As our community deals with the crisis posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain dedicated to the health and wellness of the animals in our care, to our employees and volunteers, and to continuing our local conservation initiatives like rehabilitating sea turtles and lagoon restoration.
In response to your kindness and concern regarding our ongoing financial challenges, we created a wish list that identifies many of the things we could use right now to continue our mission. Thank you to the hundreds of supporters that already granted some of our wishes! We update this list often, so check back for new additions.
Welcoming Ankole-Watusi
Help us welcome Maximus, Boss Hogg and Galloping Ghost to the Zoo with fun enrichment items! The other animals in the train yard will enjoy them, too.
BUY SCRATCHERS AND SALT LICKS (Share the Cost by Contributing $10 | Total Shares: 45)
A Daily Dose of Vitamin D
Our ambassador animals are true superstars with the important job of inspiring and educating the community. When they’re not participating in programs, they are housed in behind-the-scenes habitats that provide protection from inclement weather, but don’t let in much sunshine. A “sunning habitat” will give Genghis the Sudan plated lizard, Harvey the hingeback tortoise and other beloved ambassador animals the chance to soak up some rays!
Share the Cost by Contributing $10 | Wish for 137
BUY SUNNING HABITAT
Spice It Up!
A little-known fact about Mulac, our powerful and compelling male jaguar, is that he loves sniffing (and sometimes rolling in) spices! His keepers will sprinkle oregano, basil and pepper in his habitat for him to discover throughout the day.
Spice Packet: $5 | Wish for 50
BUY A SPICE PACKET
Slow and Steady
Our four sloths are fed a steady supply of lettuce, sweet potato and other produce so fresh that it’s often of a higher quality than what you would find at the grocery store! These grade-A fruits and veggies are served alongside hardboiled eggs and specialized zoological pellets for a balanced diet that meets the sloths’ unique nutritional needs.
Share the Cost by Contributing $10 | Total Shares: 100
BUY SLOTH SNACKS
The Bees’ Needs
Did you know that honey contains antimicrobial properties that naturally clean wounds and encourage healthy tissue growth? In fact, we use honey from our own beehives to treat patients from our Sea Turtle Healing Center. Processing honey is a sticky business, and tools like a brood box, hive base and hive lid will help us do our job more effectively—and benefit bees and sea turtles alike!
Share the Cost by Contributing $10 | Total Shares: 19
BUY BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENT
Virtual Connections
Our nationally recognized education programs have gone virtual! With your help, we can continue sharing the wonders of nature through positive, memorable experiences. An iPad Pro and production studio kit will allow us to produce and livestream quality virtual programs, including Lagoon Quest and Zoo School.
Share the Cost by Contributing $25 | Total Shares: 120
BUY PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT
Foraging for Fun
When given the choice, some animals prefer to “earn” their food rather than eat a “free” meal. This can be accomplished with enrichment devices designed to prolong foraging time. Keepers will stuff these feeders with fresh fruits and vegetables and encourage our residents to work for their next snack. Everyone from alpacas to zebras will benefit!
Share the Cost by Contributing $15 | Total Shares: 100
BUY FEEDERS
Sea Turtle “Home Away from Home”
We are now in “washback season,” and our Sea Turtle Healing Center is busier than ever treating sick and injured sea turtles. Their care is often long-term (measured in months) as the goal is to rehabilitate them back to health for eventual return to their ocean home. While they are at the Healing Center, our incredible and dedicated staff makes sure their every need is satisfied as they heal in their “home away from home.” To make this possible, the needs are great… which is why our sea turtle caretakers wish for these items.
BUY SALT FOR POOLS (Share the Cost by Contributing $10 | Total Shares: 30)
BUY MEDICATION (Share the Cost by Contributing $15 | Total Shares: 20)
Keepers work to provide novel sensory experiences for our animals. We can use items like mirrors, bubble machines, bells, mirrored balls, light projectors, brushes and more to change their environments.
Share the Cost by Contributing $5 | Total Shares: 30
BUY EXPERIENCES
Bear Necessities—A Sticky Situation
Bears Brody and Cheyenne love nothing more than exploring their home for delicious treats placed high and low. Keepers love rubbing sticky spreads made of honey and peanut butter for the bears to discover in all sorts of fun hiding places. What better way to keep this darling duo healthy, happy and thriving?
Share the Cost by Contributing $15 | Total Shares: 30
BUY BEAR TREATS
Granted Wishes
Violet the goat explores a new platform that gives her a bird's-eye view of the Paws On Petting Zone.
A Zoo curator keeps an eye on the giant otter habitat thanks to a new camera system that allows us to monitor these animals from afar.
A blue-and-yellow macaw climbs down a new toy that will help satisfy his natural chewing instincts.
Zoo staff pour a bag of sand into a Perdido Key beach mouse tank. The tanks are designed to mimic the endangered mice's natural habitat and encourage breeding.
Clarabelle the goat enjoys a meal out of a new slow feeder.
Brevard Zoo is an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services (www.800HELPFLA.COM) by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.