YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Join us for one of our up-close and personal Wildlife Connections and 100% of the money raised will go directly to help save wildlife in their native habitats.
Want to have a one-on-one experience with one of the Zoo’s exciting animals and their keeper, and at the same time help save animals in the wild? Our Wildlife Connections program is the answer. One of our expert Utah’s Hogle Zoo keepers will be your personal guide as they give you an insider’s look at the Zoo and share their passion for the animals in their care. Listen to stories of the animals’ antics and personality quirks that will open your eyes to what it takes to care for this wild menagerie. Please see Rules and Limitationsbelow.
Cost DOES NOT include Zoo admission!
Space is limited so make your reservation today online or by visiting our Member and Guest Services office.
INDOOR GIRAFFE FEEDINGS!
Available Dec 18th – May 2ndPurchase an Indoor Giraffe Feeding experience >>Come meet our giraffe in their indoor barn. This is for up to twenty people and includes feeding a snack to the “supermodels of the savanna”! You will learn about fun giraffe facts, animal training and the conservation efforts being made by Hogle Zoo to help save this amazing species in the wild.
$15.00 per person
*Maximum 20 people per group
Located inside the Giraffe Barn
Seasonal – November through May 2nd
Wild Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
2 – 2:30 pm and 2:30 – 3 pm
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Includes
Groups are taken behind the scenes in the giraffe barn
Volunteers/staff give a brief presentation on the giraffes, the barn, and some of the equipment keepers utilize
Each group feeds a giraffe
FEED A RHINO!
Come meet our white rhinos, George and Princess! The sibling duo is sure to win you over with their lovable nature and favorite scratching spots. Feed George a bucket of produce and get time to pet, scratch and have your photo taken with both rhinos.
This is one of the few encounters where you can actually touch the beautiful animals, feel their thick skin and look for the soft spots. You also get time to pose for photos and one-on-one time with the rhino keepers to get your questions answered.
You will learn about rhinos and the conservation efforts being made by Hogle Zoo to help save this amazing species in the wild.
$129.00 per group
*Maximum 6 people per group
Located in designated area of outdoor yard
One-on-one with rhino keeper
Seasonal – April through October and weather dependent
Available 6 days a week at 2:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (no Wednesday)
Tickets may be purchased up until 1:00 pm same day of desired feeding.
Minimum age: 6 (children 6-9 need to be accompanied by an adult – accompanying adult is not part of the encounter unless paid for)
Help the Great Ape keepers deliver daily enrichment to the gorillas! Get a glimpse into what it’s like caring for Silverback, Husani, and his two ladies, Jabali and JoRayK. Learn as you help prepare fun and creative treats and activities to keep these intelligent animals engaged. Then you can help toss the enrichment to the gorillas in their outdoor habitat, see their natural behaviors and make their day! Learn more about what you can do to help save gorillas in the wild! Please note that for the safety of the animals, guests will be asked to wear gloves and a mask when in contact with their food.
$129.00 per group
*Maximum 6 people per group
Located in the outdoor exhibits of the Great Ape Building
One-on-one with great ape keeper(s)
Seasonal – May through October – Weather dependent
Available 7 days a week at 10:30 am (Sunday – Saturday)
Tickets may be purchased up until 10:15 am same day of desired feeding.
Feeding is with gorillas and not orangutans due to the social dynamics.
Meet our 450 lb. Aldabra tortoise, Kronk, his lady Yzma and their cousins from Madagascar, the Radiated Tortoise! See, feed, and touch one of the world’s largest living tortoise species in one of the few Wildlife Connections that allow you to enter the enclosure. You’ll be able to visit with our resident tortoises and feed them a meal of fresh fruit and veggies. Keepers will talk about each tortoise, what Hogle Zoo is doing to save tortoises in the wild and how you can help!
$129.00 per group
*Maximum 5 people per group
Located in the Rainforest exhibit of the Small Animal Building (winter), or in the outdoor tortoise yard (summer)
One-on-one with reptile keeper
Year-round
Available Saturday’s only at 11:30 am
Minimum age: 5 (children ages 5-9 need to be accompanied by an adult – accompanying adult is not part of the encounter unless paid for)
This is the most important moment in your life. You love them. You want to spend the rest of your life with them. You have the ring in hand, but now…. how to ask? You want it to be special and perfect! Are they an animal lover? How about a totally zoo-nique engagement idea?!
$300.00 per couple (or $400 which include a special pair of one-of-a-kind animal painted wine glasses)
*This experience is limited to the happy couple (You are welcome to invite family and friends as additional paying guests. Please plan to provide your own photographer to capture this exciting moment!)
Utah’s Hogle Zoo reserves the right to cancel any Encounter without prior notice and animal participation cannot be guaranteed
Cost does not include Zoo Admission
Connections are limited to available dates and times
All Connections start at Member & Guest Service Office
Service animals cannot be accommodated during the Connection
Program requests must be made a minimum 1 week in advance and not to exceed frequency guidelines outlined.
Late arrivals cannot be accommodated.
Some physical limitations cannot be accommodated.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo reserves the right to end encounters early for the safety of Zoo animals or guests as determined by keepers and other staff. No refunds will be given if an encounter ends before the encounter is over for failure to comply with rules and regulations.
All Guests participating in a Wildlife Connection release Utah’s Hogle Zoo to photograph, film, videotape, record or otherwise reproduce the image and /or voice of any person who enters the Zoo and use the same for any purpose without permission or payment.
Contact Utah’s Hogle Zoo for specific questions regarding rules & limitations.
Nurturing respect and appreciation for the natural world
