Zoological-Botanical Park

Endemic exotic species are almost always the most endangered, and as much is true for the cutesy big cat cum mongoose of Madagascar – the fossa. With an estimated 5,000 remain fossas inhabitant of the Andohahela National Park, Madagascar, and around 30 in captivity around the world, it's a rare joy to come within breathing distance of the species. Las Vegas Zoo (also known as Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park) is one of the few places in the Western hemisphere providing a sympathetic replication of the fossa's natural rainforest environ – it's almost like being in the heart of the Madagascan jungle, minus the trek!

Encompassing an area just over 3 acres on Rancho Drive (5 miles from the Strip), Las Vegas Zoo isn't the most spacious of wildlife parks, but what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in wow factor. Over 200 species roam the purposefully created open-air habitats, rain-forest enclosures and outdoor aquarium, including Chinese alligators and a rare Indo-Chinese tiger named Mowar. It is thought there are no longer any breeding packs left in the wild - the last one spotted in China in 2007 and subsequently shot for mauling a landkeeper. Slightly bigger than the more common Bengal tiger, this distinctly orange Cambodian beauty is one of 70 left in captivity and a must see during your visit to Las Vegas Zoo.

Southern Nevada's premier zoo counts over 100 species of mammal among its menagerie of wildlife, including a group of Barbary apes – the only ones in the USA. With its sharp, fox-like features and laid back outlook, the Black (Swamp) Wallabies are a curious species to watch as they hop lazily about their enclosure, looking for the nearest supply of lush green vegetation. They're the only species of the genus “wallabia” with a penchant for shopping around for their food, and have some pretty peculiar likings for poisonous plants like hemlock – considered fatally dangerous by most mammal species.

Alligator Pathway is just one of the many exciting reptile experiences of Las Vegas Zoo, a 1,500 foot enclosure with a dense canopied path running through its heart. America's native alligator lives within the enclosure on the left, while the bamboo shrouded swamp area to the right serves as a habitat for the elusive Chinese genus. Both are menacing and mesmerizing at feeding time, their usual lazy gait suddenly shrugged off as they shoot into the water to catch the prey (already dead we might add). Nearby Reptile Alley delights visitors with an exotic melange of species, including the deadly Mojave rattlesnake and a Belize viper. No visit to Las Vegas Zoo would be complete without a visit to the playful otter family at Otter Aquarium. Visitors may enjoy a wholly unique viewpoint of the otters at play, from the confines of a below-ground viewing chamber. Lose all sense of time and reality, within one of America's best loved zoos since 1981 – it's a visit you won't ever forget!