Branson West, Missouri: Branson Interactive Zoo aka Predator World (Closed)

I'm glad I'm not the only person who was disturbed by this "zoo." This place should be shut down. When I returned home I called the city of Springfield to let them know how cruel this place is (Springfield handles these kind of issues for Branson). I left this "zoo" in tears and have been thinking about it ever since. (I was there July 2007). If anyone knows how to help these poor animals please try.

I visited this "zoo" based on the brochures and pamphlets distributed by our hotel and places throughout Branson. I took my 10 year old son, and I was very ashamed for him to see animals living in these conditions. It seems like an accident waiting to happen. It was very scary to see one of the high school-age workers interacting with the wolves. One of the workers in the shark and sting ray feeding area admitted to us that he was still a high school student.

Predator World seems to have taken a turn towards the mainstream. They are not calling themselves Predator World anymore and are now just the Branson Zoo, or at least as far as I could tell.

One tip -- this "zoo" is not for the animal activist, or even those with much of a conscience. Most of our party was forced to rush through the exhibits looking for an exit -- it seems there is only one way out, and that is to go parade past all of the animals. The animals looked healthy but miserable.

The crocodiles and alligators were in such tiny, filthy pools that they had no where to go. The aquariums were dirty and the water murky. There was a broom handle at the bottom of the shark pool.

I'm sure the owners and keepers at this "zoo" mean well, but it seems they're in over their heads. Unfortunately, they boast that they're expecting 100 new animals soon. I have no idea where they'll put them.