Information
Landmark: Calgary ZooCity: Calgary
Country: Canada
Continent: North America
Calgary Zoo, Calgary, Canada, North America
Overview
The Calgary Zoo ranks among Canada’s best, tucked into Prince Island Park just a short walk from Calgary’s bustling downtown.Locals and tourists alike treasure this place, where you can laugh, learn, and maybe even touch a starfish in the hands-on exhibits.The Calgary Zoo draws crowds with its hands-on programs, wide range of animal exhibits, and strong commitment to conservation-you might spot a red panda lounging in the sun.The Calgary Zoo sits beside the Bow River, only minutes from Calgary’s downtown, where you can hear the water rushing past its banks.You’ll find it on St. George’s Island in Prince Island Park, where the river glints in the sun and visitors wander through the zoo’s exhibits against a beautiful, open backdrop.The zoo opened its gates in 1929 and has steadily expanded, now stretching across wide grounds filled with varied animal habitats and blooming gardens.The zoo stretches across about 120 acres, home to more than 1,000 animals from over 270 species, including bright-feathered macaws and towering giraffes from far corners of the globe.The Calgary Zoo’s mission is clear: protect wildlife through conservation, share knowledge through education, and drive discovery through research.It’s meant to spark a love for wildlife, encourage people to protect fragile habitats, and show why safeguarding biodiversity matters-so children can still hear birdsong decades from now.At the Calgary Zoo, you’ll find a wide variety of animal exhibits, each carefully crafted to mirror the creatures’ natural habitats-right down to the rustle of leaves in a tropical canopy or the cool shade of a rocky den.Visitors flock to some of the zoo’s biggest draws, like the towering giraffe enclosure that smells faintly of fresh hay.Canadian Wilds takes you on a journey through the country’s wildlife, from polar bears roaming the Arctic ice to salmon leaping along the Pacific coast and elk wandering the Rocky Mountain slopes.Visitors can spot all kinds of Canadian wildlife, from sleek beavers to towering moose, and even the mighty plains bison-its dark, shaggy coat a familiar sight across the open prairie.Wolves: The zoo is home to timber wolves, creatures that once roamed the snowy forests of Canada.Bears: Canada’s northern regions are home to both grizzlies and polar bears, from the brown-shouldered giants that roam the Yukon to the white hunters pacing the Arctic ice.Beavers, elk, and a host of other creatures-this section shines a light on the animals that shape Canada’s ecosystems, from the splash of a beaver’s tail to the quiet tread of an elk through snow.Number two.Destination Africa is one of the zoo’s liveliest and most visited exhibits, where you can watch giraffes stretch for leafy branches and spot a colorful mix of wildlife from across the African continent.At the Calgary Zoo, you can stand a few feet from reticulated giraffes, towering creatures whose long necks sway gently as they glance your way.Lions: This exhibit showcases African lions, their golden coats catching the light, and they’re among the most iconic animals linked to the continent.You’ll spot Grant’s zebras kicking up dust, sleek cheetahs stretched in the sun, curious meerkats on alert, and massive rhinos lumbering nearby.Hippos lounge in a wide, muddy pool designed to mirror the rivers and wetlands they roam in Africa.At the zoo, you’ll spot African birds like hornbills with their striking curved beaks and the tall, elegant bustards.Three.The Eurasia exhibit showcases the rich variety of animals from Asia and Europe, from snow leopards prowling rocky slopes to red deer grazing in forest clearings.It features red pandas-small, rust-colored creatures with curious eyes-one of the most beloved highlights and an endangered species from the Himalayas.The zoo is home to Amur tigers, a critically endangered species that roam the dense, snow-dusted forests of eastern Russia and China.Snow leopards are another highlight-a rare, elusive cat that prowls the windswept peaks of Central Asia.Gibbons: At the zoo, you’ll find white-cheeked gibbons swinging with effortless grace and calling out in rich, echoing notes.Number four.At the Calgary Zoo, Prehistoric Park whisks visitors back to the age of dinosaurs, where towering replicas loom and the air seems to echo with ancient roars.In this section, you’ll spot life-size dinosaurs that move and blink, giving you a vivid peek into the world millions of years ago.The exhibit dives into the story of the Mesozoic Era-the age of dinosaurs-and showcases life-size, roaring replicas of icons like Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops, their teeth bared as if ready to lunge.Educational displays fill the space, with hands-on exhibits that explore how species evolved and reveal the link between ancient reptiles and today’s animals-like tracing a crocodile’s jawline back millions of years.Number five is written right there, a small mark on the page like a black pebble on white snow.Penguin Plunge is one of the zoo’s star attractions, letting you watch sleek black-and-white penguins dive and dart through clear, chilly water just inches away.The exhibit showcases African penguins, sleek black-and-white birds native to the wind-swept shores of southern Africa.The exhibit features an underwater viewing area where you can watch penguins glide past the glass, sleek bodies cutting through the blue in quick, playful dives.Cold Weather Adaptation: African penguins don’t come from icy shores like their Antarctic cousins, but the exhibit shows how penguins can flourish in all kinds of climates, from sun-warmed beaches to brisk, windy coasts.Number six.At the Calgary Zoo, you can step into the indoor Butterfly Garden-a warm, tropical space where hundreds of butterflies, from tiny chrysalises to full, fluttering wings, drift just inches from you.Tropical Environment: Here you’ll find dazzling butterflies flitting among vibrant blooms, each plant chosen to draw these colorful visitors.The Butterfly Garden invites visitors to discover how butterflies grow from tiny eggs to fluttering adults, how they help flowers bloom through pollination, and why protecting them matters.Seven.The ENMAX Conservatory, tucked inside the zoo, bursts with vibrant orchids, towering palms, and other exotic plants gathered from every corner of the globe.You can wander through a lush tropical rainforest, step into a sun-baked desert garden, and discover countless other vibrant plant displays.Inside the conservatory, thick green leaves and bright blossoms from tropical climates create a warm, vibrant retreat from the city's chill.Seasonal Displays: The conservatory hosts changing exhibits-sparkling holiday decorations in winter, vibrant flower shows bursting with color in spring.The Calgary Zoo offers more than a fun day out-it leads the way in wildlife conservation, from protecting endangered species to teaching visitors how to help.The zoo works hard to protect wildlife, from tracking animals in distant forests to caring for endangered species right inside its gates.The zoo takes part in several conservation efforts, including Species Survival Plans-programs that help protect endangered animals through careful breeding, restoring their habitats, and teaching visitors why they matter, like the quiet, watchful snow leopards in their care.The zoo backs projects that bring damaged habitats back to life, especially for species teetering on the edge of extinction, like the soft call of a red panda deep in the forest.The zoo runs educational programs for all ages, from lively summer camps and school visits to guided tours and hands-on workshops exploring animal behavior, conservation, and biodiversity.The Calgary Zoo charges an admission fee, but children, seniors, and members get a discount-like a few dollars off the price of a summer ticket.You can also grab a family pass or an annual membership, both of which shave more off the price-like paying once and walking through the gate all year.The zoo’s open year-round, with longer hours in the summer and on special event days-sometimes you can wander past the lion enclosure as the evening air cools.Hours change with the seasons, so it’s best to check-winter hours, for example, may end before dusk.
