Animal Viewing Impacts:

Polar Bears: Our polar bears will not be viewable in the main habitat on Tuesday, June 23, due to maintenance. Polar bears may be viewable in the courtyard through the amphitheatre window. Thank you for your understanding.

African Rainforest Building: Habitat maintenance and mulch work will impact animal viewing in the Africain Rainforest Building:

Western lowland gorillas: viewable outdoors, weather-permitting, June 26, 29, and 30
Eastern black-and-white colobus monkeys: off-view until June 26
Mandrills: off-view June 24

PETRONAS Gateway to Asia Malayan Tapir Viewing: ‘Sempurna’ and her female calf ‘Nyawa’ have daily access to either the main indoor habitat or the outdoor habitat from 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. They’ll also have access to their behind-the-scenes space and may choose to spend time there, 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.

Species Viewable: Bactrian camels, Komodo dragons, white-handed gibbons, Malayan tapirs, red-crowned cranes, Turkmenian markhors, Amur tigers, and Pallas’s cats.
Species Not Viewable: Snow leopards and red pandas have been relocated during construction, but don’t worry – these beloved species will be back in 2026.

West Gate Closure

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.

On-site Program

Changes (11)

How does studying extinct organisms help us to understand the present and prepare for the future? Find out how in this immersive full-day program where students will discover mechanisms of evolution through games, scientific observation, and comparative analysis. Explore concepts including natural selection, adaptation, and speciation both in a modern context and in the fossil record. Along the way, gain an appreciation for how evolutionary science helps researchers better understand biodiversity, environmental change, and the future survival of species in a changing world.

Location: In a designated zoo classroom and outdoors
Length: 4 hours
Program times: 10:00 a.m.
Maximum students: 37
Cost:

September-March: $365
April: $375

Curricular Connections

This program is designed to complement the Alberta grade 11 Science curriculum. The following key concepts are emphasized:

Binomial nomenclature (Bio 20)

Adaptation and variation (Bio 20)

Natural selection (Bio 20)

Species and speciation (Sci 10, 20, 30; Bio 20, 30)

Models of evolution (e.g. punctuated equilibrium, gradualism; Bio 20, 30)

On-Site Program Information and FAQ

Changes (11)

Curricular Connections

Categories

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