A tiger walks in an overhead enclosure at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, where palm trees and ferns are integrated into the design. | Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Published on May 19, 2025 at 2:31 pm
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The local home for lions, tigers, bears and other wildlife has a new name: the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
The zoo said it changed its name from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to better reflect the zoo’s dual dedication to plants and animals.
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The updated name emphasizes the zoo’s expansive botanical gardens, with more than 1,000 plant species integrated among the animal exhibits, said Nikki Smith, the zoo’s chief philanthropy and marketing officer.
“This rebrand is more than a new logo. It’s a reflection of who we are and where we’re going,” Smith said in a news release. “We’re not just a place for animals. We’re also a thriving botanical garden, a conservation leader, and a hub for education for all ages.”
The new logo features a stylized elephant head and trunk melding into a floral pattern, showing that the zoo is a place for animals and a thriving botanical garden, Smith said. It also debuts as the zoo releases a new commercial, titled “FOR,” which melds images of tigers and penguins with orchids and bamboo forests at the North Jacksonville facility.
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Along with new signs at the zoo, the updated logo and name will be highlighted on the zoo’s updated website and merchandise over the coming months. The rebrand also includes a new tagline: “For Animals. For Plants. Forever.”
The zoo, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is also building a new $70 million entrance and manatee rehabilitation habitat slated to open in 2026.
