Learn more about the importance of Butterflies in Bloom 🦋 Sergio from Costa Rica Entomological Supply (CRES) recently visited Zoo Boise to highlight our decade-long partnership supporting sustainable butterfly farming in Costa Rica. Thanks to your visits, Zoo Boise helps protect natural habitats and supports local farmers through this unique experience. Together, we bring the magic of butterflies and nature to life at the Butterflies in Bloom exhibit!
Sponsored by the J.R. Simplot Company Foundation and KTVB, entry into Butterflies in Bloom is included with zoo admission. The experience is open daily through Labor Day from 10:30AM to 4PM.
Zoo Boise - Playful Baby Cotton-Top Tamarin
Look how playful and independent our baby cotton-top tamarin is now!
🎥: Taylor T
Drone Footage - Red Panda Construction Update
Red Panda Construction Update! CM Company recently captured incredible drone footage of the Virginia R. Bartak Red Panda Passage, opening at Zoo Boise in 2025. Take a look at the overhead view of the red pandas' future indoor space, where the slab was just poured.
This expansion will feature both indoor and outdoor habitats, reinforcing Zoo Boise’s commitment to red panda conservation.
Zoo Boise is a division of Boise Parks and Recreation.
📹: Michael McCullough
It’s National Watermelon Day! In honor of this tasty treat, the zoo animal residents got a variety of watermelon enrichment. 🍉
102-year-old Aldabra tortoise Mr. Mac
Relax for a snack with Mr. Mac.
...You can take things slow when you're 102 years old, and a giant Aldabra tortoise!
🎥: Zookeeper Taylor T
Zoo Boise - Spotted-Necked Otter Swim and Snack
How are you staying cool? Spotted-necked otter Harry ate lunch floating in his pool!
We allow animals choices of where they want to spend time. When it’s hot, some head inside to climate-controlled homes or relax in the shade under sprinklers or fans.
🎥: ZooTeen Ethan
Zoo Boise - Meerkat Puzzle Enrichment
Meerkats Peanut and Kijani earned their rewards by solving all of Friday's foraging enrichment puzzles. Items like these stimulate zoo animals' natural behaviors in unique and fun ways.
Zoo Boise - Prehensile-tailed Skink Game Face
Prehensile-tailed skink Clarence looks ready to seize the day!
It helps that Clarence's long, muscular tail – about half his total body length - is ideal for climbing and holding. ‘Prehensile’ means “to seize or grasp”.
🎥: Zookeeper Taylor T
Zoo Boise - Red Panda Spud Birthday Cake
ICYMI – Red panda Jasper’s birthday was yesterday. To celebrate, Animal Care staff made him a special fruitcake... looks like he enjoyed it!
Zoo Boise - Up Close with Red Panda Spud
Hi Spud! 👋👋 Up close with our Himalayan red panda.
🎥: Zookeeper Taylor T
Zoo Boise - Cotton-top tamarin baby
In case you missed it - Meet the youngest resident at Zoo Boise. On April 11, cotton-top tamarin parents Mimi and Eddy welcomed a fourth offspring to their family!
Infant tamarins are fully dependent and cling to the back of a parent for up to three months... but we've already seen this youngster hopping around and exploring on its own!
We'll learn the newborn monkey's sex during its first veterinarian exam later this summer.
🎥: Zookeeper Taylor T
Zoo Boise - Giraffe Encounter
The best view in the zoo: Feeding Jabari at the Perkins Coie Giraffe Encounter! 🦒
(You can get in on the action daily from 1:30-2:30PM.)
📹: Jessica
Zoo Boise - Spider Monkey Elvis Eating Fruit
Grabbing a quick bite to eat with Elvis.
Black-handed spider monkeys like him lack opposable thumbs, but are very adept at using their four fingers to grasp, swing, and throw!
Zoo Boise - Toogle Unboxing Enrichment
Are unboxing videos still popular? Southern ground hornbill Toogle wants to get in on the trend with his boxed lunch (which is a mouse he finds and eats).
📹: Zookeeper Taylor T
Spa Day with Zookeeper Clint
Experience a Spa Day with Zookeeper Clint, where we take a light-hearted approach to showcasing the real and thoughtful care our ambassador reptiles receive. These tongue-in-cheek videos may seem a bit silly, but in reality, our ambassador reptiles enjoy gentle soaks that help with moisture retention, the shedding process, and/or as an extra enrichment! We are grateful for the care and attention all of our zookeepers give to the animals at Zoo Boise.
Zoo Boise - Snow Leopard Sabu Enrichment
The perfect 10 [years old]: Male snow leopard Sabu really relished unwrapping his tenth birthday enrichment!
May the Fourth
Like a true rebel, Amur tiger Akasha defeated an enrichment AT-AT Walker. #MayTheFourth #MayTheFourthBeWithYou
🛠️: Enrichment made by volunteer Misty
Baboon Block Enrichment
Our olive baboons toppled the block castle they found this morning! (It was full of seeds and snacks!) Enrichment activities like these are an important part of animal wellbeing.
If you feel like Zoo Boise is enriching our community, please donate to our education programs this Idaho Gives. Donate at https://www.idahogives.org/organizations/friends-of-zoo-boise
Zoo Boise - Idaho Gives 2024
Do you ever wonder what helps makes the zoo run?! YOU!
Supporters like you allow us to host camps, visit schools, and offer opportunities for guests to interact with animals up-close through daily encounters.
This Idaho Gives, help us provide even more chances, for all ages, to experience and learn about wildlife. https://www.idahogives.org/organizations/friends-of-zoo-boise
