Brevard Zoo

About Brevard Zoo

Brevard Zoo sits on 75 acres at 8225 N Wickham Rd in Melbourne, Florida, and is run by the East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF), the nonprofit parent organization that has overseen it since it opened. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Its collection has grown to roughly 170 species from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia, and the zoo describes itself as one of the country's largest independent zoos, built with the help of more than 16,000 community volunteers.

The zoo earns about 90 percent of its funding through admission-related income, and more than 500,000 people visit annually, with 44 percent coming from outside Brevard County. In 2023, the zoo estimated its total economic impact at $97.2 million in area sales, supporting an estimated 1,005 jobs and $33.9 million in local labor income. ECZF also runs a sister campus, a planned aquarium project launched in 2021 on the banks of the Indian River Lagoon in Port Canaveral, Florida, extending the foundation's work beyond the Melbourne site.

The zoo is organized around walkable, forested habitat loops rather than a single central path, with visitors exploring boardwalks through native Florida forest alongside exhibits themed to different world regions. Its conservation department is active both on zoo grounds and in the surrounding Brevard County ecosystem, a focus that runs through much of how the zoo describes its own mission.

History

Brevard Zoo traces its founding to East Coast Zoological Foundation, formed in 1986 by a small group of people, including former Florida Today publisher Frank Vega, who set out to build a community zoo. The project relied on volunteer and donated labor rather than a large public budget: executives from major aerospace companies contributed architectural designs and construction labor, and A. Duda and Sons donated the tract of land east of Interstate 95 where the zoo now sits. More than 16,000 people, described by the zoo as ranging from business owners and engineers to tradespeople and retirees, contributed time and skills to the build.

The zoo officially opened its gates in March 1994. Early visitors walked newly built boardwalks through native Florida forest while animals, including a jaguar, tapirs, anteaters, monkeys, and birds, settled into their habitats. In the three decades since, the zoo says its collection has grown to around 700 to 900 animals representing roughly 170 species from four continents.

Alongside that physical growth, the zoo built out its conservation and education operations, including rehabilitation centers for sea turtles, Florida black bear cubs, and manatees, and conservation breeding programs for two of the state's most imperiled species. In 2026, the zoo was named the No. 5 zoo in the country in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and its membership program was ranked No. 4 in the same awards; it was also named best spot for family fun and best local tourist/seasonal attraction in the 2026 Hometown News Reader's Choice Awards.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo's exhibits are organized into loops by region and theme, including Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond, home to Australian species and opening later than the main gate at 10 a.m. Paws On is an interactive, hands-on loop that includes the Indian River Play Lagoon water play area and lets visitors get closer to animals such as kangaroos, giraffes, lorikeets, and cockatiels; it also opens at 10 a.m. and, as of this writing, is undergoing a series of renovations with reopening planned for November, with some sections closed in the meantime.

Rainforest Revealed includes an elevated walkway reached by stairs or an electronic lift, giving visitors views over that habitat area. The zoo also offers several ways to see the grounds beyond walking paths: a canopy walk, a kayak route around the Africa-themed area of the zoo, and a train ride, each described by the zoo as a different way to experience the same habitats from a different vantage point.

Dining options are spread across the property rather than concentrated at one hub. Nourish 321 serves burgers, sandwiches, and salads, including vegan and vegetarian options, with adjacent kiosks for frozen drinks, Dippin' Dots, and snacks. Slice, a walk-up venue overlooking the Indian River Play Lagoon in Paws On, serves pizza and sandwiches, and Cones offers soft-serve ice cream, Dole Whip, and frozen alcoholic beverages nearby. The zoo notes that not all venues are open every day.

Animal highlights

Brevard Zoo lists at least 170 species on its website, spanning mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Species named among the zoo's collection include the lion, jaguar, giraffe, Southern white rhinoceros, okapi, Baird's tapir, Eastern bongo, and North Sulawesi babirusa, alongside primates such as the black howler monkey, siamang, white-faced saki, and golden-headed lion tamarin. Its bird collection includes the Victoria crowned pigeon, king vulture, Southern ground hornbill, and West African crowned crane, and its reptile and amphibian holdings include the Komodo dragon, Grand Cayman blue iguana, Galapagos tortoise, and Dyeing poison dart frog. Native Florida species are also part of the collection, including the Florida black bear, Florida sandhill crane, American alligator, and American crocodile, reflecting the zoo's dual focus on global species and the wildlife of its own region. The zoo describes lions, jaguars, giraffes, rhinos, okapi, monkeys, otters, kangaroos, bears, and alligators as particular visitor favorites.

Conservation and programs

Brevard Zoo's conservation department describes itself as the conservation hub of Brevard County, working with wildlife agencies and the community on projects at local, state, national, and global levels. On site, the zoo runs rehabilitation centers for sea turtles, Florida black bear cubs, and manatees, nursing injured or orphaned animals back to health before releasing them into the wild. It also runs conservation breeding programs for the Florida grasshopper sparrow, described as the country's most endangered bird, and for native beach mice, described by the zoo as "keepers of the dunes."

One of the zoo's oldest conservation efforts, Restore Our Shores, works to restore the Indian River Lagoon estuary through reintroducing native oyster and clam populations, planting seagrass and mangroves, and building buffer zones and living shorelines. The zoo also participates in a nationwide AZA program that relies on citizen-scientist data to track the conservation status of native amphibians, and conducts shorebird population counts to inform conservation partners. As an AZA-accredited institution, the zoo participates in SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction, and directs a portion of each admission ticket and membership toward a conservation fund supporting partner organizations worldwide.

Education runs alongside these conservation efforts. The zoo's education department reaches tens of thousands of children annually through daily presentations, summer camps, field trips, and an on-site "Zoo School." Through its Lagoon Quest program, every fourth grader in Brevard Public Schools is brought to the Indian River Lagoon for two full days of hands-on exploration and learning.

Planning your visit

Brevard Zoo is open daily year-round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with listed hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., though the zoo notes it sometimes closes early for special events and that members can enter earlier than general admission guests. Paws On and Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond open later, at 10 a.m. The zoo is open rain or shine except during hurricanes, and it does not offer refunds or rain checks for inclement weather; during nearby lightning, the zoo initiates a weather hold during which some outdoor activities and animal habitats are temporarily closed.

Strollers, wheelchairs, and ECVs are available to rent on a first-come, first-served basis at the main entrance. The zoo describes itself as handicap accessible, with gentle ramps or compacted substrate in some areas; the elevated walkway in Rainforest Revealed is reached by stairs or an electronic lift, and the zoo recommends calling ahead to confirm the lift is operational. Limited RV, bus, and electric vehicle charging spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. An ATM is located inside the entrance, and the zoo accepts Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express, though not checks.

Discounted tickets are available for Florida residents with SNAP EBT or WIC cards, current military members and veterans, and groups of 15 or more, though most discounts require in-person purchase and identification. Weekdays, particularly Tuesday and Wednesday, are listed by the zoo as less crowded than weekends. As with all prices, hours, and discount terms in this profile, confirm current details on the zoo's official website before visiting.