Questions people actually ask

No. This is an independent keeper's journal written by a retired employee. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or run by the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo or its operator. We do not sell tickets and never process payments. Tickets are only sold on the official zoo website.

This site runs small search ads so people looking for a real account of a zoo day can find one. If you clicked an ad and wanted the zoo's own ticket page, go to calgaryzoo.com — nothing here is for sale.

Late morning, weather permitting, and it is cancelled in wind, heavy rain or extreme cold. The keeper on shift decides. If it is cancelled, the penguins are fine — go see the tigers.

Yes, if you dress properly. See the winter page. Cold mornings are the best animal behaviour of the year.

The Amurs like it. You will not. The gorilla building and the penguin house are the dry refuges; the loop gets slick.

Yes, and you should. There is a picnic area by the north gate.