These exotic animals are found from such widely disparate places as deserts to rain forests. Many participate in our “Emerald Forest” and “Walk on the Wild Side” education programs.
Note that Lou, our owl monkey, is not available for education programs.
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- Chinchillas (Chinchilla Chinchilla) are often seen in pet stores but are really native to South America. In the wild they also have a very different diet that includes small bugs, fruits and plants. Often living in mountainous regions, one of the chinchillas’ favorite activities is to take a dust bath in the local volcanic ash.
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- Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana) have an extensive range living through the rain forests of northern Mexico, Central America, southern Brazil and the Caribbean islands. Living primarily in the canopies of the rainforests the Green iguana will often have to leap great distances to escape predators and have been known to survive 40 feet falls.
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- Kinkajou (Procyonidae Potosflavus) — While the Kinkajou resembles something close to a monkey, it is in fact in the raccoon family. They are found in tropical forests from Southern Mexico to Brazil in the upper canopies of the forests. Due to their light color and love for sweets, the Kinkajou is also known as the “Honey bear” and uses its long tongue to reach nectar and honey.
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- Another large snake here at the facility, the Colombian red tail boa (Boa constrictor constrictor) can grow to an astonishing 12 ft. They can be found in South America often living in the rainforests. While not venomous, the red tail boa does have teeth and uses them to help push food down into their stomachs.
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- Owl Monkeys (family Aotidae) are found across southern Central America, and northern South America. They are the only nocturnal new world monkeys leaving their sleeping sites about 15 minutes before sunset and returning before sunrise. Each group of owl monkeys’ ranges varies nightly depending on available moonlight.
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- Red knee Tarantulas (Brachypelmu smithi) can be found in deserts and rainforests of Mexico and Central America. Unlike spiders, they do not spin webs to catch their food but rather have a burrow that their prey will fall into in which then the tarantula will pounce.
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- Patagonian mara is a relatively large rodent that is also known as the Patagonian cavy, Patagonian hare or dillaby. This herbivorous, somewhat rabbit-like animal is found in open and semi-open habitats in Argentina, including large parts of Patagonia. It is monogamous, but often breeds in warrens that are shared by several pairs.
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- Pacas are from the rain forest, and are ground dwelling herbivores. They are about 2 feet long and weigh between 15-30 pounds. Their stripe and dot markings are very unique.