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Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Okay, so maybe there aren't any bears at the Secret Garden, but with all the lions, tigers and leopards, you won't even notice.
Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn, better known as Siegfried & Roy, have dedicated their lives to the preservation of these unique animals, and it is evident in their "garden." From lush foliage native to the animals' natural habitat to jungle-themed music to the best medical care money can buy, the creatures that call the Secret Garden their home have it made.
The pair's efforts trace back to the early '80s when they began a breeding program with the Zoological Society of Cincinnati with two striped white tigers and a snow-white tiger cub. There are now nearly 40.
In 1995 they partnered with the Johannesburg Zoological Gardens in South Africa to make similar progress with white lions. At the time there were fewer than 10; there are now 23 in the care of Siegfried & Roy.
But white tigers and lions aren't the only exotic animals you'll find in the Secret Garden. Other inhabitants include a black panther, a snow leopard, an Asian leopard and an African leopard. The rarest animal in the Secret Garden is the heterozygous tiger, a golden tiger capable of producing pure white, white striped and golden striped litters.
Dolphin Habitat
A tropical oasis on the Las Vegas Strip, the Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage provides an entertaining and educational experience for all ages.
Because the research facility is designed to increase public awareness about dolphins, the animals are not trained and there are no scheduled performances. But if you stick around long enough, you may get to see an impromptu trick or two during an "interaction," or playtime, with staff members.
The 2.5-million-gallon facility includes a 22-foot-deep viewing tank, with both an outdoor and underground viewing area. The tanks replicate the dolphins' natural habitat, with an artificial coral reef system and sandy bottom.
The observation center is home to seven Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Duchess, the matriarch of the group, is the oldest dolphin of the pod at 28 years. She also is mother to four of the other dolphins, including Squirt, 13. A video highlighting the birth of Squirt can be seen in the underground viewing area.
The habitat and its staff possess a wealth of information on these amazing mammals. For example, they are warm-blooded, breathe air and actually nurse their newborn calves. They also communicate to one another through a series of chirps, whistles and squeals (which you can hear a recording of as you descend to the underground viewing area). You also will learn how dolphins use their sensitive hearing to locate objects or prey in the water.
No dolphin at the observation center has been taken from the wild; the animals at the habitat were either born in the facility or relocated from other marine facilities.
Thanks for your interest and if you have any questions or comments feel free to call or write us:
Phone: (702) 444-4321
Email: info@one-lasvegas.com
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