Palm Beach Zoo

The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is a nonprofit zoological institution located at Dreher Park, 1301 Summit Boulevard, in West Palm Beach, Florida. A non-profit zoological organization, the zoo houses hundreds of animals, many of them endangered, within 23 acres of lush tropical habitat. The zoo advances its mission to inspire people to act on behalf of wildlife and the natural world through endangered species propagation, education, and support of conservation initiatives. What began in the early 1960s as a modest barnyard collection has grown into one of Palm Beach County's most prominent cultural and recreational destinations, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and participating in conservation programs on multiple continents.

History and Origins

The Palm Beach Zoo is located in Dreher Park, formerly known as Bacon Park. Bacon Park was utilized as a landfill and a tent city campground, which was destroyed in the 1928 hurricane. The transformation of this once-neglected land into a thriving wildlife attraction is closely tied to the story of one man.

Paul Albert Dreher was born in Württemberg, Germany, and was long interested in landscaping, which led him to obtain a degree in horticulture from the University of Hohen-Heim. After receiving his degree, Dreher moved to South Florida. In 1932, Dreher took a job with the Parks Department for the City of West Palm Beach. His passion for the land around him became instrumental in shaping the future site of the zoo. In 1951, the City of West Palm Beach paid the state $100 for Bacon Park, which would be dedicated and renamed Dreher Park in October 1957. Paul Dreher then worked to develop the land into a usable park. The landfill was removed from the park, and swampland was filled in using backfill from the Palm Beach Canal. Dreher envisioned a zoo for the park that would be an asset for the residents of West Palm Beach.

In August 1961, it was announced that a zoo would be built in Dreher Park. Soon after the announcement, the Parks Department set to work building a red barn complete with a fenced-in barnyard with ample room for animals to roam. Using his own money, Dreher purchased for the barnyard ducks, chickens, rabbits, and one goat named Pepita. The "Dreher Park Farm Zoo," which later became known simply as the "Dreher Park Zoo," received its first exotic inhabitant when the Pilicy family donated a rhinoceros iguana on September 5, 1963.

Joey the Kangaroo and Early Growth

One of the most colorful stories from the zoo's formative years involves a kangaroo named Joey. An airline pilot was between flights in Australia when he found a kangaroo for sale. He purchased the animal and flew it back to Florida. Unable to keep the kangaroo long-term, he gave Joey to his friend Walter Brooks III. Joey became infamous for escaping from Walter Brooks's home several times, making him well known to South Florida residents. Joey was featured in two issues of Life Magazine in October 1961 and April 1964, and was declared an honorary member of the Boy Scouts of America. Visitors to see Joey at the home of Walter Brooks were common, with a frequent visitor being Caroline Kennedy.

In December 1961, Brooks received a letter from attorney Elwyn Middleton against the possession of Joey. This led to a Palm Beach ordinance that banned all pets excluding cats, dogs, canaries, parrots, and parakeets. After two years of legal battles by Joey's owners and Palm Beach residents, Joey was not permitted to stay as a house pet. On February 29, 1964, Joey was moved to the Dreher Park Zoo, where he remained a resident.

The Elephant Toppie and First Animal Births

In the early 1960s, "Jett's Petting Zoo" visited South Florida, intriguing citizens with the presence of an Asian baby elephant. Although the zoo had recently acquired a famous kangaroo, it was made up of a group of miscellaneous animals and lacked a major attraction. This led the residents of South Florida to campaign for the purchase of the young elephant for the zoo. The West Palm Beach Firemen's Benevolent Association worked to buy the elephant by raising 1,000 books of Top Value Trading Stamps. Top Value Trading Stamps, whose mascot was a cartoon elephant named Toppie, made it fitting to name the newly acquired elephant "Toppie."

In addition to the acquisition of an elephant, 1965 also brought the first animal birth at the zoo. Zoo officials thought the first birth was going to be a pregnant miniature goat. They were surprised on May 19, 1965, when a squirrel monkey gave birth. Remarkably, the second birth of the zoo occurred on the same day as the first. White-fronted capuchin Clarabelle gave birth later that afternoon. The birth of Nanny Belle the miniature goat's baby became a reality on June 1, 1965, making it the third animal born in the zoo's history.

The Zoological Society and Name Change

In 1969, a group of citizens in West Palm Beach showed an interest in creating a society for the advancement and support of the zoo. With the support of the city, The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches was founded on March 27, 1969. On October 1st, the operation of the zoo was transferred over to the Zoological Society. In 2014, to emphasize its mission, the Palm Beach Zoo changed its name to the Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society.

