Elmvale Jungle Zoo — Attraction in Springwater

Our family have been visiting Elmvale Zoo for over 30 years. During these wonderful years we have become very good friends with the generous owners & animal loving staff. Back in the early 90’s our young children throughly enjoyed countless zoo visits. We were so fortunate to learned valuable intel regarding the unique business regulations the owners live by. The following is a list of the very important govt regulated features and business practices the owners follow and have established over the last 56 years being in business, which make the Elmvale Zoo such a unbelievable success:

Elmvale Zoo Enclosures: They provide spacious, naturalistic enclosures that mimic the animals' natural habitats as closely as possible. Enclosures are large enough to allow for natural behaviors, including running, climbing, and swimming.

Enrichment: Staff implement a comprehensive enrichment program that includes mental and physical stimulation for the animals. This involves the use of puzzles, toys, foraging activities, and opportunities for social interaction.

Zoo Nutrition: They offer a well-balanced and species-specific diet to ensure the animals' nutritional needs are met. Diets are varied, providing a range of food items that replicate their natural diets as closely as possible.

Veterinary Care: Animals are provided regular veterinary care, including preventive health measures, routine check-ups, and prompt treatment of illnesses or injuries. The owners of the zoo have established a partnership with qualified veterinarians who specialize in exotic animal care.

Socialization: The staff consider the social nature of animals and provide opportunities for them to interact with conspecifics if appropriate for their species. This is accomplished through well-designed socialization programs and by housing animals in compatible groups.

Education and Interpretation: Staff focus on educating visitors about conservation, wildlife, and the importance of animal welfare. They offer interpretive signage, guided tours, and educational programs that emphasize the conservation efforts and the challenges faced by the species in the wild.

Conservation Initiatives: The Zoo owners actively participate in and support conservation initiatives, both in the wild and within the zoo community. This includes breeding programs for endangered species, habitat restoration efforts, and funding research projects.

Continuous Improvement: The staff regularly evaluate and improve animal care practices based on scientific research, advancements in animal welfare, and feedback from animal behavior specialists. The staff stay up-to-date with best practices and strive for continuous improvement.

Transparency: The owners share transparency with the public by sharing information about animal care, conservation efforts, and the zoo's overall mission. They engage in open communication and address concerns or criticisms constructively.

Collaboration: The owners foster collaboration and partnerships with other accredited zoos, conservation organizations, and academic institutions. Sharing knowledge and resources enhance animal welfare practices and contribute to broader conservation efforts.

This marks their 56 year in successful operation. I highly encourage you to take your friends & family this summer to experience the Elmvale Zoo. You will not be...

I’ve visited Elmvale Zoo several times with our church’s VBS group, and it’s always a fantastic outing for the kids. The staff seem very organized when handling large groups, which makes the whole experience smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. The kids are always excited to see the wide variety of animals, and the well-maintained paths make wandering around easy and pleasant.

One thing I really appreciate is the detailed signage throughout the zoo. Each enclosure has informative facts about the animals, which makes the visit educational as well as fun. The animals themselves look healthy and well cared for, which is reassuring for visitors.

There are spacious picnic areas where groups can gather for snacks or lunch, and they sell buckets of food that visitors can buy to feed some of the animals. While the buckets are a bit pricey, feeding the goats and other friendly animals in the interactive area is definitely worth it and a hit with the kids.

The zoo is wheelchair accessible and has a large parking lot, making it easy for everyone to get around comfortably. Don’t miss the monkey display—the monkeys often get up to some goofy antics that are entertaining for all ages. The zoo houses an impressive range of animals including giraffes, lions, birds of prey, reptiles, and more.

For the best experience, I recommend visiting in the morning when it’s cooler and the animals tend to be more active. If you take your time to explore, you can easily spend about two hours enjoying everything Elmvale Zoo has to offer. It’s a great place for families, groups, and anyone who...

We had an incredible family adventure at the Elmvale Jungle Zoo as we explored and learned together. The journey at the zoo began with an amazing staff member who allowed us to enter even though we didn't make reservations. Don't make our mistake, be sure to reserve your group size before coming! We had a 5 minute wait to enter. Ticket price was reasonable for a walking tour experience. No maps were handed out so take a picture of the map by the cash register. Food for the animals is available upon entry, but is quite expensive at $10 for a banana, carrot, lettuce leaf, and some pellets. We purchased one for each of the kids, but it is a stretch for value. The trek through the zoo took us about 2.5 hours with 2 kids which seemed to be average. Staff were omnipresent: we observed one family removed from the zoo because a boy climbed an enclosure fence and another family warned to follow one way directional arrows for covid protocols. We observed 3 staff members cleaning cages while we were there. I saw some comments about animal treatment and enclosure size, my thoughts are that while I do agree some enclosures appear small (as nearly anything would be compared to living in the wild), but without zoos, it will be harder to communicate the need to protect animals and habitat and harder to learn about these species so we can protect them. Check out the photos and videos for a sneak peek of what to expect and visit this zoo if you have the...