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|park=[[Image:TheZooLogo.png|center|200px|The Zoo Northwest Floridalogo]]

|mapcode=<googlemap lat="30.400714" lon="-86.983223" zoom="1613" width="288" height="288200">

}}'''The Zoo Northwest Florida''' (also called '''The Gulf Breeze Zoo''' or simply '''The Zoo''') hosts over 900 animals on more than 30 acres of preservation landwas an animal preserve that served the Pensacola area from [[1984]] to [[2009]]. The Zoo is located Located in the [[Midway]] area at 5701 [[Gulf Breeze Parkway]], 10 miles east of [[Gulf Breeze]] and 19 miles west of [[Fort Walton]], it hosted over 900 animals on more than 30 acres of preservation land. In addition to the animals themselves, the Zoo features featured amenities such as the Safari Line Train, Jungle Café, Whistlestop Snack Bar, and a gift shop in the main building.

The Zoo was founded in [[1984]] by four businessmen, including [[Pat Quinn]], who became its director. On [[September 1]], [[2004]], weeks after before being damaged by [[Hurricane Ivan]], control was transferred to the non-profit '''Gulf Coast Zoological Society'''. After many years under the leadership of [[Doug Kemper]], inurance executive [[Danyelle Lantz]] was named executive director in October [[2007]]. The Zoo faced a number of [[#Problems|problems]] in its later years, including extensive damage from [[Hurricane Ivan]], dying animals and dwindling attendance.

The Zoo has faced After struggling to find a number new source of funding, the Zoo closed its doors on [[#Problems|problemsAugust 16]] in recent years, including extensive damage from [[Hurricane Ivan2009]], dying animals and dwindling attendancewith the stated intent to reopen should funding be provided. Three days later, however, the for-profit group that owned the Zoo's property announced that with "no long-term commitment from the community… we are officially, now, closing the zoo."<ref>"Zoo closed for good." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 19, 2009.</ref>

==Exhibits & animalsAnimal exhibits==:''List incomplete. Cost per year to feed each animal is listed Exhibits at time of closure, in parenthesesorder of a roughly clockwise progression through the Zoo.''<ref name="closing"/>*Asia'''Gibbon Island''' and '''Lemur Island''' &ndash; The first exhibit to greet guests outside the gift shop, a female Bengal tiger pond with two islands inhabited by lemurs (including Omega) and gibbons (including Mai Lang).*'''The Farm''' and '''Petting Zoo''' &ndash; Featuring an assortment of barnyard animals.*'''Otters''' &ndash; Amphibious enclosure for otters Alex and Tsunami.*'''Giraffes''' &ndash; Colby and Gabby are the two current giraffe inhabitants.*'''Neo-Tropical Exhibit''' &ndash; At the southwest corner of the Zoo. Primates include mandrils ($3Ben and Ash)*'''Perimeter enclosures''' &ndash; Nyala,000gazelles, kudu, muntjac, ostriches, cranes, impala.*'''Australian Outback''' &ndash; Kangaroos (including Calvin), emus, kookaburra, lorikeets and cockatoos.*Mwelu'''Cat Country''' &ndash; Includes African lions (Larry, Kit and Kat), a Western lowland gorilla Bengal tigers ($2Raja and Asia),500leopard (Osiris) and cougar (Mexica).*Gabby, '''The 'Gator Hole''' &ndash; More than a female giraffe dozen American alligators.*'''Wild Florida''' &ndash; Includes Amercian black bears ($2Kirby and Paddington),000coyote (Sasha), barn owl, opossum, barn owl, etc.*Larry'''Asian Rhino Enclosure''' &ndash; Currently unoccupied. Formerly home to Jafar (died 2007) and Limpopo.*'''African Adventure''' &ndash; A wildlife preserve with large, open areas enclosed by water features. Three islands on a male central pond are inhabited by gorillas (Babuka, Rwanda and Husani), chimpanzees (Zachary and Patrick) and colobi. Other animals include hippos (Kiboko and Cleo), zebras, wildebeest, kudu, elands, and African lion wild dogs ($3brothers Phoenix and Quatro).*'''Dragon World''' &ndash; Kimodo Dragon (Ivan,000not named for [[Hurricane Ivan|the storm]])*Jafar'''Bats''' *'''Orangutans''' &ndash; Kerijan, Sarah and Indah.*'''Giant Snake Pavilion''' &ndash; Anaconda, boa constrictor, and several species of python. ==Facilities & other features==*'''Lion's Lair Gift Shop''' &ndash; Zoo entrance, ticket sales and gift shop, plus administrative offices and guest relations. Enclosures held a male greater onevariety of animals including snakes (One-horned rhino Eyed Willy, Lucifer and One-Way), hedgehogs ($2Bubba,000Hedge and Snowball) and a Leopard Gecko (Pepe).*'''Karibu Restaurant''' and '''Serengeti Room''' &ndash; Filled with terrariums holding frogs, tarantulas, etc.*'''Nairobi Snack Bar'''*'''Wildlife Theater'''*'''Boardwalk''' &ndash; Overlooked the African Adventure wildlife preserve and terminated near Chimp Island, with coin-operated telescopes for viewing the animals.*'''Camellia Walk'''*'''Japanese Garden'''

The Zoo has operated in the red since its opening in [[1984]]. It sustained massive damages in [[Hurricane Ivan]], including a number of completely destroyed exhibits. Despite a $2.7 million policy, the Zoo's insurance company only paid $59,000 of more than $600,000 in damages.<ref name="closing">"The Zoo could be closing." ''Pensacola News Journal'', July 7, 2007.</ref> The ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' reported in July 2007 that the Zoo is in danger of closing unless $1 million is raised by the end of [[2007]].<ref name="closing"/>

In the first seven months of [[2007]], a total of 44 animals had died in the Zoo from various causes.<ref name="woes">"Zoo woes take center stage." ''Pensacola News Journal'', July 29, 2007.</ref> In January, four kangroos died of bacteria-related illness within a three-day period.<ref>[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/1956 String of kangaroo deaths plagues zoo] - [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], January 17, 2007</ref> Two popular animals were found dead by zookeepers in July. Baby hippopotamus Niles died on [[July 7]] from a punctured lung caused by her father, Kiboko.<ref>"Father's bite killed baby hippo." ''Pensacola News Journal'', July 13, 2007.</ref> On [[July 17]], 10-year-old giraffe Sammy died from "acute stress and increased body temperature" resulting from a neck injury, possibly incurred by one of the posts or cables that surround the giraffes' enclosure.<ref>"Zoo loses Sammy the giraffe." ''Pensacola News Journal'', July 19, 2007.</ref>The rhino died as well. The most recent death occured to the new giraffe Colby, who was on loan from Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa, FL, on Feb. 15th, just a week after his birthday.