Exhibits and Animal Collection

Located in the heart of West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is a lush, walkable wildlife destination home to animals from Florida and around the world. Spanning over 23 tropical acres, the Zoo features immersive habitats, shaded pathways, and memorable guest experiences — including a charming carousel, interactive fountain, and nature-inspired play areas.

Guests enjoy close-up views of iconic species such as jaguars, tigers, panthers, sloths, and koalas, along with daily animal talks, engaging encounters, and seasonal events throughout the year.

Tropics of the Americas

In 2004, the Zoo opened the "George and Harriett Cornell Tropics of the Americas," an $18 million exhibit that displays jaguars, giant anteaters, capybara, New World monkeys, and a diverse collection of tropical birds. This exhibit complex features animals and the Mayan culture found in Central and South America, and is located on a three-acre peninsula in the zoo. The exhibit features two Mayan pyramids that are over 40 feet tall and a walk-through cave, among other displays. Animal Planet featured Tropics of the Americas on the television show Ultimate Zoo in 2006.

Tiger Habitat

The Henry and Charlotte Kimelman Tiger Falls opened in 2000. On November 8, 2006, Malayan tigers "Mata" and "Rimba" arrived at the zoo from the San Diego Zoo. Malayan tiger "Berapi" came to the zoo in November 2010. Three cubs sired by Rimba were born to Berapi on May 12, 2011. The three tigers — "Jaya," "Bunga," and "Penari" — were moved to the Jacksonville Zoo on October 28, 2013. In March 2015, the zoo opened its "Tiger River" habitat, adding an extra exhibit yard to the Henry and Charlotte Kimelman Tiger Habitat.

Other Exhibits

On January 15, 2018, the zoo opened a new ocelot habitat, sponsored by a local Palm Beach couple, Carole and John Moran. The new habitat allows for three ocelots to live and roam around. The zoo also maintains a Florida Wetlands section, which showcases a recreation of a cypress swamp, as well as an Islands section presenting species from around the world. Visitors can take a spin on the wildlife carousel, splash in the interactive play fountain, and connect with animals and keepers at over 60 keeper talks and wildlife presentations per week.

Conservation Programs

The Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society advances its mission to inspire people to act on behalf of wildlife and the natural world through endangered species propagation, education, and support of conservation initiatives. The Zoo participates in conservation projects in the field by providing monetary support to other conservation organizations through its grant program.

The Palm Beach Zoo has partnered with institutions and organizations such as the Southeastern Disease Cooperative at the University of Georgia, the Brookfield Zoo, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Contraception Center, the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC), the Brevard Zoo, the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida State Parks Service, the Palm Beach County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and Madidi National Park. The Palm Beach Zoo is also the first zoo to partner with the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

In collaboration with Madidi National Park in Bolivia and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Palm Beach Zoo provides funding and staff for conservation activities in a protected area of approximately 18,900 square kilometers. The area protects jaguars, black-faced spider monkeys, lowland tapir, giant river otters, Andean bears, Andean condors, and other wildlife.

The Palm Beach Zoo also supports the Wildlife Conservation Society in its projects to strengthen anti-poaching laws in Malaysia in order to protect tigers and their habitats.

Conservation programs include support of the Avian Research & Conservation Institute's swallow-tail kite and snail kite program, and the Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center's jaguar conservation programs. Staff also works directly in the community on programs including the swallow-tail kite program in association with Palm Beach County's Department of Environmental Protection, and coral monitoring off the east coast of Florida in cooperation with the Florida Wildlife Commission.

Animal Care Facilities

The Palm Beach Zoo is home to the Melvin J. & Claire Levine Animal Care Complex, which serves as the headquarters for the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society. The complex has earned Gold Certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the Green Building Council.

Education

The Palm Beach Zoo Education Department hosts multiple programs for children from ages 3 to 18 to educate and spread awareness about conservation efforts and their significance. The department provides entertainment to members as well as hands-on experiences with the zoo's attractions and the opportunity to partake in active conservation projects. Programs include the Zoo Camp, Overnight Adventures, the Ed Morse ZooMobile, and other opportunities for schools, scout troops, and community groups looking for involvement in the zoo's conservation projects.

As a fully accredited public zoo caring for over 500 animals of 190 species, many of whom are endangered, the Palm Beach Zoo is geared toward inspiring its over 360,000 guests who come annually.

Membership and Accreditation

Located at 1301 Summit Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33405, the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that relies on support to continue providing extraordinary animal care and saving wildlife in wild places. The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The zoo is open daily — excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas days — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located within Dreher Park, about 4 miles southwest of downtown West Palm Beach, the zoo offers various animal exhibits, including multiple interactive experiences with koalas, sloths, and panthers. Special events like the Zoo Lights holiday celebration are also hosted throughout the year.