点评:I was skeptical at first not sure what I would find, but I can confidently say 5+ stars. I wouldn’t miss this, my kid’s life was changed forever he said.
Only having been to Miami 20 years ago and as an adult, I consulted ChatGPT for a one day itinerary if we only had one day. Well, this did not show up immediately, the most common suggestion was something about the beach and the zoo. Unfortunately, the highs were 55 so I requested a refined search that include included Animal feeding. This was top of the list. A quick 40 minutes drive from the Miami airport. Really easy to find. I called less than 24 hours prior and customer service was really great prompt and thorough and accurate. The tours were easy to choose between and when asked if we would like a one-on-one animal encounter will be feeding animal. It was only an extra $45 or so per person for the Animal we chose. We chose to. There were so many animals to choose from that. I asked them to wait and say all the animals again once my child came over. We wanted to meet the capybara and the otters.
For some people, this will remind you of the Matt Damon movie, I bought a zoo. It’s just a private zoo. I was concerned there might be Tiger King vibes as this is Florida in the rules that seem loose here. When I asked if the zoological wildlife foundation was a 501(c) three, at first, I was concerned because the customer service was not aware of what that meant. She said it’s just a private zoo. We went anyways, and 100% of the animals were saved essentially from bad people who either try to enter, breed a lion in a tiger, which results in a very sick animal, essentially all exotic animals that were likely procured in nefarious ways in selfish human ways, that were dumped upon the animal will be becoming full grown. It’s a terrible and sad and unfortunate market. So this couple rehabilitates them and gives them quality of life.
As someone who is dedicated their life to animals, veterinary medicine and animal rescue, I can confidently say that every single animal had brightness in their eyes in the cleanest healthiest coats and were full of curiosity and joy. The volunteer caretakers and staff I heard anecdotes where they bring their own feeder fish when they come to Volunteer to throw into the otter pond to make sure the otters are supplemented with Marine food like they would in the otter home habitats, committed to keeping their enclosures full of activities. Of course any enclosure is going to be way too small for a wild animals relative to their natural habitat. But all the animals moved well. (except of course, when you cross two species and all the recessive, genes illnesses, structural mistakes show up like the poor liger someone for spread a lion and a tiger, and while he was comfortable and moving, his body did not look like a comfortable one to live in with its asymmetry and on bridal gigantism, which is the predictable and unfortunate product of man-made forced breeding.)
The tour guide was extraordinary! So very kind, and not afraid to neutrally say that the reason the animals are here and requiring shelter, and a sanctuary was essentially due to the selfish capitalistic choices of humans when I dug deeper and asked.
You could come for the one hour tour that was more than enough. We got to stay as long as we wanted at each of the enclosures to speak with the animals who wanted to engage with us. He was so kind, impatient, and curious with the children so perfect tour for children of all ages. The grounds were very clean and well kept and again the animals all had a calm yet playful energy. Which meant they were fine. Each animal came with expertise animal trivia, I have a veterinary background and even I learned some things. Probably never in your life. Will you actually touch many of these species but because they were products of essentially trafficking of some sort, they could never go back into the wild they grew up with humans in a strange artificial way they’re not dangerous mostly.
You could also on the other end of the Spectrum choose the Vip tour. Lovely place settings set out under cabanas, the private outdoor dining facilities of the couple. You would have a private tour where you get to meet essentially each of the animals that you want to. Including little large cats. The black jaguar was a rare site. You could see his spots inside the black coat. The Siberian tiger was very nice and gorgeous. The four lions were quite happy and alert. A few farm animals all were very clean and I saw signs of more structures going up as shelters and toys.
I was surprised to even meet two animals. I actually had never heard of before. Tamadua
Kinkajou
The most extraordinary part is that part of the normal tour you sit inside the tiki hut like a medium sized pavilion. We got to meet I believe 10 animals! We fed them from an owl to two primates, including a lemur, several snakes who are very kind and they were cold so we tried to warm them up since they are cold-blooded. There was no rush. That was probably a once in a lifetime experience to pet and hold the kinkajou. We did the two hour tour instead of the one hour tour and I would recommend that.
We also added on two animal feedings. I would also recommend this. We spent a total of three hours there and it started to rain, we probably would’ve stayed longer if we could.
