What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 4:30pm Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm Thursday 10am - 4:30pm Friday 10am - 4:30pm Saturday 10am - 4:30pm Sunday 10am - 4:30pm

Rosamond Gifford Zoo

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Syracuse, NY
Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Home to 700+ animals, Rosamond Gifford Zoo provides the best day ever: experiences that excite, memories that inspire and worldwide conservation education.

Admission info at https://rosamondgiffordzoo.org/visit/plan-your-visit/hours-and-admission/ Founded in 1914, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is among the top 10 percent of zoos in the country as an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is dedicated to connecting people to the natural world by providing engaging guest experiences, exceptional animal care, and unpara

lleled conservation education. The zoo actively collaborates with Friends of the Zoo to provide its guests “the best day ever,” ensuring experiences that excite, memories that endure, and knowledge that inspires worldwide conservation.

11/05/2024

Kids home from school and not sure what to do? Take advantage of the beautiful weather and visit the zoo! The Dragons are departing soon, come see them one last time.

11/04/2024

Picasso the Cubist. Matisse the Modernist. Mushu and Sisiu the Patas Monkey Painters? That’s right! At our Art Gone Wild event on Thursday, November 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., you have the chance to browse and bid on a variety of artistic masterpieces created by our animals, including Sisiu and Mushu, twins Yaad and Tukada, and many more! Each piece is a one-of-a-kind canvas, and each purchase supports our mission to care for our zoo and to conserve wildlife. Purchase tickets HERE: https://bit.ly/4eg4Nqh

Special for VIP Ticket holders! From 6 to 6:30 p.m., VIPs can view art and purchase buy-it-now items before general admission. Plus, VIPs receive 10 painting raffle tickets!

Art Gone Wild is put on by the Rosamond Gifford Zoo's chapter of the AAZK, the American Association of Zoo Keepers.

11/04/2024

Thank you to Terri Redhead https://www.facebook.com/terri.redhead for capturing the squash squishing fun from this Saturday's annual Squishing of the Squash! 🎃

11/03/2024

Jellyfish are the oldest multi-organ animal, with fossil evidence indicating they existed over 500 million years ago, predating dinosaurs! Jellyfish have no brain, heart or blood – but they do have a sort of nervous system or “nerve net” that allows them to sense light, balance, chemical changes and touch.

Have you noticed that one of our porthole tanks contains moon jellyfish, while the other has plastic bags? Over one trillion plastic bags have made their way into the ocean, and to a hungry sea turtle, it can be nearly impossible to tell the difference! We hope this exhibit will help visitors understand the danger of plastics polluting our oceans, and encourage you to find plastic alternatives and reuse whenever possible! Happy !

11/02/2024

Win tickets to see Disney’s The Lion King at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse! Stop by the Membership Desk to enter the ticket raffle from now until November 20.

11/02/2024

🦃 Come enjoy an early Thanksgiving feast with friends and family (that you don’t have to cook or clean up after) on Friday, November 8! Enjoy classic turkey, sausage and apple stuffing, candied yams, harvest salad, green bean casserole, and an assortment of festive pies. This buffet dinner has something for everyone! See the full menu and reserve your seat today! https://bit.ly/42uOZd7

11/01/2024

What happens to our pumpkins when Halloween’s over? The squash get squished - by our zoo animals! Join us TOMORROW, November 2, for the Squishing of the Squash.

Check out the schedule below.
10:30 a.m. — Siamangs, Golden Lion Tamarins
10:45 a.m. — Amur Leopard
11:15 a.m. — Contact Barn and Outdoor Birds
11:30 a.m. — Red River Hogs
11:45 a.m. — Bactrian Camels, Gray Wolves
Noon — Amur Tigers
12:15 p.m. — Asian Elephants
12:45 p.m. — Snow Leopard
1 p.m. — Red Panda
1:15 p.m. — Andean Bear
1:30 p.m. — Komodo Dragon
1:45 p.m. — North American River Otters
2 p.m. — Tamandua
2:30 p.m. — Hoffmann’s Two-Toed Sloths & Armadillos
2:45 p.m. — Meerkats & Cape Porcupine
3 p.m. — North American Porcupine

This event is free with membership or admission.

