Soon you and your group will be up close to some of planet's rarest creatures. To maintain their well being and your safety, we ask you to review and follow the guidelines below. You'll see animals at their best and everyone will have a safe, and best of all, a fun day at the zoo!

Tips for Adults
Adult Guides are responsible for the safety of the children.

Arrival and Basic Information

Review the Guidelines below with your group and encourage consideration toward the animals.

• Upon arrival in the zoo parking area, keep your group in the parking areas while the Group Leader announces your arrival.

• Have all wristbands in place on your group members. This will expedite the fastest entry into the zoo.

• Make sure you have a map with a schedule of events on the back before you leave the main entrance. This will describe the events and help you plan your time and find all the activities among the 52-acres.

• Main Restrooms are located in the gift shop and portable restrooms are located in the Cypress Hammock. With larger groups, it is best to plan breaks away from typical busy times like the rush immediately before or after a show.

• The zoo does not have a paging system, so pick a location to meet if someone gets separated from the group.

• In case of heavy rain or lightning, return to the gift shop. Do not stand beneath a large tree or in Safari Canyon.

• In the event of a minor scrape or cut, basic items like bandages and antiseptic are located in the gift shop for you to apply. If there is a more serious injury, please send someone to the nearest zoo staff member or gift shop to call for medical attention.

• For the preservation of the plants and animals, Naples Zoo is a non-smoking environment. Cigarettes may be smoked in the parking area in front of the gift shop.

Keeping your Group Safe and Having Fun

• Monitor the children carefully especially in the playground areas. Because of the inherent risk in any play area, all playgrounds are "play at your own risk."

• Never cross any barrier. If a personal item becomes located across a barrier, please ask a keeper or staff member to retrieve it. Most zoo tragedies reported in the national news arise from crossing barriers or trying to touch wild animals. Carnivores can and do reach through the mesh.

• Keep your young guests on the paths. Be especially careful around the exotic flora away from the main path. In addition to being very sharp, the sap of some plants can be very irritating to the skin or permanently damaging to eyes. The fruit of some of these plants can also be harmful if eaten. And along with the typical hazards of tree climbing, native animals including snakes often make homes up in the large Banyan type trees.

• Encourage your group to take their time. Running is not only risky on natural paths, but it is also stressful to animals. Predators see running creatures as prey and seeing this causes frustration by triggering the instinct to chase. Prey species can often be spooked by the fast movement and initiate an evasive retreat. Either one of these actions can cause injury when an animal runs into objects in their environment or a barrier fence.

• Please remember,for the safety of the animals, no balloons, streamers, glitter, confetti, glass, kazoos, whistles, pinatas, or straws are allowed in the zoo.
  
  

• Zoo staff will remove any adult or child guest found throwing objects or shouting at animals and require at least one adult to stay with the child or children in the parking area.

I have read the above guidelines and reviewed them with the other adults in my group. I have reviewed or will review these guidelines with my young guests prior to zoo entry and we will abide by them. I will be responsible for any and all damage caused by members of my group. I understand that members of my group may be asked to leave if found risking the health or safety of plants, animals or themselves by not following these guidelines.

Printed Name: ________________________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________________________

Date Signed: _____/_____/_____ Date of Party:_____/_____/_____