The highlight, for my child was the capybara and the otter feeding. I used to work at the famous Boston aquarium, as a volunteer, and even the junior staff were not allowed to go to the sea otter exhibit because they are so mischievous and therefore can be a little dangerous with their very sharp teeth. But these were river otters. Perhaps different, same energy but safe enough for an eight year-old who can move slowly and stay calm or still.
It really meant a lot to know that the Volunteer caretaker was really thinking outside the box, knowing that perhaps chicken was not their main diet out in the wild. He brought fresh small fishes. Which he shared with us to feed out of a bucket. Truly engaging with an otter is likely something a human will never get to do with their very sharp teeth and high energy and being wild animals. So even for me, I knew that this was a once in a lifetime experience. The vocalizations they make will stay with you and even haunt you once you’ve left it’s something you’ve never heard before and just touches your heart. They made it really hard for us to leave.
In the end, it’s money well spent. Although it’s not a nonprofit, the goal truly does not occur to be monetary or capitalistic. Where else would people trying to offload their illegal exotic animals dump their animals? There was a bonded pair of flamingo and a bonded pair duck the four who had been together for 25 years and we’re allowed to stay together here. Some primates sometimes find other homes and you’ll see some of the paintings. The volunteers have done with them.
It occurred to be a kind and good peace a puzzle in an ecosystem that’s sadly exists so at least the resulting animals have some sanctuary that likely there is no stopping that this need exists.
I was especially touched when the tour guide could not believe that I beat him to one of his trivia points, that all snakes actually have back legs. I asked him to point them out if they are visible for us we actually got to touch them. And it was fun to share the excitement of Animal trivia with people. All the animals truly were clean, bright eyed and seemed genuinely happy given their situation and a lot in life.
I would recommend it again. We plan to come back with more family members, and kiddo would like to stay even longer. Thanks to the couple who has these unwanted animals and give them quality of life.
翻译:起初我还有些怀疑,不知道会发现什么,但现在我可以自信地说,五星好评!我绝对不会错过这次体验,我的孩子说,这次经历彻底改变了他的人生。
