BRANSON’S WILD WORLD
Branson’s Wild World may be Branson’s best kept secret! It has a great location: midway down Branson’s 76 strip next to Walmart, but few people know where it is. It sits off the street and to get to it, one enters Walmart’s east driveway and then follows their drive to the left. Branson’s Wild World is an indoor adventure park and aquarium that cares for hundreds of animals. There are over a hundred aquatic animals in dozens of different tanks, including stingrays that swim to you and gathering sharks awaiting food. From Puffer Fish to Parrot Fish, there are enough fish that one could spend their entire visit just learning about them. But Branson’s Wild World is more than just fish. Crocodiles and alligators peer out from the water like they are ready to strike. Snakes, lizards, and spiders crawl throughout their aquariums. The alligators— like most of the animals at this animal adventure park—were rescues. It seems they wandered out of their natural environment and into a populated area. Instead of being returned to the wild where they might create more havoc, it was decided that they were to be killed. Fortunately, the owners of Branson’s Wild World took them in. The alligators—one of which is now over 15 feet long—are relatively docile. One of the zookeepers told me that they are so docile that they are hand-fed and trained to retreat into the water when their food is delivered to them. While I was delighted that many of the animals were behind glass, like the spiders and snakes, there were so many more that I simply wanted to play with or cuddle. The Puma, or American Mountain Lion, for instance, bounded to the glass when it saw me. It rubbed its face against the glass at the spot where I reached out with my hand. Later, it returned to a perch and posed perfectly for a photograph. I wanted to brush the wolves; their winter
coats are falling out. I wondered if they were as tame as they seem. I was told that most of the animals were easily handled and relatively tame because they had been taken care of for so long. Still, they are wild animals, and one should always be wary. No playing with a mountain lion for me. One can play with the dingoes, though. Dingoes are wild canines native to Australia and were domesticated by the Aborigines centuries ago. This wild animal looks more like a dog than a wolf. It has roamed the continent of Australia for perhaps 10,000 years. That’s the kind of stuff one can learn at Branson’s Wild World Animal Adventure Park and Aquarium. Informational signs and videos are available throughout the park for those who want to utilize them. Staff is available throughout the adventure to answer questions. I asked if any of the animals ever returned to the wild. Not often, was the answer. These animals are rescues. Most had been raised in captivity and came to Branson’s Wild World after it was determined that they could not be properly cared for elsewhere. Others have been cared for so long, they don’t know how to fend for themselves. There are lots of other activities at Branson’s Wild World Adventure Park, such as animal feedings and other interactive
adventures, all with proper supervision. There is even the indoor, underwaterthemed Wild Abyss 3-D backlight mini golf course. It is complete with larger than life sea creatures, awesome artwork, and real fish displays. Wolf Woods, the region’s first indoor wolf display, and the Lemur Playground are big hits with visitors also. Plus, opening in June 2021, Wild World is adding new outdoor exhibits, which will include lions, tigers, foxes, kangaroos, jackals, and many other new animals. The zoo will double in size, but the price will stay the same! Branson’s Wild World Adventure Park is open from 10am to 6pm daily, and it is all indoors. Adult tickets begin at $18.95, and children’s tickets (under 12) begin at $11.95. Children under 2 are free. Find their ad on pages 26-27! ❚
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