Peterborough's largest park and Canada's only free-admission, CAZA-accredited zoo. Open 365 days. https://linktr.ee/ptboriverview
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Riverview Park and Zoo is a unique, recreational and educational facility offering attractions to people of all ages. Located just north of downtown Peterborough, Riverview Park and Zoo is a fabulous place to enjoy a leisurely stroll in a peaceful and tranquil setting while experiencing the natural beauty of Peterborough.
Our amazing volunteers help control the spread of dog strangling vine (DSV) at Riverview Park and Zoo. Approximately 20lbs of DSV seed pods were removed and disposed of!
This invasive plant can outcompete native plants and take over natural areas. It is difficult to remove but thanks to our volunteers we can slow the spread!
Stay tuned for more invasive species removal updates - DP
Invasive Species Centre
Our miniature train ride will be closed all day on Tuesday, August 27th. It is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, August 28th, weather & maintenance permitting.
Thank you for your understanding! 💙💛
-SC
After some unexpected repairs, our miniature train ride is now reopen!
Thanks to the generous donors, RPZ staff, and our skilled mechanics hard work the 50-year-old train is back in service. We are again able to continue to provide more than 66,000 riders a safe and joyful adventure this season.
We appreciate your patience & understanding. 💛💙
Raise your hand if you like Jell-O 🙋♀️🙋♀️
Here is a short video of one of our North American river otters enjoying a Jell-O treat (unsweetened and unflavoured, of course)!
A part of our mission here at RPZ is to provide our animals with a wide vareity of enrichment activities to help stimulate their minds and encourage natural behaviours. Enrichment offers animals the opportunity for physical and mental exercise, as well as entertainment! The otters are offered various toys to play with, as well as treats with different textures (such as Jell-O) for enrichment. Happy animals are healthy animals!🦦
Drop by to see one of our otter enrichment sessions every day at 1:30pm. Visit our website to learn more and to donate!
-KR 💛💙
Fruit salad, yummy yummy!🌽🥦🍎
Our Red Rumped agoutis enjoy a wide variety of fruits, veggies, and nuts in their diets. In their native habitats of South American forests, this species is critical to the spread of brazil nuts! When food is abundant, they will bury the nuts to store for later, which allows for the spread of the seeds. They are also a member of the rodent family, just like mice or rats!
You can find these guys next to our meerkat exhibit! Stop by and say hello today!
-KR 💙💛
It's not a PIG-ment of your imagination.... We have new Kunekune pigs!🐷🐽
Please join us in welcoming three new residents to the RPZ barnyard! Kunekune pigs are originally from New Zealand, but have become a popular pig breed in farming due to their relatively small size and friendly nature! Kunekune (pronounced koo-nee-koo-nee) means "fat and round" in the Maori language.
These cuties have settled in nicely to their new home, but we are still looking for names! If you have any suggestions for our zookeepers, let us know in the comments! 💛💙
Check out our website to learn more and to donate! Link in bio.
-KR
What did the mom yak say to the baby yak?
Its PASTURE bedtime!🐃😴
You might've seen this little guy around our yak exhibit! The RPZ family is excited to announce the birth of a happy and healthy yak calf born July 2024. You might spot him napping in the grass with his mom or hanging out with his baby best friend that was born last fall. He certainly is a-MOO-sing to watch!
Stop by to visit this little guy or check out our website to learn more about our yaks and how to support our growing RPZ family! 💙💛
-KR
Did you know that you can tell if an Alpaca is happy because they extend their necks and hold their heads high? 🦙
Our alpaca Hollister looks pretty happy to us at the Riverview Park and Zoo! One of his favourite activities is to roll down the hill of the Water Treatment Plant on nice sunny days☀
Other things that make our Alpacas happy is playing outside in the barnyard, socializing and grazing on fresh grass. They are very playful and love to explore.
To learn more about our alpacas and how to support them through donation or symbolic adoption visit our website💙💛
-ML
We are excited to announce our first RPZ Zoo Camp Day! 💛💙
Learn more about the zoo near you, conservation, and the roles of a zookeeper! Get inspired about animals and learn more about nature by spending the day outdoors. 🦥🦜🐍
Register now on our website for only $50, payable through our website donation page or by calling 705-748-9301 ext. 2304. Limited spots available!