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and the Friends of the Zoo! We hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween night. ❤️

10/30/2024

We've had so much fun sharing the magic of the dragons with guests over the last 6 months, but as winter approaches it is time for them to start packing their bags for the long journey home. We hope the magic of the dragons will stay with you for years to come. If you have any spectacular stories or photos from your visits to see the dragons, please share them with us at [email protected].

This is your last weekend to see the dragons in their full glory and wish them a safe journey home!

Thank you to all of our Dragons Reign! Sponsors: Chimera Integrations, KeyBank, Visions Federal Credit Union, Unplugged Gaming, Alta Equipment Company, C. Cooke Trucking, AmeriCU Credit Union, and C&S Companies.

10/30/2024

We are absolutely thrilled to share this significant milestone in elephant conservation! Thanks to the incredible work of Dr. Paul Ling's lab at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Zoo, and our dedicated Rosamond Gifford Zoo team, our miracle twin elephants, Yaad and Tukada, are among the first elephants to receive the groundbreaking EEHV vaccine. This first of its kind mRNA vaccine targets the specific 1A strain of EEHV. Administering this vaccine to the twins marks a monumental step forward in the ongoing battle against the deadly disease.

Yaad and Tukada's previous serology results for EEHV1A showed that they were both close to, or are, seronegative for EEHV1A, meaning that they are at risk for developing the potentially fatal illness. Being selected to be part of the EEHV1A mRNA vaccine trial is a huge opportunity for the calves for their immune system to develop antibodies to a protective level. Even more excitingly, the calves will contribute important data to Baylor College of Medicine's research. This collaborative endeavor underscores the vital role zoos play in wildlife conservation and scientific research. The work the Rosamond Gifford Zoo does here benefits not only our elephants, but also global elephant populations.

As we celebrate this exciting breakthrough, we remain cautiously optimistic as we are in the trial stage of our ambitious endeavor to combat EEHV. The trial aims to test the efficacy of the vaccine against EEHV1A, a specific strain of EEHV. Research and development will continue in hopes of creating a vaccine that protects elephants from all strains of EEHV. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo will continue to monitor Yaad and Tukada closely as we provide top-notch care to all our elephants. As always, we will ensure their well-being as we analyze the success of the vaccine. With vital and continued support from our community, these magnificent animals will have a greater chance at combating EEHV. Please follow us for more information and updates!

10/30/2024

Our commitment to plant-life at the zoo is just as important as our commitment to our animals!🌱 If you’ve visited the zoo recently you may have seen teams working on pruning the elm trees in our courtyard, silver maple by the elephant exhibit, and sweet gum near the zoo entrance. This is all part of our commitment to the environment, conservation, and providing the best possible guest experience.

10/29/2024

Happy from the neat little nudibranchs that are helping to clean our tanks! These soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks eat algae and other non-desirable species such as aiptasia or glass anemones. In fact, they’ve worked so hard that we’re now basically devoid of aiptasia!

Fun fact, while all nudibranchs are sea slugs, not all sea slugs are nudibranchs.

10/29/2024

Yaad and Tukada, our two miracle twin elephants, have made history as among the first elephants to receive the groundbreaking Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV) vaccine at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The twins, who were born here on October 24th 2022 are considered miracle twins due to the less than 1% likelihood of live twin Asian elephant births, making them the only twin elephants in North America.

EEHV is a deadly virus that has devastated elephant populations worldwide. The development of the vaccine represents a significant breakthrough in the fight to protect these magnificent animals.

While the boys were sufficiently distracted with treats and attention from their care staff, our veterinarian Dr. Rebecca Eddy gave each of the boys a miniscule injection that lasted less than five seconds to administer.

Thanks to the tireless dedication and training of our staff, Yaad and Tukada were able to receive the vaccine safely and efficiently. Read the full press release on our website: https://bit.ly/48sU9Lj

10/29/2024

Happy from the fine felines of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo! We are home to two Amur leopards (Rafferty & Iona), two snow leopards (Daania & Senge) and three Amur tigers (Zeya, Zuzaan & Coba).

🐆 Amur leopards are excellent climbers and will carry their prey up trees to consume it away from potential scavengers.

❄️The snow leopard is often called “the ghost cat of the Himalayas” because its stealth and camouflage coat make it extremely difficult to spot in its native snowy forest habitat.

🐯 Amur tigers are the largest species of feline in the world, the males can weigh up to 660 pounds!

🐈 Do you have a (smaller) cat at home? Share their photo in the comments below to celebrate all things feline!

