JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens has been named the No. 4 Best Zoo in the United States in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, the zoo said, marking the second consecutive year it has placed among the nation’s top zoos.
The recognition follows weeks of nationwide voting and reflects strong support from the Jacksonville community and visitors who cast daily votes, the zoo said.
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“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to vote and support Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens,” Nikki Smith, chief philanthropy and marketing officer at Jacksonville Zoo said. “To be ranked the No. 4 Best Zoo in the nation for a second year in a row is an extraordinary honor and a testament to the passion of our team, the dedication to conservation that drives our mission, and the incredible community that continues to rally behind the Zoo.”
The accolade comes as the zoo celebrated the grand opening this month of the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Manatee River habitat and the new VyStar SkyScape entrance. The 330,000-gallon manatee critical care habitat will allow the zoo to take part in Florida’s statewide rescue and rehabilitation network, helping manatees recover and return to the wild, the zoo said.
Home to more than 2,000 animals and 1,000 plant species, Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens supports more than 35 global and local conservation initiatives and welcomes over a million visitors each year, the zoo said.
“Being recognized alongside some of the best zoos in the country is an incredible honor,” Smith added. “This achievement belongs to our entire community, from our guests and members to our staff, volunteers, and supporters who believe in the importance of protecting wildlife and wild places.”
For more information, visit jacksonvillezoo.org.