WONDERS OF WILDLIFE continued from page 20
Swamp at Night
Marvels of the Deep
hours as you walk more than 1.5 miles of trails . It takes time to take in the displays , exhibits and points of interest . Electric scooters can be rented for $ 25 . Complimentary wheelchairs are available .
The museum is home to more than 800 species of freshwater and saltwater fish , mammals , reptiles , amphibians and birds . You can see a black bear , otters , beaver , a colony of Gentoo penguins , flamingos and an albino crocodile named " Snowball .''
The aquatic habitats require 1.5 gallons of water in both small and gigantic aquariums . Museum visitors can touch live stingrays circling in a shallow tank . An underwater tunnel puts you in a river where huge fish swim around you . One room is devoted to jellyfish . The Out to Sea Shark Dive lets guests get inside a metal cage and come face-to-face with sharks , barracuda and Atlantic goliath groupers .
In the Great Oceans Hall , you can see historic fishing boats that were used by Ernest Hemingway and Zane Grey . The hall features a 300,000-gallon circular aquarium that you can step inside to watch zebra sharks , leopard rays and two sea turtles , named Izzy and Miss Pam .
Wonders of Wildlife is a not-for-profit educational and conservation attraction that drew 1.8 million visitors in 2018 . It is located adjacent to Bass Pro Shops ' national headquarters , and is named for Morris , founder of Bass Pro Shops . When the museum opened , Morris said , " Wonders of Wildlife is an inspirational journey around the world that celebrates the roles of hunters and anglers as America ' s true conservation heroes .''
Among the anglers recognized are some U . S . presidents who liked to fish , including Calvin Coolidge , Franklin Roosevelt , Harry Truman , George H . W . Bush , George W . Bush , and Jimmy Carter . A display features the identical tackle boxes that were used by Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter . Presidents Carter and George W . Bush attended the museum ' s grand opening in 2017 . Also recognized was America ' s cowboy , Roy Rogers , an avid angler .
More than 40 conservation organizations contributed to the creation of Wonders of Wildlife where experts work non stop providing specialized care to the creatures under their charge , including diets that are specific to the species .
" We go through thousands of pounds of food on a daily basis ,'' said Mike
Daniel , director of animal care for the museum . " We have to exceed their nutrient needs in terms of calories and protein so that they stay strong . The people here are experts on the animals they take care of . Animal well-being is at the forefront of everything we do .''
Since 2020 , the museum has helped rehabilitate 46 sea turtles for return to the wild in cooperation with the U . S . Fish
Sheep Mountain and Wildlife Service .
The museum was accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2022 .
The museum is open to the public daily from 10 a . m . to 8 p . m . For ticket information , visit wondersofwildlife . org . If you live in Southwest Missouri , you can qualify for the " Just For Neighbors '' discount . Your billing zip code must match one of the qualifying county zip codes to be eligible .
22 JOPLIN MAGAZINE | APRIL / MAY