On any given weekend, hundreds of kids and their families take an adventure into the jungle.
The Jungle of Niles to be specific. It has 60,000 plants on display and for sale. It’s also home to some 200 rescue animals, including tortoises, Guinea pigs, rabbits, koi fish and birds.
But the days look to be numbered for this small business.
The owner says the lease was not renewed. Now, he is in a desperate search to find a new location for the Jungle.
“We either need to find a landlord with a big space or more people need to come visit,” said owner Neal Weiss. “Maybe there is an angel investor out there who wants to help animals in a very good environment.”
Angie Ginnane has worked at the Jungle for several years.
“There’s not anywhere like this place,” she said. “Where else you can go to feed 100 birds at once or see two giant tortoises roaming around the plant store? My hope is that we can find a new home.”
“This is the closest thing to an indoor jungle most people will ever see,” Weiss said. “I told my wife that it is not about the money I make or don’t make. It is about the smiles. That’s what this is about. That’s what makes me happy.”
The Jungle is asking for donations to help with costs associated with moving to a new location.
