Edmonton Valley Zoo

09/05/2024

Reminder: Join us tonight at the Wild Neighbours Cafe where we are Spilling the Beans on Edmonton's River Valley!

This coffee chat is your chance to learn more about our own backyard. This month’s speaker is a local naturalist and advocate for all things wild in the river valley - Nature Nick. In partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation and WILD Outside, the Edmonton Valley Zoo will also be hosting a river valley shoreline clean-up prior to the talk.

Our Spilling the Beans conservation coffee series occurs on the first Thursday of each month. Today's shoreline cleanup begins at 4 p.m. and the talk starts at 5:30 p.m.
Admission to the zoo is not required for this event, but seating is limited! You can RSVP at https://shorturl.at/ShBpt

09/04/2024

Happy !
National Wildlife Day is all about raising awareness about challenges facing wildlife all around the world. Two of the main factors harming species at risk are environmental changes and human activities - including deforestation and hunting. However, individuals and groups across the globe are working together to make a difference.

Zoos and aquariums around the world share a commitment to environmental education and hope to inspire visitors like you to help take action. Did you know? Visiting the is a way you can help! A portion of proceeds from each zoo admission goes toward conservation efforts at home and abroad.

09/04/2024

Notice: Due to some post-summer maintenance, there will be limited access to outdoor areas of the Urban Farm over the next few days. However, the building itself and all of the amenities - including Farmer's Kitchen, Moo at the Zoo, and washrooms - will be open. Thank you for your understanding!

09/02/2024

🍂 Fall is in the air and our hours have changed! ⏰
From now until Thanksgiving, the will be open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays. See you soon!

09/01/2024

08/31/2024

There are only two weeks left to experience the Wildlife Rescue exhibit here at the !

Wildlife Rescue: Second Chance at Survival is a travelling exhibit of 13 detailed sculptures showcasing species of animals that have been pushed to the brink of extinction but have been successfully reintroduced to their natural ranges with the help of humans. The exhibit was created by Little Ray’s Exhibitions and is on display until Sept. 15.

Which sculpture is your favourite?

08/30/2024

Spend your long weekend with us at the ! We're open daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. until Sept. 3.

08/29/2024

Did you know that the Edmonton Valley Zoo is the only zoo in the world located in the central parkland region? Learn more about our amazing landscape and join the Edmonton Valley Zoo as we “Spill the Beans” on our river valley in the Wild Neighbours Cafe next week!

On Sept. 5, join us for a chat with local naturalist and advocate for all things wild in the river valley - Nature Nick. In partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation and WILD Outside, the will also be hosting a river valley shoreline clean-up prior to the talk. If you'd like to RSVP for the event and/or volunteer to help with our shoreline clean-up, visit https://www.edmonton.ca/attractions_events/edmonton_valley_zoo/event-days for more information.

08/27/2024

We are looking for great stories about how children connect with nature!
Have you ever experienced a special connection with an animal? Tell us your story and be in with a chance to win tickets for you and your family to visit a CAZA-accredited zoo or aquarium!
How to participate?
1. Follow CAZA on Facebook and/or Instagram
Facebook: Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums
Instagram: / Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums
2. Submit one of the following options to [email protected]:
a drawing, picture, craft, letter, or video (if you go for a drawing, picture, or craft, it should have a short description of no more than 40 words) of an experience where you felt a special connection with an animal.
Make sure identify your category in the mail:
Tots and Toddlers (0-5 years)
Young Explorers (6-12 years)
Teen Conservationists (13-17 years)
Submission Deadline: September 30.
Winners Announcement: October 11 on CAZA’s social media accounts.
To see the complete contest description, follow the link: https://caza.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Children-Contest-Animal-Tales-of-Wild-Connection-1.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0lizOQu0Moj3hfwLrH7GriIqSZB2bXzaSWGnnd3zatjxhvnKEes91mNNg_aem_-QA42T4bj4VYiQbRr8HJtA

08/26/2024

And that's a wrap! Summer day camps at the have ended for another year and we couldn't have done it without you! From games and crafts to animal encounters and sweeping up p**p (yes, really), more than 650 kids were able to experience fun!

08/23/2024

Another successful Zoobrew is in the books! A giant wolf-sized AROOOO goes out to the Valley Zoo Development Society and the Ark Project for coordinating another great summer of events. All proceeds from the three nights of Zoobrew this summer are going toward the new Arctic Wolf Habitat, which is expected to be complete later this year.

For more on Zoobrew, visit Wild Times at https://wildtimes.buildingourzoo.com/2024/08/23/cheers-to-conservation

08/21/2024

We are incredibly sad to share that we had to say goodbye to a cherished member of our zoo family. 💔 Late last week the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s animal care and animal health teams made the difficult but humane decision to compassionately euthanize Taiga, our 16-year-old Amur tiger. 🐅 Taiga had been experiencing age-related medical concerns in recent months, including decreased mobility due to osteoarthritis and spondylosis, as well as central vision loss. She was under close observation and care from both her veterinary and zookeeping teams but despite ongoing and increased treatment, her health began to rapidly decline.

