Information
Landmark: Assiniboine Park ZooCity: Winnipeg
Country: Canada
Continent: North America
Assiniboine Park Zoo, Winnipeg, Canada, North America
Overview
Assiniboine Park Zoo ranks among Winnipeg’s favorite spots, where visitors can wander past playful seals and towering giraffes in the heart of a lush, green park.Tucked inside Assiniboine Park, the zoo houses more than 200 animal species and puts its energy into conservation, education, and giving visitors of all ages immersive experiences-like watching polar bears swim through crystal-blue water just inches away.Opened in 1904, the Assiniboine Park Zoo has grown far beyond its early enclosures, adding new habitats and modern facilities over the decades.It began as a modest little zoo, just a handful of cages and chatter, and has since grown into one of Winnipeg’s leading centers for education and culture.Over the years, the zoo has shifted from rows of plain wire cages to a modern space centered on conservation, where lush habitats replace bare concrete.Major updates and fresh exhibits now bring richer habitats for the animals and livelier visits for guests-like the splash of a new waterfall in the otter enclosure.At Assiniboine Park Zoo, the Journey to Churchill exhibit draws crowds with its immersive look at Arctic wildlife, from roaming muskox to the splash of a polar bear diving into icy water.The exhibit showcases creatures of the far north-polar bears, wolves, arctic foxes, bison, and caribou-each set against icy backdrops that hint at their frozen homeland.At the heart of the exhibit sits the polar bear habitat, with a broad glass window where you can watch the bears glide through blue water and play among drifting ice.You’ll find one of North America’s finest polar bear exhibits here, where the air smells faintly of ice and the bears pace along snow-dusted rocks.Polar Bear Viewing: Visitors can watch polar bears roam through a sprawling habitat, its rocky ledges and icy pools crafted to feel like the Arctic.The exhibit features dry ground and a cool pool, giving the bears room to swim and play with toys that keep them curious.This experience helps you grasp the species’ natural behavior-like how they hunt or rest-and see firsthand how climate change is reshaping their home.Animal Conservation and Education: At Assiniboine Park Zoo, staff work to share the urgent story of wildlife conservation, highlighting vulnerable species like the snow leopard.The zoo runs a range of conservation programs, working to protect endangered species and teach visitors about living sustainably-like showing how recycled water keeps the gardens green.Wildlife Education Programs: The zoo runs a variety of hands-on learning experiences for visitors-school field trips where kids can watch otters splash, interactive exhibits they can touch and explore, and special events devoted to conservation.Zoo staff and educators explain how zoos help preserve species and share the tough environmental challenges animals face today, from shrinking forests to polluted rivers.If you’re at the zoo, stop by Tundra Grill for a meal with a clear view of the polar bears padding through the snow and the wildlife roaming nearby.It’s the ideal spot to unwind over a good meal, watching the animals-especially the polar bears as they glide through the icy water.Tropical and African Exhibits: The zoo showcases diverse ecosystems, from the damp, leafy shadows of a tropical rainforest to the sunbaked grasses of an African savanna.In the African Savannah section of the zoo, you’ll spot giraffes stretching for leaves, zebras grazing in the sun, antelopes on the move, and meerkats standing alert.The exhibit recreates an African landscape, with wide, sunlit enclosures where the animals can wander freely and nudge each other in the dust.Tropical Rainforest: The zoo features an exhibit that recreates the steamy, green world of a rainforest, where monkeys swing through branches, birds flash bright feathers, and reptiles bask in the shade.Thick, warm air wraps around you, sheltering creatures you’d expect to see deep in the rainforests of Central and South America.Penguin and sea lion exhibits draw big crowds, giving visitors a chance to watch the birds dive through icy water and the sleek lions bask on sun-warmed rocks.The penguin exhibit draws a crowd, with people stopping to watch the lively birds dart through the water and splash each other.You’ll spot sea lions in the zoo’s water-themed exhibits, diving, splashing, and showing off playful tricks as they enjoy enrichment activities.Farmyard: This family-friendly exhibit lets visitors get up close with pigs, sheep, goats, and clucking chickens.The farmyard invites kids and adults to see where familiar animals come from, letting them hear a rooster crow and learn firsthand about farming and caring for livestock.At Assiniboine Park Zoo, families will find plenty of spots where kids can climb, explore, and learn about animals and nature in playful, hands-on ways.At the zoo, kids can climb through interactive playgrounds, explore colorful educational displays, and get their hands dirty at exhibits that bring animal behavior and environmental care to life in a way that feels like play.Assiniboine Park may be known for its zoo, but it also houses the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, where you can wander among orchids, towering palms, and greenery from every corner of the globe.Visitors can unwind in the tranquil gardens, where the scent of blooming lilies drifts through the air, and the zoo’s spot in Assiniboine Park blends animal exhibits seamlessly with lush horticultural displays.Assiniboine Park Zoo offers events and programs all year, from a lively Wildlife Festival with colorful banners to gatherings that celebrate animals and spread the word about conservation.You’ll find animal-themed activities, hands-on workshops, and lively educational talks-maybe even one where you can touch a smooth turtle shell.Nighttime Programs: At select times each year, the zoo opens its gates after dark, inviting visitors to wander lamplit paths and discover how nocturnal animals move, hunt, and call to one another.Keeper Talks and Feeding Times: Throughout the day, zookeepers give lively talks and feeding demos, letting visitors watch them hand out crisp carrots or fresh fish while sharing stories about each animal’s care, diet, and wild habits.At Assiniboine Park Zoo, sustainability isn’t just a goal-it’s a priority, guiding everything from wildlife care to the quiet hum of energy‑efficient lights.The zoo’s educational programs help people understand the dangers wildlife face-like vanishing forests, rising temperatures, and the crack of a poacher’s rifle.The zoo teams up with partners around the world to protect wildlife, from elephants roaming savannas to rare birds cared for in its aviaries.As part of the Journey to Churchill exhibit, the zoo focuses on showing visitors how climate change affects Arctic wildlife, especially polar bears, whose shrinking sea ice leaves them searching longer for food.At the zoo, visitors can explore how the fate of each species is tied to its environment, whether through a hands-on exhibit or watching a keeper feed a rare bird.Wildlife Protection: The zoo works with worldwide conservation and breeding efforts, helping endangered animals-like the deep-chested Sumatran tiger-survive and thrive.It partners with groups like the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) and other wildlife advocates, lending its efforts to conservation-whether that means protecting habitats or safeguarding a single nesting site.
