Celebrating National Zoo Lovers Day
Every year on April 8, we celebrate a crucial part of everything we do here at the Buffalo Zoo: You!
National Zoo Lovers Day is celebrated annually to highlight zoos, their supporters and the integral conservation work taking place every day on campuses across the world.
We’re celebrating not only with a special event this weekend, but also with a limited time discount:
- Visit the Buffalo Zoo this Saturday, April 11 to celebrate National Zoo Lovers Day with keeper talks, special activities and the chance to get up close with some our ambassador animals! Get Zoo tickets here.
- Score 20% off a new Buffalo Zoo membership when you use code ZooLover26 at checkout! Hurry, this offer is valid for Wednesday, April 8 ONLY! Purchase a membership here.
Continue reading to see the full schedule for Saturday, as well as some highlights of the incredible conservation work the Buffalo Zoo has done over the last year!
Some of the Zoo’s most impactful recent conservation achievements have been with various different amphibians and reptiles, including our longstanding work to save the Puerto Rican crested toad.
Last June, we sent over 1,500 Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles to Puerto Rico as part of our ongoing conservation effort surrounding the species — and we’re not done yet, with our contributions set to continue well into the future. Visitors can see some of our adult Puerto Rican crested toads in our Amphibian & Reptile Center!
The Buffalo Zoo led the way in conservation efforts to save the critically endangered cora mud turtle last year, setting up an assurance colony and pushing forward on research surrounding the reptile. You can learn more about our cora mud turtle project by watching the video in the lobby of M&T Bank Rainforest Falls!
Who could forget the two adorable faces that can now be seen in our Vanishing Animals South section of the Zoo? Red panda cubs Joy and Henny stole the hearts of our Buffalo Zoo supports when they first went on exhibit last fall, and they both represent the results of dedicated conservation work!
Our animal care team got an up close look at our western lowland gorilla Lily last month as part of her triennial exam! One of the more notable parts of the exam was a cardiac ultrasound, and data from it will be provided to the Great Ape Heart Project. The hope is that they can use the data to better understand heart disease in great apes and protecting these incredible animals.
The Buffalo Zoo’s conservation mission is rooted not just in caring for animals, but educating our visitors as well. We hope to see everyone on Saturday for a day full of celebrating zoos, and helping inspire the next generation of conservation heroes!
National Zoo Lovers Day Celebration Schedule – Saturday, April 11
- 10:30 am: Giraffe Keeper Talk
- 11 am – 1 pm: Activity in the Treehouse Playspace
- 12:30 pm: Amphibian and Reptile Center Keeper Talk
- 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Ambassador Animal Meet and Greet in M&T Bank Rainforest Falls
- 2:30 pm: Sand Cat Keeper Talk in Ecostation