Taiga was born in Northern Ontario and came to the in 2008 as a kitten. Our animal care team spent countless hours hand-rearing both Taiga and our other tiger, Amba. Our team continued to work with Taiga using positive reinforcement training to allow for voluntary injections that helped treat her osteoarthritis.

Taiga was known for her outgoing personality and goofy nature. She continued to show particular affinity for her care team and always greeted them with a chuff in the morning. She particularly enjoyed a good scratch through the fence with a back scratcher. Although Taiga and Amba did not live together - female tigers are generally solitary - they would often greet each other through the fence. Our team will continue to monitor Amba in the days and weeks ahead to ensure she is receiving any additional care she may need during this time.

Thank you to Taiga’s incredible care team, both past and present, for the exceptional commitment, dedication, support and love you provided her during her life. Please keep our entire team in your thoughts during this difficult time as we grieve our loss.

Finally, thank you to all of the zoo guests who have visited and loved Taiga over the past 16 years. She will be missed by all of us. ❤

08/17/2024

Happy National Honey Bee Day and the is proud to be home to honey bee hives! 🐝

Did you know honey bees are responsible for 1/3 of our food? Bees pollinate 80 percent of the world’s plants, including more than 90 different food crops.

Honey bees are not aggressive and are unlikely to sting you. They also need our help! Pollinators are in steep decline. So, what can you do?
🐝 Choose native plants for your yard in a variety of shapes and colors to encourage diversity.
🐝 Ensure something is blooming each season (spring, summer, and fall).
🐝 Supply a water source in your yard
🐝Install a bee hotel

In addition to our honey bee hives, the zoo has also welcomed a number of solitary bee hives to the facility. Because honey bees aren’t native to Canada, it’s important for us to foster the natural pollinators of the Edmonton area too!

If you’re interested in keeping a beehive in Edmonton visit edmonton.ca/bees for more information.

08/17/2024

Please Note: The Edmonton Valley Zoo will be closing early this afternoon to support Zoobrew! 🍻
The last admission window for today will be 3:15 p.m. The gate will close at 4 p.m. and the zoo will be cleared at 4:15 p.m.

The gates will reopen for Zoobrew patrons at 4:50 p.m.! As a reminder, this evening's event is SOLD OUT and tickets will not be available at the gate.

08/16/2024

Reminder! Tomorrow is the last installment of Zoobrew for 2024! 🍺
This event is now SOLD OUT, and tickets are not available at the gate. Thank you to everyone for helping make the Zoobrew events so successful. Not only is Zoobrew a night of wild entertainment, but it’s also an opportunity to support the conservation efforts of the . By attending this event, you’re helping to raise funds that go directly to supporting our animals - including the new Arctic Wolf habitat currently under construction! 🍻

08/13/2024

It’s International Wolf Day and we are howling with excitement! Our brand new Arctic wolf exhibit is taking shape! 🐺

The new habitat is meticulously crafted to replicate the tundra, featuring indigenous flora that creates an authentic and captivating environment for both visitors and our arctic wolf residents. The exterior fence and new water feature are now complete. The interior of a new outdoor den has been ordered and landscaping work is being finalized with the planting of various trees throughout the exhibit. The building foundation is scheduled to begin this week on the new 1,400 square foot structure that will feature three indoor spaces for the wolves. This space has been designed for the well-being and care of the wolves, ensuring that veterinary examinations and other necessary procedures can be conducted with the utmost consideration for their welfare.

Although the new female wolves haven’t yet been introduced to Tundra, our carnivore team has been carefully planning and preparing all of the wolves to finally meet face to face in the new exhibit later this year. All three wolves are being crate trained for the move and are making excellent progress. Now that the female wolves have cleared quarantine, zookeepers have begun the first phase of the introduction process by sharing enrichment items between exhibits to allow for initial scent introductions.

If you would like to contribute to the new Arctic wolf habitat project, please visit https://www.buildingourzoo.com/revitalization/arctic-wolf-enclosure/

08/13/2024

On International Armadillo Day, we celebrate Scarp! Scarp is our 23-year-old three-banded armadillo.

All armadillos live in Central and South America 🌎 except for the nine-banded armadillo found in the southern United States. Three-banded armadillos, like Scarp, live in the open grassy areas, forests, and marshes of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. They are timid, solitary creatures but get together to mate or keep warm. They sleep 😴 up to 16 hours a day in burrows when not foraging for food.
Armadillos have scutes, a natural armour of movable bony plates covering their backs, heads, legs and tails. The bony plates are covered by thick, hard skin.

