Zoo Miami Exhibit Meant To Give Sense Of Thrill

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Black bears Libby and Laruel are two favorites at Zoo Miami and pretty soon they're getting a brand new home. So are the flamingos.

They're moving to the "watering hole." It's at the new entrance to the zoo, which is still under construction. It's partially covered by, what will look like a cloud.

"This is all going to be wrapped in a white tinsel material," said Zoo Miami Spokesman Ron Magill. "That can be lit from different lights that are positioned throughout this open plaza area."

That leads to a new exhibit called Florida: Mission Everglades.

"This exhibit is not meant to satisfy the curiosity of people about the Everglades," Magill said, "It's meant to ignite your curiosity, to ignite your wonder."

Crocodiles will be a centerpiece of the new area. If you want to stare into the eye of the toothy beast – you can!

"There's going to be a tube that goes through," Magill explains, "where you can see the crocodiles going through the tube. So you're in the water with the crocodiles."

Along with crocs, you'll see otters and gators too.

"You walk over a little rope bridge that's going to dangle you over the flippin' alligators," Magill said, "So you feel like, 'Oh my gosh! The alligators are below me!' a little sense of thrill that way."

Libby and Laurel are moving into the neighborhood too – along with a Florida Panther. Just like with the crocs – you can go eyeball to eyeball with them looking through a special tree with windows.

"You can come out and put your face to the window and the panther can be right here and go, 'Whew!' And you go 'Whoa! The pather's right in your face,'" said Magill.

The exhibit Florida: Mission Everglades should be done by late Fall 2016. The new entrance will welcome visitors in March of 2016.