Valley Zoo Development Society

01/07/2025

🐘Today we're celebrating an Edmonton Valley Zoo icon - Happy 50th Birthday, Lucy! 🥳
For nearly half a century, Lucy has inspired awe, laughter, and love in the hearts of millions. ❤️Her gentle spirit and majestic presence have made her a favorite for generations of visitors.

Here’s to Lucy - a living legend and cherished member of our zoo family.

21/06/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that Zoobrew Vol. 1 is officially SOLD OUT! 🍻

Thank you to everyone who snagged a spot for tonight's wild adventure at the Edmonton Valley Zoo! 🐾 Please note that there will be no tickets will be available at the gate.

Missed out this time? No worries—you can get tickets for Zoobrew Vol. 2 on July 19th here! ➡ https://buildingourzoo.ticketspice.com/zoobrew2025-vol2

17/06/2025

The Stanley Cup Final is shaping up to be a fierce feline showdown, and Amba isn’t sitting this one out! Our Siberian tiger is proudly backing with a special #97 enrichment as the gear up for tonight's game. Let's go, Oilers!

14/06/2025

The Stanley Cup isn’t the only thing on the line—it’s a full-on feline face-off! 🐾 Our Canada lynx duo, Xena and Artemis, are in full playoff mode with some themed enrichment ahead of Game 5 tonight.

The Florida Panthers may bring the Florida heat, but up here in the North, the Oilers and lynx rule the rink—and the wild. 💙🧡

Let’s go, Oilers!

30/05/2025

🌊 It’s World Sea Lion Day, and while we don’t have sea lions at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, we do care for their close cousins—Northern fur seals!

Northern fur seals are actually more closely related to sea lions than to true seals. As members of the eared seal group, they have visible ear flaps and can rotate their hind flippers to “walk” on land—making them surprisingly agile both in and out of the water.

Want to dive deeper? Our Seal ZooBuilder Program takes you behind the scenes at Arctic Shores, home to our harbour seals and Northern fur seals. 🐟 You’ll get to roll up your sleeves to help prep their diets, observe a training session, and discover how behavioural training supports their health and wellbeing—all while getting an up-close look at these incredible pinnipeds in action! 💙

📅 This private encounter runs Saturdays from 11 AM to 12 PM and can be booked online in advance at: https://www.buildingourzoo.com/shop/individual-zoobuilder-programs/2-person/2-person-seal-encounter/

24/05/2025

They nap together. They snack together. They occasionally wrestle like they’re training for the Red Panda WWE. Fred and George are always keeping each other (and us) on our toes with surprise pounces, playful tumbles, and more adorable moments than we can count! 🐾

On , we’re living for the chaos, the cuddles, and everything in between. Want to catch more of their fluffy wrestling matches in real time? We stream Fred, George, and the rest of their red panda fam 24/7 on Twitch at twitch.tv/streamingourzoo 📺💥

23/05/2025

It’s World Turtle Day, but here at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, we’re celebrating the slow and steady stars of the show: our tortoises! We’re proud to care for four different species, including the vibrant red-footed tortoise, native to South American forests and savannas.

Tortoises face real challenges worldwide, from habitat loss to the exotic pet trade. Some live for over a century, so thoughtful, long-term care and conservation are essential.

Our mission goes beyond caring for these incredible animals—we’re here to educate and inspire you about the challenges they face and the actions we can take to ensure they survive for generations to come. 🌍

Want to celebrate World Turtle Day the tortoise way? Grab a snack, head over to the zoo to soak up some sunshine, and remember: slow and steady—just like sustainable—is truly the best way to go! ☀️🐢

22/05/2025

This year’s International Day for Biological Diversity is themed “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development”—a reminder that conservation succeeds when both people and wildlife thrive together. 🌍

Here at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, we care for Grevy’s zebras—one of the world’s most endangered equids. But our support goes beyond our own herd.

Through the Valley Zoo Development Society, we help fund the work of Grevy's Zebra Trust a leading organization in Kenya that works at the intersection of ecology and community by employing local people—many of them women—as wildlife monitors, educators, and advocates.

One of their key initiatives, regenerative grazing, restores degraded rangelands and supports biodiversity while strengthening sustainable livelihoods for pastoralist communities. It’s a powerful example of how true conservation can benefit both nature and people—proving that when we invest in harmony, we build a more sustainable future for all species.

💛 Your visits, donations, and support help make this global impact possible. Want to learn more about how regenerative grazing is helping people and wildlife thrive together? Check out the link in our bio!

21/05/2025

🎉 While we’re all cheering on our friend Hunter and the team during playoffs, we have two more lynx to celebrate here at the Edmonton Valley Zoo! This month, mother-daughter duo Xena and Artemis celebrate their birthdays—Xena turns 13, and Artemis turns 4.

Fingers crossed we’ll be celebrating their birthdays AND an Edmonton Oilers win in the next round—because great things come in pairs! 🥅🐾

20/05/2025

🌼🐝 Happy World Bee Day! Bees are tiny, but their impact is massive—from pollinating the food we eat to supporting the health of entire ecosystems.

At the Edmonton Valley Zoo, we’re proud to support Alberta’s native pollinators with our animal enrichment garden, created in partnership with Greenhouse and lovingly tended by the Horticultural Society This vibrant space isn’t just beautiful—it’s buzzing with purpose!

Alberta is home to an incredible 375 species of bees (that’s nearly half of all bee species in Canada!). 🐝💛 Today, we celebrate their essential role and raise awareness about the many challenges they face—from habitat loss to climate change.

Want to help? Tap the link in our bio to explore a Pollinator-Friendly Plant Guide designed for our local Aspen Parkland ecoregion and learn how you can turn your garden into a pollinator haven. 🌸🌿

12/05/2025