Amazon World
Wildlife Park
Amazon World Zoo Park is the Isle of Wight's largest collection of exotic animals and birds, set within a lush, semi-tropical environment near Arreton, in the rural heart of the island between Newport and Sandown. Since its establishment in 1990, the park has grown from a specialist bird collection into a full zoo housing mammals, reptiles, insects and amphibians alongside its extensive aviary, with a strong emphasis on conservation, breeding programmes and education.
The park's origins lie in the personal collection of its founder, who began keeping tropical birds on the Isle of Wight in the 1980s. The mild island climate, moderated by the surrounding sea, proved surprisingly hospitable to species from warmer latitudes, and the collection expanded steadily. When Amazon World opened to the public, it focused primarily on South American species, hence the name, but the range has since broadened to include animals from Africa, Asia, Australia and Madagascar.
The main tropical house is the centrepiece of the park. Visitors walk through a large, heated glasshouse containing free-flying tropical birds, dense planting and waterways designed to evoke a rainforest environment. Toucans, macaws, parrots and smaller species move freely overhead and through the foliage, and the immersive effect is remarkably convincing. The air inside is warm and humid year-round, providing a striking contrast to the Isle of Wight weather outside.
Beyond the tropical house, the park is arranged in a series of themed sections connected by woodland paths. The big cat enclosure houses snow leopards, one of the rarest and most elusive of all large cats, and Amazon World participates in the European Endangered Species Programme for this species. Other mammals in the collection include lemurs, capybaras, wallabies, meerkats and various primate species. The lemur walk-through enclosure allows visitors to enter the animals' space and observe them at close quarters, which is consistently one of the most popular experiences in the park.
The reptile house contains a substantial collection of snakes, lizards, crocodilians and tortoises, with species ranging from tiny dart frogs to large reticulated pythons. Display tanks are designed to replicate natural habitats, and keepers provide regular talks explaining the biology and conservation status of the residents. An insect house displays leaf-cutter ants, stick insects, tarantulas and other invertebrates, often to the fascination of younger visitors.
Amazon World runs daily keeper talks and feeding demonstrations, which vary by season but typically include the penguins, meerkats, lemurs and big cats. These sessions offer visitors the chance to learn about the animals' behaviour, diet and conservation challenges from the people who know them best. The park also offers animal encounter experiences, allowing small groups to get closer to selected species under supervised conditions.
The park's conservation work extends beyond its own gates. Amazon World supports field conservation projects in several countries and participates in coordinated breeding programmes managed by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). The park has successfully bred a number of threatened species, contributing to insurance populations held in captivity against the possibility of extinction in the wild.
For families visiting the Isle of Wight, Amazon World offers a full day out. The park includes indoor and outdoor play areas, a cafe serving hot meals and refreshments, and a gift shop. The combination of indoor tropical environments and outdoor enclosures means the park is viable in most weather conditions, which is a practical consideration on an island where rain is never entirely unexpected. The rural setting among the fields and woods of central Wight adds to the sense of escape.