Though there are 20 species of armadillos, the three-banded variety is the only one that can roll itself into a ball as a defence mechanism against predators. The others dig a hole and hunker down to protect their soft body parts. The shell also helps protect them from thorny vegetation that is abundant in their natural habitats. Under the surface, armadillos have soft, hairy skin.

With a life expectancy of 15-20 years, Scarp is certainly an old man! His longevity is a testament to the extraordinary care he receives here at the . Happy International Armadillo Day, Scarp!

08/12/2024

Happy World Elephant Day from Lucy and all of your friends here at the ! 🐘

Lucy has been spending her summer taking walks around the zoo where she chooses the path and sets the pace. Although you may not always see her during your visits, as she spends a lot of time in the non-public areas of the zoo, she particularly enjoys taking her team up to the top of the zoo near the Conservation Carousel. Up there she likes spending time in the meadow where she can snack on tall grass, dust herself with the dirt to keep the bugs away, or take a mud bath on a hot day.

Thank you to our exceptional elephant team who go above and beyond every day to provide Lucy with the best care possible. We ❤️ you, and we ❤️ Lucy!

From our entire Edmonton Valley Zoo team, this is an 🐘 elephant-sized thank you to all of our zoo members, guests, supporters, and friends for creating memories here. Happy World Elephant Day!

08/11/2024

There’s less than one week to go until the next - and final - Zoobrew event of the summer!☀️🍺

Are you ready to embark on a wild adventure like no other? Zoobrew is the ultimate twilight event for beer and animal lovers alike! Aug. 17 is your last chance this summer to experience the magic of the Edmonton Valley Zoo after-hours while enjoying a drink in hand. 🥂 As the sun sets on the , you’ll witness the transformation of this family-friendly destination into a peaceful escape perfect for adults. Whether you’re looking for a fun night out with friends, a unique date night with your significant otter, or just a chance to unwind and relax, Zoobrew has got you covered.
Grab your friends, grab a drink, and let’s cheers to conservation at Zoobrew! 🍻

For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit https://arkproject.buildingourzoo.com/zoobrew/☀️

08/10/2024

We've had a lot of questions asking when you will be able to see our red panda cubs! 👀 The answer? Not any time soon.

When cubs are born, they are tiny - around 120 grams (4 oz) each, which is comparable to the size of a roll of pennies. It takes around one month - which is how old they are now! - before they develop the full colouration of their hair. At around 50 days old we can expect they will start to actively explore the den, groom, and play. ✨ At three months old they might start venturing farther from the nest, and potentially into the yard, but will stick close to mom Kiki until they are independent, at around 8 months old.

Did you know? Red panda cubs usually nurse until they are between 13-22 weeks old. After this they will start chewing on bamboo twigs supplied by mom but they don’t start to regularly eat solid food until they are approximately four months old.

08/09/2024

Did you know? Russet, Dakota Pearl, Violet, and Bridget were all named after potato varieties because of their chubby potato appearance when they were born! 🦦🥔

Here, they're trying to figure out a puzzle feeder with mom, Najoua. 🧩

08/08/2024

Happy International Cat Day!
To honour some of our su-purrrr pawesome residents here at the , consider adopting an animal! 🐯

The Zoo Development Society's Adopt an Animal program inspires people to improve and enrich the lives of the animals in the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s care. You can symbolically adopt your favourite felines, including the snow leopard, Amur tiger, or Canada Lynx. 🐾
For more information, visit https://www.buildingourzoo.com/shop/adopt/

08/07/2024

Our otter pups have names! 🦦 We are pleased to introduce you to Russet, Dakota Pearl, Violet, and Bridget. Born on Valentine’s Day, our six-month-old pups are busy growing, learning and, well, causing otter chaos. 💙🩷🩷🩷

Although they can be hesitant of new things, the pups move as a gang and will follow mom Najoua anywhere. They chew on anything and everything - ice cubes are a favourite - and are curious and playful. Najoua has taught them excellent swimming and diving skills, and the little foursome can often be seen diving to the bottom of the pool in search of any food tidbits that may have been missed. 🌊

Our animal care team has been working diligently with the pups and have noted they all work very hard during training sessions as they try to figure things out. Russet, the only male pup, gets a gold star ⭐️ for already targeting well and being the best at holding still when asked!

Physically, all four pups have dark colouring that resembles dad, Steve. Because they all look so similar, visual identification is tricky at this point but if you see one trailing at the back of the pack, it’s likely Bridget, who seems a little more cautious than her brother and sisters.

