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COPYRIGHT 2001 The Miami Herald
Byline: Cara Buckley
Mar. 21--Almost eight years after Parrot Jungle and Gardens hatched plans to move to Watson Island, with 1,100 macaws, toucans, miniature deer, giant tortoises and baby orangutans in tow, the 65-year-old bird world finally cleared all permit hurdles and will break ground today.
"The biggest delay may have been my personality," said owner Bern Levine, 59, a veterinarian and businessman. "Dealing with Dade County and their economic development offices was a long-term difficult issue. We bogged down inside for three years where we probably should have done it in a year."
Levine has had his heart set on moving to Watson Island since he bought Parrot Jungle from founder Franz Scherr in 1988, but didn't begin plans until 1993. The island's centrality, tucked between South Beach and downtown Miami, just minutes from the airport, beat Pinecrest's location hands down.
"It's the ultimate location for a theme park," Levine said....
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