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Under executive director [[Doug Kemper]], Two popular animals were found dead by zookeepers in July of the Zoo has faced more problems than just the Ivan-related damage and dwindling attendancesame year. Though it remains a licensed zoo, its American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation, granted in [[1988]], was revoked Baby hippopotamus Niles died on [[March 29July 7]]from a punctured lung caused by his father, [[2006]] after AZA inspectors deemed 38 Zoo practices "questionable" and 24 more "unacceptableKiboko."<ref>[http://www"Father's bite killed baby hippo.nwfdailynews.com/article/1954 Trouble in the animal kingdom] - [[Northwest Florida Daily " ''Pensacola News]]Journal'', August July 13, 20062007.</ref> Other recent incidents to plague the Zoo include:*a On [[November 13July 17]], 2006 injury when a caged leopard bit a 1910-year-old zookeeper (whose last name, coincidentally, was Leopard) who was giraffe Sammy died from "too closeacute stress and increased body temperature" 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 resulting from their pens on [[November 14]]a neck injury, 2006 (possibly incurred by one day after of the leopard bite), requiring all 30 visitors to be moved to secure areasposts or cables that surround the giraffes' enclosure.<ref>[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articleArchive/jan2007/cougarsescape.php Cougars escape pen at The "Zoo] - [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], November 15, 2006</ref>; and*loses Sammy the bateria-related deaths of four kangroos in a three-day period<ref>[http://wwwgiraffe.nwfdailynews.com/article/1956 String of kangaroo deaths plagues zoo] - [[Northwest Florida Daily " ''Pensacola News]]Journal'', January 17July 19, 2007.</ref>
The ''===Injuries and escaped animals===On [[November 13]], [[Pensacola News Journal2006]]'' reported in July 2007 that , a caged leopard bit a 19-year-old zookeeper (whose last name, coincidentally, was Leopard) who was "too close" to the Zoo is in danger of closing unless $1 million is raised by the end of cat, according to Kemper.<ref>[http://www.bigcatrescue.org/big_cat_news_files/2006/FLincidents.htm bigcatrescue.org]</ref> Two cougars temporarily escaped from their pens on [[November 14]], 2006 (one day after the yearleopard bite), requiring all 30 visitors to be moved to secure areas.<ref name="closing">[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articleArchive/jan2007/cougarsescape.php Cougars escape pen at The Zoo] - [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], November 15, 2006</ref>
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|size=30+ acres
|facilities=
|operator=Gulf Coast Zoological Society<br/>[[Doug Kemper]], ''directpr''
|visitors=
|opened=[[1984]]
</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.
The Zoo was founded in [[1984]] by [[Pat Quinn]]. On [[September 1]], [[2004]], weeks after being damaged by [[Hurricane Ivan]], control was transferred to the non-profit '''Gulf Coast Zoological Society''', the current executive director of which is [[Doug Kemper]]. In addition to the Ivan damages, the Zoo has faced a number of problems in recent years, including dying animals and dwindling attendance.
==Exhibits & animals==
*Jafar, a male greater one-horned rhino ($2,000)
==Financial woes and other problemsProblems=====Finances===The Zoo has operated in the red since its opening in [[1984]]. Formerly owned and operated by [[Pat Quinn]], control was transferred to the non-profit Gulf Coast Zoological Society on [[September 1]], [[2004]] — weeks after It sustained massive damages in [[Hurricane Ivan]] destroyed , including a number of completely destroyed exhibits. Despite a $2.7 million policy, the Zoo's insurance company only paid $59,000 of more than $600,000 in damages.<ref name="closing">"The Zoo could be closing." ''Pensacola News Journal'', July 7, 2007.</ref> The ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' reported in July 2007 that the Zoo is in danger of closing unless $1 million is raised by the end of [[2007]].<ref name="closing"/> ===Loss of accreditation===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> ===Animal deaths===In January [[2007]], four kangroos died of bacteria-related illness within 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==
