The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium will provide a complimentary ticket with any paid daytime general admission to a caregiver visiting with a disabled individual in order to provide assistance during their visit.

The disabled individual or caregiver must present sufficient documentation demonstrating necessity for the caregiver’s presence in the form of a letter from their physician and/or appropriate licensing information from the caregiver documenting that they are necessary to accompany the disabled individual in the Zoo.

The disabled individual must have a paid ticket or Membership.

Please note that safety regulations may prevent certain individuals from specific rides, tours, experiences, or attractions.

To acquire your Companion ticket to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, please visit Admission Window 2 and present the required documentation.

Service Animal Policy

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium welcomes guests with disabilities who use service animals as determined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Guests using service animals will be greeted by our ADA-trained staff at the entrance gate. You will be provided with information to plan your visit to our facilities. This information will include a map of areas currently restricted to your service animal. Those restricted areas include Aviary exhibit, Goat Yard, and Kangaroo and Wallaby exhibit. These are located in our Kids Kingdom area of the Zoo.

For our guests requiring the use of a service animal, please be aware of the unique setting of bringing a service animal where live animal collections are held. Some animals by instinct can react to dogs or any animal outside of their enclosure as a threat and react strongly to their presence. For the safety of you, your service animal, our collection, and our guests, areas where these reactionary animals reside must be restricted. We are, however, happy to provide you with options to view these areas, which can further be explained by a staff member. In the event an adverse reaction occurs between a Zoo animal and your service animal, we greatly appreciate your assistance in moving your service animal away from the situation until we can work together to find a safe resolution.

Service Animals and Interactions with Other Animals

Service animals are working animals, not pets. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Service Animals have the right of public access and are the only animals permitted to be brought onto Zoo grounds. This right is not extended to Emotional Support Animals and thus they are not included in this policy. Because of our strict animal quarantine guidelines and adherence to USDA and AZA standards, personal animals are not permitted anywhere on Zoo grounds including our parking facilities. Per our Zoo Information page, the only animals permitted to be brought onto Zoo grounds are service animals.

An animal that meets the initial criteria for a service animal can be asked to leave grounds if they cause a disruption to the operations of the facility. Specific behaviors by the service animal that could be cause for removal from the facility include:

• Disruptive behavior such as jumping toward or running at other people or animals
• Not being housebroken
• Not being under control of handler such as being held by harness, leash, or on a tethered line. Unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices.
• The animal’s size and/or weight cannot be accommodated in specific areas or sites on Zoo grounds.
• Entering an area that is prohibited due to an observable danger to the service animal or animals within the Zoo’s collection.

Thank you for your cooperation as we strive to achieve a safe and positive experience for you, your service animal, and our animal collection. For more information, please call 412-665-3640 or stop by the Education Complex to see a Visitor Services Manager.

The Zoo can be a highly sensory experience for our guests. To assist with preparations for a Zoo visit, we have created a map showing areas of the Zoo that are loud/quiet, busy/less busy, smelly, and places to play.

Our Zoo has partnered with KultureCity to assist and accommodate guests with sensory processing needs. Our objective is to provide an inclusive and seamless experience for all guests for all events. We strive to raise awareness of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with sensory processing disorders by supplying our Team Members with continuous training and by offering the resources and accommodations below to our guests.

Sensory bags containing special KCVIP badges, fidget tools, noise canceling headphones, and other resources are available for checkout at no cost at our admission gates.

The Zoo also offers seasonal Sensory Friendly Days. Check our Events and Classes pages for upcoming listings.

For guests who are visually impaired, sighted guides and audio description may be obtained. For guests who are hearing impaired, sign language interpretation is available. These tours are provided free of charge but must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance of your visit.

For information about these services, please contact [email protected].

Guests are welcome to visit the Zoo in personal wheelchairs or seated electric scooters. Guests are also welcome to bring strollers or personal wheeled devices like wagons. Prohibited wheeled devices are listed on our Zoo Information page.

Please remain on the pathway throughout your visit. All permitted wheeled devices must use the elevator located next to the escalator when entering the park.

Zoo Tram

On select in-season days, travel the Zoo by tram for a minimal ride-all-day fee. Learn more about our Tram.

Renting a wheelchair, seated electric scooter, or stroller

Wheelchairs, single and double strollers, and seated electric scooters can be rented in the Village near the top of the entry escalator. Rentals are completed at Safari Wheels April through October and Safari Outpost November through March.

• Wheelchairs: $10 per day
• Single stroller: $10 per day
• Double stroller: $13 per day
• Electric scooters: $35 per day

It is strongly recommended to make an advanced reservation for wheelchairs and electric scooters. Quantities are limited. Without a reservation, rentals are on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no guarantee one will be available. To make a reservation, please call 412-365-6020.

Nursing is a natural process and guests are welcome to nurse babies in any area public of the park. Guests wishing to use a private area may find lactation rooms on our map.

Baby changing stations are available in all restrooms throughout the park.

For convenience, an adult changing table is located in The Islands in our Family/Inclusive Restroom.

Restrooms are marked on our map.