*Please note registration is confirmed by both completed form as well as payment.
-CL
In the last decade, the Rotary Education Centre has welcomed over 54,000 students for environmental education, 160 unique non-profit groups, and hosted more than 200 professional training courses. Just a few of the impacts of this legacy project. Thanks to Rotary Club of Peterborough - Canada for making it possible. 💙💛
Happy 10th Anniversary! Ten years ago our club celebrated the official opening of the Rotary Education Centre at the Riverview Park & Zoo.
Alan Ingram, who was our president at the time, presented a $100,000 cheque to Jim Moloney, manager & curator of the Riverview Park and Zoo on July 30, 2014.
This donation was possible thanks to a generous bequest from Clarence "Pug" Pugsley, a Past President of our club. The project was enthusiastically supported by John Scott, the executor of Pug's estate, and close friend Rotarian Bob Phillips.
The Rotary Education Centre is a multi-purpose room located in the Guest Services building near the main gate with space for up to 50 people. It is equipped for educational programs and meetings and contains a kitchenette with a sink and two washrooms (one accessible) with change tables.
In the group photo (July 2014): MPP Jeff Leal, Mayor Darryl Bennett, & John Stephenson President & CEO of the Peterborough Utilities Group attended the special celebration.
Interested in booking the room at the Rotary Education Centre? Learn more here: https://www.riverviewparkandzoo.ca/en/plan-your-visit/rotary-education-centre.aspx
Rotary District 7010 Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
Take a look at the upcoming events taking place in our Conservation Exhibit in the Dobbin Building! 🐍🐸
We have partnered with local organizations to bring some exciting presentations in environmental education! Our exhibit is open daily from 10 am-2 pm on weekdays and 10 am-3 pm on weekends.💙💛
-CL+KR
Our minature train ride will be closed for maintenance until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience!
-SC
Happy 🐍🦦🦜🦥
We are so thankful for our animal care team who provides the highest quality care for over 150 animals at Riverview Park and Zoo.
Their hard work, compassion, and dedication to the well-being of our animals make an impact every day in conservation, education, and animal welfare.
Thank you for everything you do! 💛
- CL
Check out some of our amazing photos taken by the 2024 July Bondar participants! 📸💙
Thank you to@otonabeec for helping us provide 2 days filled with photography and fun! We are so impressed by the creativity and skills our participants demonstrated. The photos shown here are just a few that have been entered into the . Winning photographs for the summer will be featured on The Roberta Bondar Foundation’s website along with a variety of prizes to be awarded! 🏆
If you want to take awesome photos like these and have a chance to win, sign up for our August 15th & 16th session of the Bondar Challenge! To sign up & get more information, visit our website: https://www.riverviewparkandzoo.ca/en/what-we-do/the-bondar-challenge.aspx
-SC
Ever wonder how to tell when a snakes about to shed? 🐍
One of the biggest ways to tell is when a snakes eyes turn a milky opaque colour, just like our snake in this photo! As the old skin prepares to come off, fluid builds up between the old and new skin, causing the milky colour.
Snakes shed their skin as they outgrow it, as the skin doesn't continue growing as the snake grows. This is similar to how we outgrow clothes as we grow! Shedding also helps remove any parasites that may have attached to the skin.
It's very important that snakes are able to shed properly. If you ever encounter a snake that's in the shedding process, remember not to handle them as it may cause a lot of stress for the snake!
- SC
A big thank you to everyone who participated in and donated towards this year's Fun Run! We would like to recognize our top fundraisers and top fundraising teams for their support. 💛💙
Congratulations to our top fundraiser Jackson Dettman as well as our top fundraising team Girls Can - Em & Miss B. 🏆
You can still support our aviaries by donating through the link in our bio!
-CL
Hang in there, It's the weekend! 💙💛
Did you know? Sloths spend most of their lives hanging upside down! Everything from eating and sleeping to giving birth happens upside down in the trees! Sloths will only descend once a week to p**p.