10/28/2024

Please enjoy these photos of Yaad and Tukada's second birthday party! 🎉

10/28/2024

Photos of the final by CST Media Productions!

Thank you for spending this Spooktacularly fun event with us! 🎃

10/26/2024

🎃 Let’s give ’em pumpkin to talk about!

Today is , so please enjoy this throwback to last year’s Squishing of the Squash. This year's event will be next weekend on Saturday, November 2, check out our website for the pumpkin smashing schedule! https://rosamondgiffordzoo.org/zoo-events/upcoming-events/squishing-of-the-squash-2/

This event is free with membership or admission.

10/26/2024

Saturday and Sunday are the LAST DAYS of ZOO BOO! Don’t miss out on this "kooky-not-spooky" daytime Halloween celebration. And make sure to visit the elephant exhibit at noon on Sunday for the second birthday celebration!

Purchase your tickets at the door or online (select “Other dates"): https://bit.ly/3RpnNYe

Admission to the zoo is not included in the ticket price. You will be required to purchase a ticket to the zoo unless you are a member upon arrival.

Photos by CST Media Productions

10/25/2024

Leaping lemurs, today is ! Our zoo is home to two black and white ruffed lemurs, Kinte and Andapa. Native to the island of Madagascar, these critically endangered lemurs are considered the world's largest pollinators due to their mutualistic relationship with Madagascar’s traveler’s palm. But they aren’t the only ones in danger – 98% of all lemur species are threatened with extinction. Today on World Lemur Day, let’s Learn, Share, and Act to Save Lemurs Together. You can learn more about lemurs and the efforts to protect them at https://bit.ly/3C80eAK

10/24/2024

We can hardly believe it ourselves, but today is the EleTwins’ second birthday! Miracle Asian elephant twins Yaad and Tukada were born on October 24, 2022, and since that day have brought immeasurable joy to our zoo family.

Turning two for an elephant calf is almost like sending your kid to kindergarten for the first time! There are all new behaviors and skills for the boys to learn in order to grow into healthy young bulls. As an AZA-Accredited zoo we have very strict policies in place when it comes to interactions with our animals in order to keep our animals, and staff, safe. After an elephant turns two, our care specialists are not allowed to share a space with them. Our staff has been practicing with the twins to make this transition as smooth as possible. Being comfortable with medical exams through “protected contact” (or contact from the other side of a secure barrier) will help us keep the boys happy and healthy.

Come to the zoo this Sunday, October 27 to celebrate with us! Stop by the elephant exhibit at noon to watch Yaad and Tukada receive some birthday-themed enrichment!

10/23/2024

Today is ! With a vulnerable conservation status, these elusive cats are camouflaged to blend into their snowy mountainous habitat, which makes them extremely difficult to spot in the wild, earning them the nickname the ghost cats of the Himalayas! They also have a thick bushy tail that they use to wrap around themselves to keep warm in the winter.

10/22/2024

Looking for a night out? Drop your kids off at the zoo to party like an animal this Friday, October 25! The theme this Friday is "Ooky Spooky Animals" and kids will enjoy pizza upon arrival, see animals up close, tour the zoo after hours, make crafts, and play games throughout the night. Learn more and register your kid on our website: https://bit.ly/49fyC8e

This program is for kids ages 6-12.

10/22/2024

The LAST WEEKEND of Zoo Boo is almost here! Don’t miss out on this spook-tacular family favorite. Check out this weekend’s special guests and purchase your tickets TODAY: https://rosamondgiffordzoo.org/zoo-events/upcoming-events/zoo-boo/?t=1727894938

Saturday, October 26
Countryside Credit Union
Face Painting by Leanna’s Art Room, Courtyard
Ghostbusters of CNY
New York Life Finger Lakes: Timothy Smith, Financial Services Professional
Onondaga County Library, Courtyard

Sunday, October 27
Countryside Credit Union
Face Painting by Leanna’s Art Room, Courtyard
Ghostbusters of CNY
New York Life Finger Lakes: Timothy Smith, Financial Services Professional
EleTwins Birthday Enrichment (noon!)

Regular zoo admission is also required for all non-members in your group, and is not included in a Zoo Boo ticket.

Address

1 Conservation Place
Syracuse, NY
13204

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	10am - 4:30pm
Thursday	10am - 4:30pm
Friday	10am - 4:30pm
Saturday	10am - 4:30pm
Sunday	10am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+13154358511

Website

https://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/

Alerts

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Videos

Patas peekaboo!

