ZooWorld

About ZooWorld

ZooWorld Zoological Park is at 9008 Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach, Florida. According to its website, the zoo has been under private ownership since 2015 as a woman- and military-family-owned small business, and operates independently, without affiliation to other nearby animal parks. The zoo says it is accredited by the Zoological Association of America and is licensed and permitted by state and federal agencies, which conduct unannounced inspections at least once a year. It is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The zoo describes an at-will approach to animal interactions and states that its animals never perform tricks or shows, or take part in experiences against their will. It also describes an ongoing animal welfare assessment program in which team members from all departments monitor and record information on each animal, with the data tracked by welfare and enrichment committees.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo's website names several areas and attractions:

• Allaphattah Swamp. An alligator habitat where visitors can feed the alligators. The zoo's alligator page says there are 80 alligators, half male and half female, ranging from 12 to over 13 feet, and that the zoo can hatch over 500 alligator eggs a year. It says the feeding experience won the Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence from the Zoological Association of America. Visitors feed at their own pace without booking a time, and the feed page notes that alligator feed is an add-on when the season is right.
• Budgie Aviary. A walk-through aviary the zoo says is home to 350 budgies, 4 lovebirds and 2 cockatiels. Visitors can buy feed sticks, and the budgies may land on them.
• Friendly Farmyard. A petting area in a red barn that the zoo says houses Katahdin sheep, African pygmy goats, a llama, a mini-cow and Indian axis deer. The farmyard page also introduces a donkey named Jazz, a pony named Blue and an axis deer named Luca, which it says was bottle-fed after being born with a cleft palate.
• Giraffe feeding. Visitors can buy leaves to feed the giraffes.
• Gem Mining. A mining activity listed on the site.

Animal experiences

The animal adventures page lists hands-on experiences with a capybara, a kangaroo, a sloth and lemurs, plus a seasonal alligator experience in which visitors wade with baby alligators. A private experience for up to two people is also listed. A paying adult must accompany children under eight. The zoo describes these as at-will experiences in which animals can leave, hide or observe without engaging. Experience and feeding prices are listed on the zoo's website. The zoo also offers birthday parties, school field trips, memberships and an event called ZooBOO.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's website, ZooWorld is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last admission at 3 p.m. The zoo closes on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and is open rain or shine. Tickets are sold online or at the door. The FAQ says the concession stand avoids disposable plastics, using agave straws and bamboo utensils. Besides the main address, the zoo lists additional parking at 8914 Front Beach Road and 9216 Front Beach Road. A concession stand and a coffee stand called Zoo Brew are on site. Phone: (850) 818-3823.