Because they spend so much of their lives hanging upside down in the trees, they are extremely vulnerable to deforestation. While most sloth species are rated as a least concern on the IUCN Redlist, their populations in the wild have started to decline from habitat loss. Efforts to conserve the rainforests of South America help preserve this species and the many others that call rainforests home.
Learn more about our Two-Toed Sloths, Lambo and Masie, on our website! https://www.riverviewparkandzoo.ca/en/zoo/two-toed-sloth.aspx
-KR
Our Conservation Exhibit is officially open for the summer! The exhibit features a variety of native Ontario species and is located in the Dobbin building by the train station. Our wonderful volunteers help run the exhibit everyday from 10am - 2pm!💙
Tomorrow the exhibit will host the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre from 11am - 3pm. Come out to learn more about what does and the importance of turtle conservation! 🐢
- SC
Thank you so much Rockscapes for showcasing our beautiful otter habitat! Our North American river otters love this space! 🦦💙
Join us on a nostalgic journey as we showcase the river otter exhibit at Riverview Park & Zoo that we built almost 20 years ago. This resilient habitat has w...
The 13th annual Riverview Park and Zoo Fun Run was a success! Even with rainy weather, we welcomed over 300 participants to raise money for our aviaries 🐦
A big thank you to everyone who walked, ran, donated, and cheered on our participants! 💙💛
Weren't able to attend? Support the only free-admission CAZA accredited facility: https://forms.riverviewparkandzoo.ca/Donations
More photos from the event can be found from michaelbrownphotography.mypixieset.com 📸
-CL
A sneak peak at some of the prizes that have been donated for the 2024 Fun Run! This event would not be possible without our generous sponsors and prize donors. A huge shoutout to our friends at Avant-Garden Shop for donating a Squirrel Buster bird feeder and bird seed, as well as our friends at Jade Salon for donating a gift certificate for a wash, cut, and style!
A reminder at in-person pre-registration is available TONIGHT, June 28th, from 5-7pm in the Rotary Education Centre at RPZ. Registration will also be available starting at 7am on Race Day, June 29th, in the Rotary Education Centre. We hope to see you there!
-KR💙💛
Say cheese 📸! A huge thank you to our official 2024 Fun Run photographer Michael Brown! Michael will be capturing all the memorable moments and action shots from our Fun Run. As you walk/run through the zoo, you may also see one of his photos on our collared peccary sign!
Photos from the event will be available for purchase on his website https://michaelbrownphotography.mypixieset.com/
Brown Photography
STOP!🖐 Don't forget that online Fun Run pre-registration closes TOMORROW June 27th at NOON! If you've missed your chance to register, don't worry! Pre-registration will be available in person from 5-7pm June 27th and 28th in the Rotary Education Centre at Riverview Park and Zoo.
If you can't make it to in-person pre-registration, morning-of registration will be available in the Rotary Education Centre at 7am on Race Day! 💛💙
-KR
Our splash pad is now open for the summer season!☀️
Please note that both the train and splash pad are maintenance and weather permitting. Our website is regularly updated with alerts of any closures.
Hope to see you at the Riverview Park & Zoo this summer! 💙
- SC
Happy from our Bactrian Camels here at RPZ! 🐫
Bactrian camels are truly an incredible species! Their habitat ranges from rocky mountains to dry deserts, making them suited to live in extreme weather conditions. Camels can even go several weeks without water, and several months without food by converting the fat stored in their humps for energy.
World Camel Day was established in 2009 as a day to bring awareness & support for the conservation and protection of camels. There are currently less than 1000 wild Bactrian Camels left in the world, making them a critically endangered species. The main threats to these camels include habitat destruction, hunting, and competition with domesticated camels & other livestock for resources.
Stop by the Zoo to see our camels and appreciate this incredible species! 💙
- SC
Happy Father's Day from some of our favourite dads here at RPZ! 💛💙
🐃Yeti the domestic yak is the father of the yak calf born at the zoo in fall 2023.
🐊Lyle the West African Dwarf Crocodile is the father of two baby crocs that were hatched in the spring of 2023.
