(not an orangutan, just a cute squirrel monkey (and yes, I took this cool picture!))
Jungle Island (Formerly known as Parrot Jungle)
1111 Parrot Jungle Trail
Miami, FL 33132
Located between Downtown Miami and South Beach
Admission: $32.95 Adult (Annual Pass: $42.95)
Parking: $8 (Parking Garage)
Open 365 days a year
Brief Description: A small zoo with an emphasis on birds
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (I would go again)
My Experience: I decided to go the Jungle Island because a friend from work, who has lived in Florida for 20+ years, recommended a few locations that he thought I should explore in Miami. One of these locations was Jungle Island. It is located right off the highway, so not too much inner city driving, which is great. I went on a Wednesday, so not too much of a crowd. I would recommend going on a weekday if you can, the area is small, so I think it would really be crowded on the weekends.
At the entrance, there is a staging area where the staff will take pictures of you with parrots. They will put the parrots on your shoulders and lay them down on their backs in your arms. There were a few people in line to do this, so I went on and by the time I got back at the end of the day, the parrots were all put away. When I go back, I will get my picture taken (not sure how much it costs).
The area is beautiful. A lot of trees, coy ponds, and birds throughout. The primate area is really cool. The Gibbons are cool. They swing around really fast and make a whooping sound that sounds like singing. Then there is the orangutans...They are in these big cage domes that are made like a maze with a bunch of toys inside. They weren't doing anything, so I stood alone and waited to see if they were going to move. One of the orangutans was at the very top of the cage. After a few minutes, we locked eyes. She used stealth to slide across and slide down a rope. Then she real casual-like swung over to the side of the dome that I was on. It was like..."If I move real slow, will the human stick around long enough to mess with her?" Her plan worked. She was halfway up the dome right in front of me and then buzzed her lips. A drop of spit landed a foot away. I should have known that was a test shot or a warning shot (not sure which)...but no. As proof that an orangutan is the smarter of the two of us, I stayed where I was. The second shot hit my shirt..."kill shot, that's a kill shot!" Then, I moved away...the orangutan looking at me in defiance and victory as I moved along with a spit shot tattooed on my shirt. So "Beware: The Orangutan Spits!"
There are 3 shows that they put on, Dr Wasabi's Wild Adventure, Winged Wonders, and Tale of the Tiger.
Dr Wasabi's Wild Adventure: Various reptiles and primates showcased with audience participation at the end.
Winged Wonders: Various birds featured. Arrive early and you may be asked to participate in a demonstration (for kids).
Tale of the Tiger: Baby tigers, a wolf, and a skunk (no really, a skunk)
Overall, this was 4 hours well spent. I am glad that I got the Annual Pass, and I got a $10 discount because I am "local". It was an overall great day. 80 degrees and sunny on February 2, helped too!