Peekaboo! Guess who learned how blinds work. 🤭 Patas monkey half-sisters Sisu and Mushu get free reign of the ICU for supervised playtime when the blinds are down, but that doesn’t always stop them from greeting our guests! #WeAreAZA #PatasMonkey #Monkey #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #OnondagaCounty #OnondagaCountyParks #ConservationInAction

Fall Zoo Zen

Oh to be an alpaca napping in the sun under lightly falling autumn leaves… Well, until you’re woken up by curious piggy kisses. But that doesn’t sound too bad either. 🥰 The leaves are falling fast! Visit the zoo soon to admire our gorgeous fall foliage. #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #OnondagaCounty #OnondagaCountyParks #Alpaca #Piglet

Baby elephants SECOND birthday party!

It was only natural to throw a construction-themed second birthday party for #EleTwins Yaad and Tukada. 🥺 Thank you to our dedicated elephant care specialists, especially Cassie, for the artistic enrichment and decorations. We hope everyone enjoyed watching the “Dump Trunk Builders” demolish their birthday party and devour their treats! Thank you for celebrating this momentous occasion with us and our entire elephant herd. #Elephants #AsianElephant #BabyElephant #CuteAnimals #OnondagaCounty #OnondagaCountyParks #HappyBirthday #BabyAnimals #ElephantCalf

Muntjac sniff test!

✋😐🛑 Stop scrolling! Muntjac Rosalyn must conduct your mandatory sniff test. The Reeves’s, or Chinese muntjac, do a lot of communicating through scent! Their frontal scent glands look like a V-shaped slit on their forehead, and their preorbital glands are located in front of their eyes. Muntjac can also lick these glands with their long tongues! #CuteAnimals #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #OnondagaCounty #OnondagaCountyParks

October Elephant Pool Party!

Over 80 degrees in October!? You know what that means… #EleTwins Pool Party!!! 😎 These water loving calves turn two years old on Thursday! They will be receiving some birthday-themed enrichment this weekend on Sunday, October 27 at noon, don’t miss it! #AsianElephant #Elephants #BabyAnimals #ElephantCalf #BabyElephant #CuteAnimals #OnondagaCounty #OnondagaCountyParks

Fatima's 41st Birthday!

Happy 41st birthday to siamang ape Fatima! Our primate specialists threw her a little party to celebrate. 🥳 The largest of the gibbon species, siamangs are considered a lesser ape. They are known for their extremely loud and boisterous vocalizations, often performed by a male and female pair as a duet. Fatima’s mate, Abe (45), joined her for the party! But don’t worry, he let her have first dibs on the cake. 😊 #HappyBirthday #Siamang #SiamangApe #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #ConservationInAction #OnondagaCounty #OnondagaCountyParks

Day Date at the Zoo!

Looking for the perfect fall date over the long weekend? Head to the zoo! Grab some refreshing beverages from the Trunk and Tusk Canteen and enjoy watching the elephants graze, and order ahead at the HoneyBee Café for delicious and healthy food made fresh! Order ahead: https://bit.ly/3zXYmKm #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #FallFood #FallFlavors #DateNight #FallFun #Foodie #FreshFood #Syracusefood #SyracuseRestaurants #EleTwins #AsianElephant #Elephants #Tiger #Penguin

World Habitat Day

As part of our recent AZA inspection and continued accreditation, we have to provide high-quality habitats that address the physical and psychological well-being of our animals. This means we aim to have naturalistic and stimulating exhibit design. Sometimes this design makes it difficult to spot our animals at first glance – but this is intentional! Our animals are given choices about where they want to spend their time, be it at the top of a tree or crook of a leaf. If an animal wants privacy while napping or eating, they have that option. If you don’t see an animal at first glance, spend a little more time searching the foliage, or come back a little while later and chances are you’ll see them! Happy #WorldHabitatDay! #WeAreAZA #ConservationInAction #ConservationEducation #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #OnondagaCountyParks #OnondagaCounty

Raise your hand (or hoof) if you can lick your own eye!

Raise your hand (or hoof) if you can lick your own eye! 😃 The Chinese muntjac, or Reeves' muntjac, are one of the smallest deer species in the world! To combat being “vertically challenged” (as the youth would say) they have a very long tongue that helps them reach taller leaves from bushes. #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #OnondagaCountyParks #OnondagaCounty #Muntjac #ChineseMuntjac

U got any games on your phone?

