Open Weekends 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Presented by the José Milton Foundation, Zoo Miami’s Animal Fun Factory is a one-of-a-kind interactive exhibit where zoo visitors can learn about animal welfare and environmental conservation through hands-on creative play. Enrichment is used to promote the natural behavior of the animals at Zoo Miami. Visitors are guided by Zoo Miami Foundation's educators to create enrichment items that provide this physical and mental exercise for Zoo Miami’s animal residents.
A visitor to the Animal Fun Factory might make a papier-mâché zebra for the lions to “hunt” or a birthday cake made out of cardboard boxes to celebrate an animal’s birthday. In creating these enrichment items, visitors gain awareness of and insight into how the animals are cared for and how important it is that everyone do their part to conserve and protect our natural resources.
Other activities help stimulate awareness of endangered animals at Zoo Miami. Zoo Miami recently celebrated the 52nd birthday of Dalip, one of the oldest and largest Asian Bull Elephants in the country. Dalip was treated to a birthday cake and birthday banners as well as painted barrels and other items for interactive play created by the Animal Fun Factory visitors. Each activity provides a unique and creative opportunity for visitors to connect with the animals, to help them understand Zoo Miami’s dedication to caring for the animals and their welfare, as well as increase community awareness on how they can help protect these animals in the wild by shopping for sustainable palm oil products to prevent further habitat loss.
The Animal Fun Factory has received over 13,000 visitors since opening in March 2017 and is the first exhibit of its kind.