Attractions
Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage |
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Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage Details
- Hours of operation: Open daily, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Last admissions are sold 30 minutes prior to closing.
- Cost: Admission to both exhibits can be had for $15 for adults, $10 for children 4-12 and free for children under 3.
- Payment options: Cash, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover.
- Reservations: Not required.
- Location: At the Mirage hotel-casino located on the Strip between Flamingo and Spring Mountain Road.
- Age/Height/Weight restrictions: None.
Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage Review
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! OK, 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. The Secret Garden is also home to five golden, white-striped and snow tiger cubs.
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Be a dolphin trainer!
Ever dream of being a dolphin trainer? Then why not try it out for a day? Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat now offers visitors the chance to do just that. From 9:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. you will play with and feed the dolphins while accompanied by habitat staff. Throughout this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you will also have your photo taken at various locations in the habitat. At the end of the day, your photos will be put on a CD for you to take home as a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Fees are $550 per person with a four person maximum. Call (702) 792-7889 for more information or to make reservations. |
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 eight Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Duchess, the matriarch of the group, is the oldest dolphin of the pod. She also is mother to five of the other dolphins. On June 8, 2007, Duchess gave birth to newest addition to the family, Sgt. Pepper.
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.
Private Events at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat
Never before available to the public, Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage is now available for private functions.
This unique setting is ideal for those wanting to hold an event surrounded by the beauty of nature. In addition to numerous exotic animals, the habitat is also filled with majestic palm trees and lush foliage and can accommodate parties of up to 650 guests.
Whether you are hosting a reception, dinner, meeting or conference, the unique jungle atmosphere of the habitat is sure to provide an experience not soon forgotten.
For more information contact The Mirage Catering Department at (800) 939-9389.
-- Review by Noelani Jones
