White egrets, blue heron, and wing-spreading anhingas roost on branches. The tour turns around at a rehabilitation facility where injured owls, eagles, and vultures reside. Kodiak, grizzly, North American black, Asian black, and South American spectacled bears live in plain view of visitors here. Eagles, owls, hawks, falcons, and other free-flying birds of prey demonstrate their natural abilities in one amphitheater show, while parrots, macaws, toucans, cockatoos, and other rain forest natives preen for cameras in another. One of the largest and most complete collections of crocodilian species lives in a cypress swamp on Ross Allen Island at Silver Springs.
People can observe teeth-gnashing feedings safely from a network of elevated boardwalks.
People can pet giraffes at Silver Springs, but the long-necked critters enjoy each other's company best. Giraffes in a nearby barnyard bend down for gentle touches too. Antsy children burn off energy aboard an 1800s riverboat playscape complete with spiral slides, a cargo-net climbing maze, and a small Ferris wheel. Hollywood's love of Silver Springs comes through in this exhibit hall. Posters, photos, film clips, and other artifacts relate to the many movies made at Silver Springs, including six Tarzan films, The Yearling, Rebel Without a Cause, Thunderball, and Moonraker.