Grand Opening March 6-8, 2009 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony March 6, 10:00 a.m.

A special thanks to Jacksonville Asian American Alliance for their help in making the entertainment for this event possible.

The opening of these areas foreshadows the next phases of our development which include many new Asian animal exhibits and expanding gardens along our riverfront.

The Asian Bamboo garden serves as an introduction to our Asian animals. Rather than create an authentic garden specific to any one country or culture, we are creating a garden that we hope will resonate with peoples with experience of Asian cultures – people from Asia, Asian-Americans, or people who have visited, or lived in Asia. Significant features include the Moon Gate, a traditional Asian gate with a circular entry that symbolizes perfection, the Lotus Pool, featuring rock and water expressing the yin and yang principles of Chinese garden design, and the Moon Bridge, which reflected in the water becomes a full circle recalling the moon. The Orchid Pavilion, surrounded by bamboo, overlooks the Koi Pool, and kids and adults will love the Bamboo Mist Forest, home to our new bronze Giant Panda sculptures.

The Komodo Dragon exhibit will be set in an Indonesian fishing village on the Island of Komodo. It will appear that the Komodo Dragons are wandering the backyards of the village or basking in the sun. The exhibit will feature opportunities for zookeepers to train the dragons through an interactive panel in public view.