The yaks and crocodiles are both available for adoption through our Adopt-an-Animal program here at the zoo. Symbolic adoptions make excellent gifts for all ages and help support our growing RPZ family! Visit our website to learn more
https://www.riverviewparkandzoo.ca/en/support-us/adopt-an-animal.aspx
-KR
If there's one thing our meerkats know how to do, it's how to strike a pose!🕺
The remarkably photogenic meerkats are a fan-favourite here at RPZ! They are often found sunbathing on hot days, or playing with the various enrichment tools our staff use to encourage natural behaviours. Be sure to stop by and say hello to these cuties during your visit!💙💛
Did you know? In the wild, meerkats eat venomous scorpions! They have immunity to venom which allows them to eat a wide variety of prey!
-KR
Peak-a-boo! Happy from our wallaby joeys!
Did you know, when wallabies are born they are the size of a jelly bean! They then crawl into their mother's pouch where they continue to grow and develop until they are large enough to live on their own. 🦘
The wallabies are available for adoption through our adopt-an-animal program. Learn more on our website https://www.riverviewparkandzoo.ca/en/support-us/donate.aspx
💙💛
-KR
What do goats drink when they're running? Goat-arade!
Online Fun Run registration is still open until June 28th! Not only are there prizes for top 3 placings, but best costume and top fundraiser will also receive a prize! Be sure to show your spirit and get your best costume ready. Register today through the link in our bio. 💙💛
-KR
Sunday concert in Park with Kawartha Youth Orchestra cancelled due to weather. Rain date to be determined
1300 Water Street (Visitors), 1230 Water Street (Office/Deliveries)
Peterborough, ON
K9H7G4
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We let our Gen Z students make a video touring the RPZ barnyard. Should we let them make another one? 🤔 #zoo #riverviewparkandzoo #rpz #ptbo #ptbocanada -KR
Raise your hand if you like Jell-O 🙋♀️🙋♀️ Here is a short video of one of our North American river otters enjoying a Jell-O treat (unsweetened and unflavoured, of course)! A part of our mission here at RPZ is to provide our animals with a wide vareity of enrichment activities to help stimulate their minds and encourage natural behaviours. Enrichment offers animals the opportunity for physical and mental exercise, as well as entertainment! The otters are offered various toys to play with, as well as treats with different textures (such as Jell-O) for enrichment. Happy animals are healthy animals!🦦 Drop by to see one of our otter enrichment sessions every day at 1:30pm. Visit our website to learn more and to donate! #riverviewparkandzoo #ptbo #zoo #riverotter -KR 💛💙
Did you know meerkats are omnivores? Check out our new video about our slender-tailed meerkat mob!
Did you know camels can weigh up to 1000kg? Check out our new video about Gobi, Zaya, and Baika, our Bactrian Camels!
Check out our new video on using the bear-proof garbage bins at the Park and Zoo!
They grow up so fast! The yak calf is now 6 weeks old but don’t be deceived by this video, she’s not eating solid food just yet. She imitates mom and the rest of the herd by putting leaves, hay and other food items in her mouth. Watch for more updates as she continues to grow!
It's snack time for Asian Water Dragons, Neon and Jade. These reptiles are omnivores so they enjoy small invertebrates as well as leafy greens. They are also excellent climbers and will leap down from high branches to get their food. Not seen here is their amazing ability to run on their back two legs 🤯.
A Halloween enrichment treat for the meerkats - the trick is getting the mealworms out!
