Animal Connections offers guests a chance to see a variety of smaller species from all over the world, from reptiles and snakes to sloths and tropical birds. The habitats are a mix of indoor enclosures and outdoor pens, all viewable from a walkway that winds its way around the main buildings of the exhibit.
Fast Facts
Open Date: March 2017
Location: Nairobi
Replaced: Jambo Junction
History
In early March 2017, the former Jambo Junction area reopened to guests after being closed for several months. There was no main signage denoting the attraction, and much of the interpretive signage for exhibits on the main building and reptile & amphibian tanks were missing. Several of the habitats were also empty at that point.
In early spring 2017, red ruffed lemurs Madi & Zeny moved into the exhibit formerly occupied by Kenya the serval.
By early April 2017, the park was referring to the attraction as Animal Connections, and the new logo was unveiled shortly after. The paper maps in-park were updated to add the logo and attraction name in May 2017. New signage for Animal Connections and a number of the habitats within was added in the summer of 2017.
In September 2018, the Animal Connections staff won the #TeamKeeper award from the American Association of Zoo Keepers.
In celebration of International Sloth Day on October 20, 2018, up-close encounters were offered at Animal Connections with some of the park’s sloths.
In Spring 2019, Kamali the bald eagle was moved from her habitat at the entrance to Animal Connection to a new location behind the scenes.
The park introduced guests to Sydney, an echidna puggle in late July 2020. At about seven months old, the park noted it was one of the few zoological facilities in the country where guests could see a baby echidna.
In celebration of Easter, the amphibians and reptiles at Animal Connections received some special enrichment on April 2 – 4, 2021.
Additional information and images on Animal Connections will be added in the future.
Sources
Twitter – @FarmStuffz | Mar 7 2017 – accessed 7/9/2019
Twitter – @androckb | Mar 19 2017 – accessed 7/9/2019
Twitter – @BuschGardens | Apr 2 2017 – accessed 7/9/2019
Twitter – @BuschGardens | Sep 27 2018 – accessed 8/1/2019
Twitter – @BuschGardens | Oct 20 2018 – accessed 8/2/2019
Twitter – @BuschGardens | May 30 2019 – accessed 12/13/2019
Twitter – @BuschGardens | Jul 27 2020 – accessed 7/27/2020
Twitter – @Night_owl_85 | Mar 5 2017 – accessed 11/12/2020
Twitter – @androckb | Apr 2 2017 – accessed 11/14/2020
Twitter – @androckb | Apr 16 2017 – accessed 11/14/2020
Twitter – @androckb | May 28 2017 – accessed 11/15/2020
Touring Central Florida | Aug 12 2017 – accessed 8/16/2017
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Easter Celebration – accessed 3/30/2021
Last updated: January 24, 2022