Grieving ‘Bishop’
We're saddened to share that earlier this month, we said goodbye to ‘Bishop’, our 9.5-year-old East African crowned crane. Bishop had been receiving treatment for several months for a suspected fungal mass…
Read MoreEarly Building Closure: Last entry to the ENMAX Conservatory will be at 3:00 p.m. and last entry to Kitamba Café will be at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27th, to accommodate set up for our ZooDunnit (18+) event. Thank you for your understanding.
Penguin Café: Penguin Café will be temporarily closed from Monday, March 9th, to Thursday, March 12th, while we complete renovations. The North Gift Shop will remain open during this time. Thank you for your understanding.
Seasonal Closures
Gorilla Amphitheatre: The Gorilla Amphitheatre is closed for the season from October 15th, 2025. Our gorilla troop remains viewable in their indoor habitat.
Prehistoric Park: Prehistoric Park is closed for the season from October 27th, 2025, pending favourable weather conditions.
PETRONAS Gateway to Asia Malayan Tapir Viewing: ‘Sempurna’ and her calf have daily access to the main indoor habitat from 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. They’ll also have access to their behind-the-scenes space and may choose to spend time there, especially when the calf is nursing, so viewing isn’t always guaranteed. Thank you for your understanding.
Exploration Asia
The Exploration Asia Redevelopment project is officially underway! While there are some viewing impacts in the area, you can still visit many of your favourite species.
Due to significant construction activities in and around Exploration Asia, the zoo’s West Gate will remain closed for the 2025 season and is expected to remain closed until at least 2028/2029. This necessary step supports the safe movement of visitors while we undertake exciting improvements to animal habitats and visitor experiences.
Bite-Sized
We are saddended to share the news that we had to say goodbye to our 13-year-old female rock hyrax, ‘Hestia’. Well into her golden years, Hestia was considered geriatric for her species and had been receiving supportive care from the Animal Care, Health & Welfare (ACHW) team for many age-related health challenges. When it became clear that her quality of life could no longer be maintained, the ACHW team made the compassionate decision that euthanasia was in her best interest.
Hestia was born here at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on June 7, 2010. At 13 years of age, she had more than doubled the median life expectancy of her species under human care which is 5.4 years. Her exceptionally long and wonderful life can be attributed to the exemplary care she received from the ACHW team.
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when it’s to those who have spent their entire lives with us. Hestia was loved by many and will be dearly missed by all of us. Please keep our Animal Care, Health & Welfare team in your thoughts during this difficult time.

Rock hyrax, ‘Hestia’