Adjusted Hours and Impacts

Polar Bear Viewing Impact: The Taylor Family Foundation Polar Bear Sanctuary will be will be temporarily closed on Tuesday, March 24th and Wednesday, March 25th, to accommodate habitat maintenance. Our polar bear, ‘Siku’, will not be viewable during this time. Thank you for your understanding.

African Rainforest Aviary Pool Cleaning: The African Rainforest Aviary will be closed on Wednesday, April 1st, to accommodate pool cleaning. Guests are still welcome to explore the rest of the African Rainforest Building, with both entry and exit through the main doors. Thank you for your understanding.

Early 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.

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.

Animal Viewing Impacts:

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.

Species Viewable: Bactrian camels, Komodo dragons, white-handed gibbons, Malayan tapirs, red-crowned cranes, Turkmenian markhors, Amur tigers, wild boar, 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. Our peacocks and Dalmatian pelicans are currently spending time in their winter holding space.

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.

Bite-Sized

Farewell to ‘Josephine’

November 12, 2023 | 1 minute read

We are saddened to share that our senior king penguin, ‘Josephine’, passed away this morning at the remarkable age of 31. Josephine came to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo in 2018 from the Montreal Biodome and has been a much-loved member of the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo family since her arrival.

Necropsy findings revealed that Josephine died due to age-related complications associated with kidney failure. Leading up to her passing, she had also developed a large urate stone in her cloaca that exacerbated her condition.

Josephine’s remarkable age at the time of her passing is a testament to the incredible care she received since coming to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo in 2018. She was a much-loved member of the zoo family and will be fondly remembered.

Farewell to ‘Josephine’

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