Brevard Zoo is marking its 30th anniversary with a wild year-long celebration!
On the 30th day of each month through January 2025, the Zoo will also host mini celebrations with special animal moments and birthday activities. Zoo fans can see a full timeline as well as leave their own Zoo memories at BrevardZoo.org/Celebrate.
“As the largest community-built zoo in the world, we’re thrilled to invite our guests to join our birthday bash,” said Keith Winsten, CEO. “Through the support of our community, we’ve been able to grow from a small zoo to a leader in animal wellbeing, education, and conservation.”
Nonprofit East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF) was founded in 1986 by a group of local citizens who understood the need to preserve wildlife and connect families to nature. In less than 30 years, Brevard Zoo, the flagship campus for ECZF, has grown from a small, community zoo physically built by more than 16,000 volunteers to an internationally recognized force for animal wellbeing, STEM education, and conservation.
ECZF’s next project, an Aquarium and Conservation Center in Port Canaveral, will continue the Zoo’s impressive history of growth and expand the reach of ECZF’s mission-driven work to heal and protect our waterways, educate and empower our community, and ensure every animal in our care have the opportunity to thrive.
“This new campus will be a state-of-the-art center for us to grow our conservation efforts and expand the projects we care about and work toward,” Keith said. “We look forward to seeing the impact of these two campuses over the next 30 years.”
Recently, ECZF received $2.5 million in federal funding to bolster the establishment of the future Dr. Duane De Freese Coastal Conservation Hub, which will be a part of the futureAquarium and Conservation Center. Named in honor of the esteemed executive director of the IRL Council and National Estuary Program—this building will serve as a central hub for coordinating and facilitating regional restoration, research, and educational endeavors across Central Florida.
"This funding not only underscores our unwavering commitment to coastal conservation but also pays tribute to an under-sung hero of our region, Dr. Duane De Freese, whose career has been dedicated to driving meaningful change for the Indian River Lagoon,” Keith said. “I can’t dream of a more meaningful way to honor his legacy than through the transformational work that will unfold within this hub, serving as a beacon for environmental stewardship and innovation."
