Land Of The Tiger Voted USA Today 10 Best Zoo Exhibit

From The JAX Chamber:

July 20, 2020

Land of the Tiger is a winner of the 2020 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest for Best Zoo Exhibit. Out of 20 nominees, the exhibit placed sixth in the 10Best Zoo Exhibits.

“We are so proud that Land of the Tiger continues to receive national recognition for its innovative design. Since its opening, it has served a dual purpose by delivering an empirical approach to animal wellness and bringing people closer to animals and the natural world,” said Executive Director Tony Vecchio. “We are humbled to call this exhibit ours, especially in a time where many people are reconnecting with the outdoors and each other.”

Land of the Tiger opened on March 8, 2014 at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The 2.5 acre exhibit provides an immersive and interactive experience for guests to witness Asian animals including Asian small-clawed otters, Visayan warty and Babirusa pigs, two species of Hornbills, and the endangered Sumatran and Malayan tigers.

Land of the Tiger was a milestone in Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ mission to place animal wellness at the forefront of exhibit design. Features allow choice, exploration, and exercise of all animals. The tigers have access to a trail system that allow them to leave their enclosures and even go off-exhibit if they choose. Other details include a cascading waterfall, pools, and enrichment functions that stimulate natural behavior. Wellness-inspired design continues to be included in exhibit development, including the African Forest great ape exhibit that opened in 2018.

Nominees for all 10Best categories are chosen by a panel of relevant experts. The Best Zoo Exhibit contest nominees were chosen by Debra Erickson, President of the International Zoo Educators Association, and Alan Sironen, owner of Zoo Consultants International.

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. The 10Best Readers' Choice Award contest launches new categories every other Monday at noon, revealing each category's 20 nominees. After 4 weeks of voting, the contest closes on the 28th day at noon. On the Friday after voting ends, winners are revealed. Rules allow the public the right to vote online for one nominee per category, per day.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance, online tickets and Member reservations are required for all guests. Modifications to operation have been made in alignment with health recommendations, including a one-way route on grounds and cashless transactions. View all guidelines at JacksonvilleZoo.org/reopening.

About Jacksonville Zoo and GardensFor over 100 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has aimed to inspire the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection of one red deer fawn, the Zoo now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 species of plants, boasting the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a nonprofit organization and a portion of every ticket sold goes to the over 45 conservation initiatives Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens supports around the world, and here in NE Florida. JZG is proud to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, visit jacksonvillezoo.org.

This press release was produced by The JAX Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.