LOXAHATCHEE GROVES ATTRACTION FIELD GUIDE
Up Close with Panthers, Jaguars and Leopards: A Keeper-Led Immersion in Loxahatchee Groves
A three-hour, keeper-guided session at Panther Ridge Conservation Center that teaches animal care, diet preparation and enrichment-making for Jaguars, Leopards and Florida Panthers.
Up Close with Panthers, Jaguars and Leopards: A Keeper-Led Immersion in Loxahatchee Groves.
Set in Loxahatchee Groves, the Big Cat Experience at Panther Ridge Conservation Center is a focused, three-hour immersion that pairs small groups with a keeper to learn how the center cares for its largest felids. Participants move behind the scenes to learn species histories and individual personalities, help with cleaning and diet preparation, and build enrichment items for Jaguar, Leopard and Florida Panther enclosures — all under strict safety protocols that prohibit physical contact.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Meet Jaguars, Leopards and Florida Panthers
The experience centers on three species: Jaguar, Leopard and Florida Panther. Keepers introduce participants to each cat’s species information and tell the stories of individual animals so visitors learn to distinguish personalities as well as natural histories.
Hands-on Keeper Duties — Without Contact
You join a keeper to assist with daily routines: cleaning enclosures, preparing diets and creating enrichment items. For safety, the program is strictly non-contact at all times.
Small-Group, Keeper-Guided Immersion
Sessions are deliberately intimate: the program accommodates up to two participants per booking and unfolds as a one-on-one keeper exchange, designed to deepen understanding of captive care and animal welfare over a concentrated three-hour period.
What the day feels like
What It Feels Like
Across three hours you shadow a keeper and shift between demonstration and participation: briefing on species and individual cat personalities, practical tasks such as enclosure cleaning and diet prep, and a hands-on session making enrichment for a chosen cat. The tempo is deliberate and instructional, built around keeper explanations and supervised activity rather than casual observation.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this experience suits — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The program runs for 3 hours.
The stated rate is $250 per person; bookings are limited to a maximum of two participants.
Participants must be at least 16 years old. For safety, there is no physical contact with the cats at any time.
No specific gear requirements are listed in the provided material; follow any guidance the operator provides when you book.
This session is operated by Panther Ridge Conservation Center in Loxahatchee Groves, Florida.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Big Cat Experience?
The experience is three hours in duration.
What will I actually do during the visit?
You join a keeper to learn about the cats, assist with cleaning and diet preparation, and create an enrichment item for a chosen cat while the keeper provides interpretation and supervision.
Which species will I see?
The program includes Jaguar, Leopard and Florida Panther.
Is there an age minimum?
Yes — participants must be at least 16 years old.
Are visitors allowed to touch the cats?
No — for the safety of visitors and the animals, there is no physical contact permitted at any point.
How many people can join a session?
Bookings are limited to a maximum of two people.
How much does the experience cost?
The stated rate is $250 per person.