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 Don’t be surprised if you hear the roar of a lion or the screech of a
chimpanzee while driving along Highway 452 in Umatilla. That’s where we
found a large collection of exotic animals living within 85 acres of
secured compound.
Amazing Exotics is not a theme park or a zoo. It is North America’s
largest working com-pound with over 200 exotic animals. Many of them
have appeared on TV shows with celebrities like Jay Leno and Jack Hanna.
The compound was established about 20 years ago by Animal Care
Specialists Justin and Yvonne Finser. For the last seven years, the
public has been given the opportunity to tour the facilities.
 What makes this facility unique is that it is one of the world’s only
“Hands-On” exotic animal education facilities. A series of training
courses are offered for anyone over the age of 17. Students live in a
dormitory at the compound, and are expected to provide animal care as
part of their training. They also learn to handle primates, lions,
tigers, bears, leopards and wolves. The training also includes courses
in animal care, animal nutrition, data collection, capture techniques,
zoo history, and wild animal behavior. These studies benefit those who
are hoping to work in animal related careers, such as Safari Parks and
Zoos.
 They offer four
different tours: the Discovery Tour, in which an instructor describes
the animals at the compound. Other tours include opportunities to
actually hold and play with some of the smaller animals, such as
Capuchin Monkeys and Gibbons. If you would like to interact with a tiger
or a leopard, the Encounter Tour is for you. You’ll actually be able to
touch and feel the smooth coat of these beautiful cats!
Amazing Exotics also educates the public about the dangers of man’s
influence on these animals and their environment. The staff establishes
a personal relationship with the animals under their care, and visitors
come away with a greater appreciation of our need to preserve these
species. In the near future, Amazing Exotics is planning to expand its
facilities to include more space in which these wonderful animals we be
able to roam.
Tours are by reservation only, so if you are planning to visit Central
Florida and you would like more information about the compound, please
visit them online at
www.amazingexotics.com.
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