You're Invited to a VIP Tour of the Zoo!
Behind the Scenes Weekend
March 9 & 10, 2013
Do you ever wonder where the Zoo’s popular train is housed during the winter? Or, did you know there are off-exhibit holding areas for our large North American animals including moose, brown bears and wolves? These and other “Zoo trivia” will be revealed during the Milwaukee County Zoo’s Behind the Scenes Weekend, March 9 and 10.
Both Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., many Zoo locations not normally open to the public, will be welcoming guests for special tours. All of the locations are designed to give visitors a new perspective and appreciation of the work that takes place “behind closed doors” at our park. Tour highlights include:
Giraffes: At this tour stop, guests can walk through the medical treatment stall used for hoof trims, blood draws and weights. You’ll see that it has a platform to put keepers at eye level with these extra tall animals! Learn more about this concrete floor which naturally trims the giraffes’ hoofs.- Aquatic and Reptile Center (ARC): Go above it all to see Lake Wisconsin from a new vantage point. Here you’ll learn more about some the most popular Wisconsin fish.
- Train Shop / Greenhouses / Heavy Equipment Area: In this bustling area, see where the train is housed for the winter, learn what it takes to grow thousands of plants and flowers for the park and get up close to the large equipment used by the Zoo’s Grounds Department.
- Stearns Family Apes of Africa/Gorilla Kitchen: See the inner workings of this building, and learn about the food the gorillas enjoy and the bedding they sleep on. Also, hear more about why fire hoses are used in these exhibits.
- Elk Barn: Elk serve as a symbol of a great North American mammal. At this tour stop,
visitors will venture into the Elk Barn to learn more about these magnificent animals,
what they eat, and how they shed their antlers. - Through our Sensory Safari, you’ll learn how the Zoo caters to our visitors with
special needs. You’ll see animal mounts that allow visitors to touch, feel and experience
what a live animal is like. (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
Specially trained Zoo Pride volunteers will serve as your tour guides for the day. Guests are encouraged to ask questions. Due to the nature of some of the tours, several locations are not handicapped accessible.
All tours are included in regular Zoo admission, and are conducted on a first come first serve basis. Admission is $11.75 for adults, juniors (ages 3-12) is $8.75, seniors (age 60 and over) are $10.25; parking is $12. Milwaukee County residents with proper identification receive $1.75 off regular Zoo admission.