08/06/2024

❤️ 🐫 A special note from Ambrosia's care team:

When Ambrosia was born, her mother lacked maternal instinct and almost immediately zoo staff determined she would need to be supplementally fed. Despite our best efforts to foster a relationship between Ambrosia and her mom, it wasn’t meant to be and we took on the role of primary caregivers. Ambrosia’s team came in and fed her throughout the night for many months and continued to bottle feed her daily until shortly after her first birthday. A critical part of bottle raising a baby camel was doing everything we could to ensure she was taught to the best of our abilities how to be a camel. We fed her next to the other camels, taught her to eat hay (even by trying some ourselves!), and made sure she knew how to navigate her home by walking throughout the pasture with her. We worked diligently to teach her polite camel manners, in hopes of making her reintegration into the herd easier. When Ambrosia was big enough to join the other camels, she became the quirkiest member of our herd. Some of our fondest memories of Ambrosia include her love of rocks in the yard, the way she bounced and chased her toys, and her nuzzling hellos when she greeted her keepers. She loved getting into trouble when we were working in her yard - grabbing tools and buckets to knock over just for fun. Her strong relationships with her keepers allowed us to train a variety of behaviors with her from a young age, her favorite being haltering and leading so she could go for walks throughout the zoo with us. Ambrosia’s sweet but chaotic energy (in the best possible way) will be so missed.

08/05/2024

Yes - we are open today!
Spend your extra weekend day with us from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. See you soon!

08/03/2024

Happy Birthday, Eugene! Our Goeldi's Monkey is celebrating his 4th birthday today!

Goeldi's monkeys are small primates found in the Amazon rainforest in southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador and Peru, western Brazil and northern Bolivia. They stand only 21-23 cm high (8 to 9 inches) with a long tail. Goeldi's mainly eat fruits, insects and small vertebrates, but in the wild are known to rely heavily on mushrooms during the dry season when fruit is scarce. They communicate through vocalizations, scent glands on the stomach, facial expressions and body language. They are classified as a vulnerable species, with their main threats being habitat loss, hunting, and the pet trade. Fortunately, efforts are being made to help Goeldi's monkey conservation - there are multiple protected habitat areas in South America and international coordination to limit their trade.

Did you know? Goeldi's monkeys can leap a horizontal distance of almost four metres without losing height!
Have a great birthday, Eugene!

08/02/2024

It's PANDA-monium here at the - our family has grown by two!
Along with proud parents Kiki and Tango, we are excited to announce the birth of two red panda cubs on July 7. The 3-week-old cubs are nursing well, steadily growing, and hitting all the expected developmental milestones for this stage. Kiki is an incredibly devoted and attentive first time mom.

Red pandas face many pre- and post-partum challenges. This is a particularly critical time for Kiki and her cubs, so during this important developmental stage they are not visible to the public. Their eyes are just opening and they are still learning how to walk in the safety of their nest box. However, we will be sharing photos and videos from the nest box as the cubs grow and develop. Stay tuned for more to come!

Fun Fact: the birth of these cubs means we have THREE generations of red pandas under our roof! They join dad Tango and Grandpa Kalden as part of our red panda family. This is the first set of red panda cubs born here at the Edmonton Valley Zoo since July 2017 when we welcomed Paprika and Pepper.

08/01/2024

Reminder: Join us tonight at the Wild Neighbours Cafe where we are Spilling the Beans on endangered animals at the zoo! ☕

This coffee chat is your chance to explore the world of endangered species. Learn about the IUCN Red List, endangered species like the red panda, and the incredible efforts being made right here at the to save the endangered Rocky Mountain Northern Leopard Frog. 🐸 Then, if weather and air quality cooperates, we will take interested attendees on an after hours endangered species walk through the zoo.

Our Spilling the Beans conservation coffee series occurs on the first Thursday of each month. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the talk starts at 5:30 p.m. Admission to the zoo is not required for this event, but seating and tour space is limited to 50 spots, so we ask that all attendees RSVP at the link below. We hope to see you there!

https://rb.gy/owm80j

07/30/2024

💔 We are heartbroken to share the sad news that our beloved Bactrian camel, Ambrosia, has died. She was three years old.

Ambrosia had been under veterinary care for the past several weeks for some serious medical issues. Unfortunately, her health took a turn for the worse late last week and our team made the difficult but humane decision to compassionately euthanize her.

She was born here at the Edmonton Valley Zoo on March 1, 2021 and was hand-reared by her dedicated animal care team due to her mother not caring for her. Her zookeepers devoted countless hours and extraordinary efforts in raising the baby camel. As is the case for many hand-reared animals, Ambrosia formed close bonds with her care team, even after successfully reintegrating with the camel herd as she matured. Ambrosia was known for her quirky and vocal individual personality, and enjoyed walking throughout the zoo to her favourite browse locations.

Ambrosia was an incredibly special animal to all of us here at the zoo. Please keep our animal care team in your thoughts during this difficult time as they grieve their loss. Thank you to all of Ambrosia’s caregivers, both past and present, for the incredible love you showed her.