Otters engaging with their pumpkin enrichment 🦦. Enrichment like this is a great opportunity for animals to use their natural instincts, feed their curiosity and try something new. -MK
This bee is busy pollinating those beautiful flowers! 🌺 Bee's are busy workers that are essential to Earth's biodiversity. Bee's help pollinate millions of plants yearly, including a lot of the crops we eat everyday. They also pollinate plants that serve as habitats or food sources for other organisms. Without pollination, many plants would die off, causing serious problems in our food supply and our planets ecosystems. Everyone should be grateful for all the work bees do! 💛🐝 #busybees #pollination #riverviewparkandzoo - SC
Here's a little behind-the-scenes of J.M, our red-tailed Boa Constricer, climbing his tree! 🌿 J.M is one of our education outreach animals here at the Zoo. He is brought out for school groups, Meet the Keeper sessions and other educational events so we can teach groups about snakes and their conservation. Because J.M is an education animal, you won't see him on a regular visit to the zoo as he is kept off exhibit to the public. Currently, Boa Constricters are listed as least concern by the ICUN. Although they are not in danger of extinction, they still face threats such as being hunted for their skin. Boa's are also common pet snakes, however, it's important that pet owners are responsible in doing their research and are able to accomodate snakes as they grow, while giving them the proper care they need. #redtailedboa #educational #riverviewparkandzoo - SC
We can’t wait to see you this weekend! Here are some tips for getting to the Park and Zoo safely and finding parking. When the main parking lot is busy you can find overflow parking down near picnic shelter #1 and just past picnic shelter #2. We also encourage taking the bus, or biking or walking the beautiful rotary trail! Have a great weekend and we’ll see you soon! -DP
mmmmm fresh browse!! 🌿🌿 Every animal here at the Park and Zoo has a special diet created by nutritionist and veterinarians. Our Zookeepers then prepare these diets for our animals. The amount of food given daily is dependent on the species, some are fed once every few weeks and some are fed multiple times a day! Our caribou Marley and Margaret are enjoying a sweet treat of fresh browse which is part of their daily training and enrichment 💚 #caribouyah - TB
Happy Canada Day from all of us here at the Riverview Park and Zoo! 🇨🇦 Our North American river otters 🦦 enjoyed a special Canada Day themed enrichment treat to mark the occasion! -KR #zoo #riverviewparkandzoo
Pablo the Capybara and Quackers the Muscovy Duck are back in their summer habitat and it’s always a happy sign of spring here at the Park and Zoo to see these beloved characters back enjoying their pond and outdoor space! -DP #signsofspring 🌷
Otter enrichment made special on Easter weekend! Thanks to our amusing/amazing zookeepers. Check out our website for more updates. -cm
Help us reach our goal of improving the outdoor meerkat exhibit this summer by signing up to the Fun Run and Walk, Saturday morning June 3rd. Registration fees and donations will help us build an enhanced and enriching habitat for our slender-tailed meerkats. To sign up visit the link in our bio. Shout out to @runnerslifeptbo who will be coordinating both the 1km and 5km this year for us. Thanks for your help! -DP
#WatchaDoinWednesday ❔ Here at the zoo, our animals have a variety of enrichment! Enrichment provides opportunities that stimulate their natural behaviours and instincts. There are many kinds of enrichment including social, behavioural, dietary, visual and olfactory. Here our caribou, Margaret and Marley, are participating in dietary enrichment! 🌿 -CL
🐫 VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK 2021 🦦 It’s day three and we have David here to educate by highlighting some cool animal artifacts as part of our “Attack and Defense” table! 💙💙💙 #volunteerappreciation #volunteerappreciationweek #amazinganimals #zoo #gratitude
We are a unique facility offering attractions to people of all ages. Located just north of downtown Peterborough, Riverview Park and Zoo is a fabulous place to enjoy a leisurely stroll in a peaceful and tranquil setting while experiencing the natural beauty of Peterborough.
For decades, the Park and Zoo has attracted over a quarter of a million visitors a year. And no wonder - the zoo features 25+ exhibits, with over 48 species, including Yak, Camel, Two-Toed Sloth, Wallaby, Emu, River Otter, Squirrel Monkey, Crocodile, Sichuan Takin, Meerkat and more! Visit our web page (http://www.peterboroughutilities.ca/Park_and_Zoo.htm) to learn about our education programs and conservation initiatives.
The park covers 55.5 acres and includes the largest and most diversified playground in the city. It also features equipment for physically-challenged children. With a splash pad, frisbee golf course, walking trails, a miniature train ride, and beautiful gardens we have something for everyone.
We’re Canada's Only Free-Admission CAZA/AZAC Accredited Zoo - Riverview Park and Zoo is a proud member of Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums - Aquariums et Zoos Accrédités du Canada (CAZA-AZAC), an organization that promotes the welfare of animals, and encourages the advancement and improvement of zoological parks, aquariums and related animal exhibits in Canada as humane agencies of recreation, education, conservation, and science. As such, we are held to stringent standards for all aspects of our operations, from animal care and facilities, education and conservation through to visitor safety.
