticulated giraffes stand as tall ambassadors for African wildlife conservation. Their unique pattern of polygonal spots acts like human fingerprints – no two giraffes share identical patterns!
Visitors experience unforgettable moments during feeding sessions, where these gentle giants use their 21-inch tongues to pluck leafy treats from outstretched hands.
11. Leopard
Masters of stealth and power, the sanctuary’s Amur leopards represent one of Earth’s most endangered big cats. With fewer than 100 remaining in the wild, each individual matters tremendously for conservation.
Spotted coats provide perfect camouflage, making sanctuary leopards challenging to spot even in their enclosures. Their mesmerizing golden eyes track visitors, reminding us of nature’s wild beauty.
12. Zebra
No two stripe patterns are alike among the sanctuary’s Grevy’s zebras! These endangered equids from East Africa showcase evolution’s artistic side with their distinctive black-and-white markings.
Zebra stripes serve as natural insect repellent and help regulate body temperature. The sanctuary’s conservation breeding program works to ensure these magnificent animals don’t disappear from our planet forever.
13. Lemur
Ring-tailed lemurs bring Madagascar’s magic to Miami with their striking black-and-white tails and amber eyes. These highly social primates live in female-dominated groups called troops, leaping between branches with incredible agility.
Endangered in their native habitat due to deforestation, the sanctuary’s lemurs help raise awareness about their wild cousins’ plight. Their morning sun-bathing ritual delights early visitors.