On a corner of a South Florida beach, I found empty cages covered in graffiti and greenery. Decades ago, these enclosures were home to monkeys, reptiles, tigers, and bears. But a hurricane in the 1980s left the Crandon Park Zoo in shambles.
Established in the 1940s, the Crandon Park Zoo was Miami’s first zoo, according to the Miami Herald. The park closed following the natural disaster. Animals that survived the hurricane were moved to a larger area.
In 1991, the zoo ruins reopened as gardens with the goal “not to destroy everything,” Kevin Asher, a planner for the county, told the Miami Herald.
I visited the park in October 2021 to see what remained of the abandoned zoo, and I found a natural wildlife sanctuary.
The first thing I noticed at the abandoned zoo was a sign at the entrance warning visitors that crocodiles were present.
According to Atlas Obscura, the ruins are also home to wild alligators, iguanas, and peacocks.
The walkways through the park made me feel as if I were in a zoo — one where the animals were free.
Parts of the park were paved, while other parts felt like the wild. Some of the lands were once a coconut plantation, according to the Miami Herald.
In one shaded area, I spotted what appeared to be an abandoned animal cage embedded in the rocks.
I thought it looked like it could have been a unique, immersive attraction and wondered what animals may have lived there decades ago.
Some of the abandoned structures were fenced off and covered in graffiti.
I peered over high, chain-linked fences and spotted remnants of vandalized structures.
But one large structure remained accessible.
It appeared to once house multiple cages.
Around the back, I noticed caged doors that looked as if they were used to feed the animals inside.
I was able to see inside a few of the animals’ quarters, which were now empty aside from some leaves, branches, and overgrown vines. The doors were still locked.
The view inside the structures was somewhat haunting and made me think about the animals that might have gotten stuck inside as hurricane waters filled their enclosures.
I tried to imagine what kind of animals could live in these spaces. Based on their size, maybe monkeys, I thought.
I left the park thinking that it was probably a better home for the wildlife that took it over.
After my visit, the zoo celebrated its 75th anniversary of serving the community in November 2022, according to CBS Miami.
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