Authorities gave the all-clear at Zoo Miami on Monday after another swatting call, deputies said.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, specialized units conducted a sweep at the zoo after receiving the latest of several swatting calls at Zoo Miami.
Zoo Miami reopened on Monday following the series of bomb threats.
Authorities said the threats appeared to be hoaxes, but they still prompted large law-enforcement responses and temporary closure.
Officials on Sunday said enhanced security measures were going to be put in place following the threats.
Visitors who returned to the zoo today saw a stronger law enforcement presence, including K-9 units
The first threat came on Friday, forcing the zoo to shut down while deputies searched the property.
Some visitors who frequent the park said hearing about the threats was unsettling.
“I think the threads are awful, but they exist, walking into a grocery store or anywhere else,” Cindy Smith said. “We have to overcome that by not living in fear.”
A second threat on Saturday led to another evacuation and sweep, and a third threat was reported on Sunday.
Each time, deputies cleared the zoo and found no explosives.
Investigators said the calls appear to be swatting incidents, which are false reports meant to trigger a large emergency response.
One parkgoer, who is a school teacher, told NBC6 that, unfortunately, this is the norm for her.
“We have no concerns at all,” Rene Wolfe said. “I’m a school teacher. We get them all the time at school. We’re prepared, we’re just going to live our life like we always do without fear.”
Despite the scares, Wolfe said that she has dealt with bomb threats before at the school where she teaches, and this moment prepared her for it
“They were all hoaxes, we pretend to make it as normal as can be. We do our safety protocol and keep the kids safe and loved.”
In a statement, Miami-Dade Parks said safety remains the top priority, stating:
“Officials say they are working closely with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, implementing additional precautionary measures including K-9 sweeps, increased surveillance, and enhanced screening protocols.”
They add that they will continue coordinating with law enforcement to assess and strengthen security if needed.
As the investigation into those threats continues, the zoo said its number one priority is the safety of the staff, guests and animals.