Wildlife World Zoo brings aquarium to Valley

Frank Berta

The Wildlife World Aquarium, the new addition to the Wildlife World Zoo, located in Litchfield Park, offers Valley residents an opportunity to experience a large display of fresh and salt water creatures.As well as a collection of exotic animals without the high cost of an admission ticket, or the time and cost of an extended trip out of town.

Described as the only public aquarium located between Albuquerque and San Diego, the Wildlife World Aquarium is conveniently located on the southeast corner of the 303 and Northern Avenue, easily reached within an hours drive from most locations in the Valley.

Still in it’s infancy, the aquarium has opened with three main exhibit buildings, each with its own theme, Diversity of Life in Water, The Wild and The Wonderful, and Predators.

The indoor and outdoor aquarium displays include 80 exhibits containing a variety of fish, mammals, birds, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles. Some of the more exotic species include reef sharks, penguins, eels, barracuda, and crocodiles.

A highlight of the aquarium is the stingray petting and feeding pool, where visitors are able to touch the stingrays. There are other ‘hands on’ displays as well.

In addition, a log flume ride allows visitors an opportunity to float around three primate islands, as well as float through an aquarium tunnel filled with tropical South Pacific Reef fish, before plunging riders three stories in a ‘guaranteed to soak’ finale.

Add to this a beautifully designed restaurant and bar, where guests can have their choice of dining with the sharks indoors, with some tables just inches away from the 60,000 gallon shark tank in the Tiburon Aquarium Restaurant, or dining on the patio of the Flamingo Lounge, which is located next to a Caribbean flamingo pool. Either promises to be a memorable experience. The restaurant and bar are open for lunch and dinner without an entrance fee to the aquarium.

As part of The Wildlife World Zoo, an admission ticket gives guests entry to the zoo, as well as the aquarium, however, there is a lower cost aquarium only ticket after 5 p.m.

The zoo offers a large collection of exotic animals, birds and reptiles, all housed in a very natural setting.

The paths consist of finely crushed granite and earth, rather than asphalt and concrete, and many of the animals can be viewed from just a few feet away. The displays don’t have the ‘caged animal’ feeling associated with may zoos.

Both the creatures in the new aquarium, and the aquarium itself are still growing, and both promise to only get better with time.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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