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Get Up Close & Personal With Exotic Animals In The Redland

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Ever been up close to a lemur and an owl? A visit to the Zoological Wildlife Foundation can bring you closer to the animals than ever before.

There are more than 100 exotic animals roaming the Zoological Wildlife Foundation grounds in the Redland.

The Zoological Wildlife Foundation is the brain child of Maria Tabraue and her husband Mario.

"You ride in a golf cart. You are able to see the different enclosures we have. You are able to ask questions on a one-to-one basis with our tour guides," said Maria Tabraue. "Some people have never seen a lemur. Some people have never seen a lion."

At the Wildlife Foundation one can see two lions, brothers Simba and Abu.

Just a couple of chain link fences are what separates visitors from the more dangerous animals. But with the less lethal animals visitors can go face to face.

The foundation is funded privately. They also let the public tour the grounds for a fee which go back in to the care and maintenance of the animals.

And all the animals are used to the attention.

The Tabraues's goal is to educate visitors about the animals and hopes in the future that education will help keep them alive.

"In the wild they are disappearing. Their habitats are becoming more limited and limited," said Maria Tabraue.

If you want to visit the zoological wildlife foundation and get an up close experience, click here.

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