U got any games on ur phone? While patas monkey babies Sisu and Mushu’s affinity for looking at themselves on phones may seem strange, it is actually an incredibly advanced and important behavior! Patas monkeys are able to recognize themselves and others in mirrors. In fact, there are mirrors hanging in the adult’s exhibit! Eye contact is a big part of primate communication and can often implicate aggression, so they can use the mirrors to look around while avoiding direct eye contact. This ability for self-and-other-recognition will help Sisu and Mushu integrate into our troop. Patas monkey half-sisters Sisu and Mushu are currently visible from 10:15 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 2:45 pm daily in the Animal Health Center ICU viewing windows. #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #OnondagaCountyParks #OnondagaCounty #ConservationInAction #Monkey #CuteAnimals #WeAreAZA

Bunny bath

Bath time with Lillian! ❤️ How many of you didn’t know we have rabbits in the Contact Barn? Female Lillian is a polish rabbit, and our male Tupper with the dark fur is a Netherland dwarf rabbit! #Rabbit #RabbitDay #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #OnondagaCounty #OnondagaCountyParks

Zoo Boo is fast approaching! Do you have your tickets? 🎃 https://bit.ly/3RpnNYe #ZooBoo #FallFun #FamilyFriendly #Halloween #Halloween2024 #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #OnondagaCounty #OnondagaCountyParks

Fall Vibes

*chanting with increased ferocity* fall fall Fall Fall FALL FALL #Fall #FallVibes #Autumn #FallFun #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #UpstateNY #Pumpkins

Zoo Wellness Retreat

Do you need a chance to pause & focus on your wellness? There is still time to join our Zoo Wellness Retreat on Saturday, October 5! Enjoy a mindful and relaxing day away amid the contemplative spaces and animals of the zoo, led by A. Graff, Mindful Health Coach. There will be gentle yoga with the elephants, meditation, and health conversations, plus art-making, a mindful stroll through the zoo grounds, and much more. Space is limited, reserve your spot today: https://bit.ly/3MgK9dZ #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #Wellness #Yoga #Elephants #Meditation #Mindfulness

Are you smarter than a sea turtle?

Are you smarter than a sea turtle? One of our tanks has jellyfish, and the other has plastic bags – upon first glance, can you tell which is which? Over one trillion plastic bags have made their way into the ocean, and to a hungry sea turtle, it can be nearly impossible to tell the difference between a plastic bag and a delicious jellyfish. Approximately 35% of deceased leatherback sea turtles have been found with ingested plastic. But turtles aren’t the only species at risk. Our oceans make up 50-80% of life on earth. This #InternationalCoastalCleanupDay, we urge you to act. Help remove trash from the world’s beaches and waterways, and reduce plastic use. Learn more about how you can help and #SeaTheChange at oceanconservancy.org #Syracusezoo #Syracuse #CNY #OnondagaCounty #OnondagaCountyParks #Jellyfish #MoonJellyfish #MoonJelly #SeaTurtle #ConservationInAction #ConservationEducation #ProtectOurOceans

Shortcuts

Our Story

Founded in 1914, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is home to more than 700 animals representing 275 species, many of them endangered or threatened in the wild.

As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), we are among only 236 zoos and aquariums in the nation proven to meet the highest standards of animal care, conservation and guest experience. We are dedicated to connecting people to the natural world by providing engaging experiences, exceptional animal welfare, and unparalleled conservation education. The zoo is co-operated by Onondaga County Parks and the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo with the mission to provide guests “the best day ever,” ensuring experiences that excite, memories that endure, and knowledge that inspires world wildlife conservation.

Visit our website at www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org and the AZA website at www.aza.org to learn more about our high standards of animal care and dedication to #savingspecies from extinction.

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Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Videos

Patas peekaboo!

Fall Zoo Zen

Baby elephants SECOND birthday party!

Muntjac sniff test!

October Elephant Pool Party!

Fatima's 41st Birthday!

Day Date at the Zoo!

World Habitat Day

Raise your hand (or hoof) if you can lick your own eye!

U got any games on your phone?

Bunny bath

Fall Vibes

Zoo Wellness Retreat

Are you smarter than a sea turtle?

Shortcuts

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Category

Our Story

Other Zoos in Syracuse