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New page: {{Infobox Park |park=The ZOO Northwest Florida |image=TheZooEntrance.jpg |caption=The Zoo's entrance |type=zoo |size=30+ acres |facilities= |operator=Gulf Coast Zoological Society |visitor...
{{Infobox Park
|park=The ZOO Northwest Florida
|image=TheZooEntrance.jpg
|caption=The Zoo's entrance
|type=zoo
|size=30+ acres
|facilities=
|operator=Gulf Coast Zoological Society
|visitors=
|opened=
|location=5701 [[Gulf Breeze Parkway]]<br/>Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
|mapcode=<googlemap lat="30.400714" lon="-86.983223" zoom="16" width="288" height="288">
30.40114, -86.984425, The ZOO Northwest Florida
</googlemap>
}}'''The ZOO Northwest Florida''' (also called '''The Gulf Breeze Zoo''' or simply '''The Zoo''') hosts over 900 animals on more than 30 acres of preservation land. The Zoo is located at 5701 [[Gulf Breeze Parkway]], 10 miles east of [[Gulf Breeze]] and 19 miles west of [[Fort Walton]]. In addition to the animals themselves, the Zoo features amenities such as the Safari Line Train, Jungle Café, Whistlestop Snack Bar, and a gift shop in the main building.
Formerly owned and operated by [[Pat Quinn]], control was transferred to the non-profit Gulf Coast Zoological Society on [[September 1]], [[2004]] — weeks after [[Hurricane Ivan]] destroyed a number of exhibits. Under executive director [[Doug Kemper]], the Zoo has faced more problems than just the Ivan-related damage and dwindling attendance. Though it remains a licensed zoo, its American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation, granted in [[1988]], was revoked on [[March 29]], [[2006]] after AZA inspectors deemed 38 Zoo practices "questionable" and 24 more "unacceptable."<ref>[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/1954 Trouble in the animal kingdom] - [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], August 13, 2006</ref> Other recent incidents to plague the Zoo include:
*a [[November 13]], 2006 injury when a caged leopard bit a 19-year-old zookeeper (whose last name, coincidentally, was Leopard) who was "too close" to the cat, according to Kemper<ref>[http://www.bigcatrescue.org/big_cat_news_files/2006/FLincidents.htm bigcatrescue.org]</ref>;
*the temporary escape of two cougars from their pens on [[November 14]], 2006 (one day after the leopard bite), requiring all 30 visitors to be moved to secure areas<ref>[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articleArchive/jan2007/cougarsescape.php Cougars escape pen at The Zoo] - [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], November 15, 2006</ref>; and
*the bateria-related deaths of four kangroos in a three-day period<ref>[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/1956 String of kangaroo deaths plagues zoo] - [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], January 17, 2007</ref>
==References==
<references/>
|park=The ZOO Northwest Florida
|image=TheZooEntrance.jpg
|caption=The Zoo's entrance
|type=zoo
|size=30+ acres
|facilities=
|operator=Gulf Coast Zoological Society
|visitors=
|opened=
|location=5701 [[Gulf Breeze Parkway]]<br/>Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
|mapcode=<googlemap lat="30.400714" lon="-86.983223" zoom="16" width="288" height="288">
30.40114, -86.984425, The ZOO Northwest Florida
</googlemap>
}}'''The ZOO Northwest Florida''' (also called '''The Gulf Breeze Zoo''' or simply '''The Zoo''') hosts over 900 animals on more than 30 acres of preservation land. The Zoo is located at 5701 [[Gulf Breeze Parkway]], 10 miles east of [[Gulf Breeze]] and 19 miles west of [[Fort Walton]]. In addition to the animals themselves, the Zoo features amenities such as the Safari Line Train, Jungle Café, Whistlestop Snack Bar, and a gift shop in the main building.
Formerly owned and operated by [[Pat Quinn]], control was transferred to the non-profit Gulf Coast Zoological Society on [[September 1]], [[2004]] — weeks after [[Hurricane Ivan]] destroyed a number of exhibits. Under executive director [[Doug Kemper]], the Zoo has faced more problems than just the Ivan-related damage and dwindling attendance. Though it remains a licensed zoo, its American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation, granted in [[1988]], was revoked on [[March 29]], [[2006]] after AZA inspectors deemed 38 Zoo practices "questionable" and 24 more "unacceptable."<ref>[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/1954 Trouble in the animal kingdom] - [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], August 13, 2006</ref> Other recent incidents to plague the Zoo include:
*a [[November 13]], 2006 injury when a caged leopard bit a 19-year-old zookeeper (whose last name, coincidentally, was Leopard) who was "too close" to the cat, according to Kemper<ref>[http://www.bigcatrescue.org/big_cat_news_files/2006/FLincidents.htm bigcatrescue.org]</ref>;
*the temporary escape of two cougars from their pens on [[November 14]], 2006 (one day after the leopard bite), requiring all 30 visitors to be moved to secure areas<ref>[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articleArchive/jan2007/cougarsescape.php Cougars escape pen at The Zoo] - [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], November 15, 2006</ref>; and
*the bateria-related deaths of four kangroos in a three-day period<ref>[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/1956 String of kangaroo deaths plagues zoo] - [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], January 17, 2007</ref>
==References==
<references/>