我20年前去过迈阿密,这次是成年后,所以我在ChatGPT上咨询一日游行程安排(如果只有一天时间的话)。结果并没有立即显示,最常见的建议是关于海滩和动物园的。可惜的是,当时最高气温只有55华氏度(约13摄氏度),所以我要求进行更精确的搜索,把喂动物也算进去。结果,喂动物的体验排在了首位。从迈阿密机场开车过去只需要40分钟,而且很容易找到。我提前不到24小时打电话预订,客服服务非常棒,响应迅速、细致周到、准确无误。游览项目也很容易选择,当我们询问是否想和动物一对一互动,比如喂动物时,他们也欣然同意了。我们选择的动物每人只需额外支付45美元左右。我们当然选择了喂动物,因为可供选择的动物种类实在太多了。我让他们稍等,等我孩子过来后再介绍一遍所有动物。我们想看看水豚和水獭。
有些人可能会想起马特·达蒙主演的电影《我买了个动物园》。其实这只是个私人动物园。我担心这里会像《虎王》那样,因为佛罗里达州的规章制度似乎比较宽松。我问过这家动物保护基金会是否是501(c)(3)非营利组织,一开始我很担心,因为客服人员似乎并不了解这个概念。她说这只是个私人动物园。不过我们还是去了,发现园里所有的动物都是从那些试图非法繁殖、让狮子和老虎杂交(导致动物生病)的坏人手中救出来的。基本上,所有那些被以不正当手段、出于自私目的获得的珍稀动物,都被遗弃在即将成年的动物身上。这是一个可怕、悲哀又不幸的市场。所以,这对夫妇救助了它们,让它们过上了有质量的生活。
作为一名毕生致力于动物、兽医和动物救助的人,我可以自信地说,每一只动物都眼神明亮,毛发干净健康,充满好奇和快乐。我听说,志愿者饲养员和工作人员每次来做志愿者都会自带饲料鱼,放到水獭池里,确保水獭能像在自然栖息地一样摄取到海洋食物,他们尽心尽力地让水獭的圈舍里充满活动。当然,任何圈舍对于野生动物来说都远远小于它们的自然栖息地。但所有动物都活动自如。 (当然,除非你杂交两个物种,所有隐性基因、疾病和结构缺陷都会显现出来,就像那只可怜的狮虎兽,有人为了杂交狮子和老虎而培育它。虽然它行动自如,但它的身体看起来并不舒适,因为它的不对称和畸形体型巨大,这正是人类强制繁殖的必然结果。)
导游非常棒!他非常友善,而且毫不避讳地指出,当我深入询问时,他坦率地指出,这些动物之所以会在这里,需要庇护和保护区,本质上是由于人类自私的资本主义选择造成的。
你可以参加一个小时的游览,时间绰绰有余。我们可以在每个动物围栏停留任意时长,与那些愿意与我们互动的动物交流。他对孩子们非常友善、耐心和好奇,所以这是一次适合所有年龄段儿童的完美游览。园区非常干净整洁,动物们也都保持着平静而活泼的状态。这意味着它们都很健康。每种动物都配有专业的动物知识讲解,我本身是兽医出身,但还是学到了不少东西。你可能这辈子都没机会亲手触摸到这些动物,但由于它们本质上是某种形式的非法贩运的产物,所以永远无法回归野外。它们以一种奇特的人工方式与人类共同生活,因此大多并不危险。
你也可以选择VIP之旅。在凉亭下,摆放着精致的餐点,这是这对夫妇专属的户外用餐区。你将享受私人导览,几乎可以见到所有你想见的动物,包括一些体型较大的猫科动物。黑美洲豹非常罕见,你甚至可以看到它黑色皮毛下的斑点。西伯利亚虎非常漂亮,令人赏心悦目。四只狮子看起来都很快乐,也很机警。一些农场动物都很干净,我还看到一些正在搭建的动物棚和玩具房。
我竟然见到了两种以前从未听说过的动物,这让我感到非常惊喜。塔玛杜阿
金卡茹
最特别的部分是,在常规游览路线中,你会坐在一个类似中型凉亭的茅草屋里。我们见到了大约10种动物!我们喂它们食物,从猫头鹰到两只灵长类动物,其中还有一只狐猴。我们看到了几条非常温顺的蛇,它们有点冷,所以我们试着给它们暖和一下,因为它们是冷血动物。整个过程都很悠闲。能抚摸和抱起金丝猴,这大概是一生难得的体验了。我们参加了两小时的游览,而不是一小时的,我建议大家也参加两小时的游览。
我们还加看了两次动物喂食。我也推荐大家参加。我们在那里一共待了三个小时,后来开始下雨了,如果可以的话,我们可能会待更久。
对我孩子来说,最精彩的部分是水豚和水獭的喂食。我以前在著名的波士顿水族馆做过志愿者,即使是初级员工也不允许去海獭展区,因为它们非常调皮,而且牙齿很锋利,可能会有点危险。但这些是河獭。也许它们不一样,但同样精力充沛,对于一个八岁的孩子来说足够安全,因为他行动缓慢,也能保持冷静或静止不动。
得知志愿者饲养员能跳出固有思维,考虑到水獭在野外可能并非以鸡肉为主食,并带来了新鲜的小鱼,让我们用桶喂它们,这真的让我非常感动。水獭牙齿锋利、精力旺盛,而且是野生动物,人类几乎不可能真正与它们亲密接触。所以即使对我来说,我也知道这是一生难得的经历。它们的叫声会一直萦绕在耳边,甚至在你离开后仍会让你难以忘怀,那是你从未听过的声音,深深触动着你的心。它们让我们依依不舍,难以离开。
总而言之,这笔钱花得值。虽然这里不是非营利组织,但他们的目标似乎并非以金钱或资本主义为目的。那些试图非法贩卖外来动物的人,还能把他们的动物丢在哪里呢?这里有一对形影不离的火烈鸟和一对形影不离的鸭子,它们四个已经在一起生活了25年,而我们被允许在这里一起生活。有些灵长类动物有时会找到其他的家,你会看到一些画作。志愿者们已经为它们画上了画。
这真是一个善良而美好的举动,它就像一个生态系统中的谜题,虽然令人惋惜,但至少这些动物在这里找到了庇护所。或许,这种需求是无法改变的。
当导游难以置信我竟然答对了他讲的一个冷知识点——所有蛇都有后腿——时,我尤其感动。我请他指给我们看,如果能看到的话,我们甚至可以触摸它们。和大家分享这些动物冷知识真是太有趣了。所有的动物都非常干净,眼神明亮,考虑到它们的处境和生活条件,它们看起来真的很快乐。
我会再次推荐这里。我们计划带更多家人一起来,孩子甚至想待更久。感谢这对夫妇收养了这些无人照管的动物,并给予它们高质量的生活。