Zoological - Botanical Park

The Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park proves that big things can come in small packages.

Located on Rancho Drive, just down the street from Texas Station, the zoo appears much smaller than its actual size. Spanning three acres, the zoo is home to more than 200 species of plants and animals.

Although the overall number of animals may be less than that found at most zoos, the variety and rarity of species held at the Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park are notable. For instance, the zoo is home to the largest collection of swamp wallabies in North America as well as the last family of Barbary apes in the United States.

Recent additions to the zoo include a female Indo-Chinese tiger, Mowar, one of only 70 of her kind in captivity worldwide. Also new to the zoo are several Canadian river otters, which can be viewed in a 2,700-gallon underwater viewing pond, specially designed for the otters. Visitors can watch as zookeepers and volunteers help the otters maintain their natural hunting skills by filling the pond with live goldfish and freshwater clams.

Two more new inhabitants to the zoo are a pair of fossas, the largest predator found on the island of Madagascar. Very rare and endangered, the fossa forms a link between the true cats and the civets and mongoose. Altogether, the zoo houses more than 40 endangered species.

A 1500-square-foot ancient alligator exhibit, "Alligator Pathway," features a 7-foot-long American alligator in a habitat of cycads and bamboo. Right next door is a Chinese alligator. Not too far away is a reptile exhibit, home to a rare eyelash viper from Belize and the deadliest rattlesnake known, the Mojave green.

There also is a large variety of birds housed at the zoo. The vibrant colors of the sun conure and its cousin, the jenday conure, will take your breath away, as will the beauty of the Aru Islands sulphur-crested cockatoo, the military macaw and the blue and gold macaw. A couple of the birds will even say hello and laugh as you walk by. But the largest birds at the zoo are the ostriches, Charlie, Don and Donna. They grow to be up to 9 feet tall and 350 pounds.

Toward the back of the zoo, visitors can view a pair of majestic lions, Midas and MG. Brother and sister, the lions are very responsive to their audience and often can be seen playing with each another or pacing the length of the fence containing them.

Perhaps the best part of the zoo is how interactive it is. Visitors can buy birdseed at the park entrance to feed the many birds found wandering freely throughout the property. Pigeons, hens, roosters, peacocks and others will come within a few feet of visitors waiting for them to sprinkle some food on the ground. There also is a food dispenser in front of the pygmy goats exhibit so visitors can feed the goats by hand through the fence.

At the center of the park are picnic tables where visitors can sit and enjoy a treat from the nearby concession stand. The zoo also features a gift shop filled with a number of unique gifts and souvenirs. The Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park is funded through sales as well as donations from the community. In an effort to draw community involvement, it offers annual memberships starting at $25, an Adopt-An-Animal program starting at $25 per animal and a variety of educational programs from field trips to internships.

-- Review by Noelani Jones