Loads of fun for the whole family, in Paws On you can enjoy water play, an aquarium, fort building, and a new animal petting area. Paws On is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parents can grab a cup of coffee, watch the kids play from the patio, and enjoy free WI-FI. The new exhibit is included in Zoo admission.
Indian River Play Lagoon
Splash around in the play lagoon right alongside our brand new 20,000 gallon aquarium featuring animals found in the Indian River Lagoon. For children three and under, we've created the toddler flats area complete with a bubbling manatee. For children four and older, play in water that goes up to 18 inches, enjoy a dump tank, and explore a mangrove forest and spoil island.
The aquarium will house a variety of plants, fish, and other sea creatures such as snook, red fish, bonnet head shark, and sting ray. The animals will change based on the season, so the aquarium is always ever-changing!
Note: Children not completely potty-trained are asked to wear a properly-fit swim diaper. Swim diapers are also sold at the Whale’s Tail, the Zoo’s sundry store in Paws On.
Upland Acre
Let's get physical building your own animal home. Visit the Gopher Tortoise Inn and climb on top to the scrub jay nest. Check out the puppet theatre, paint your face, and use the rope climber. Next door, build your own animal homes using materials like palmetto fronds, bamboo stalks, rope, and tarp.
Seaside Cove and Sea Turtle Beach
Go exploring beachside. Step on a kid-size shrimp boat and go hook less fishing, slide down the right whale, discover sea turtle tracks, and pretend to be a nesting sea turtle.
Paws On Petting Zone
Touch the animals in the new petting area which hosts a brand new barn, three paddocks, and features armadillos, pygmy goats, alpacas, and special guests daily.
Wildlife Detective Training Academy
And don't forget about the Zoo's indoor play space. The 1,800 square foot space allows children to practice caring for plush patients in a pretend vet lab, and solve animal mysteries involving real animal artifacts throughout the Zoo. In addition, there are about 40 animals on exhibit including mammals, snakes, lizards, tortoises, amphibians, and invertebrates.
