Connect to Wildlife
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is home to more than 8,000 animals representing over 600 species. This includes over 30 species of concern, which means their numbers are threatened, endangered, or even critically endangered. When you participate in a Wild Encounter, you not only get up close and personal with these amazing creatures, but you also help the Zoo support our animals. Go behind the scenes and learn about the personalities that make them unique, see how they live, and how we care for them.
Get ready for a wild adventure with our Giant Anteaters in this exclusive experience designed for guests ages 8 and up! In this 30-minute behind-the-scenes session, you’ll discover fascinating facts about these incredible creatures—did you know their long, sticky tongues can reach up to 2 feet in length? Watch in awe as you help with their feeding and learn about their role in the wild. You’ll also get a sneak peek into their special living spaces and see firsthand how our expert team cares for them. It’s an unforgettable opportunity to connect with one of the animal kingdom’s most unique and quirky creatures while having fun and learning along the way!
Days and Times: Mondays at 11:15 A.M.
Pricing: $80 Per Person
Ages 8+ See Restrictions Below
This encounter is wheelchair accessible.
Book your encounter!Critter Craze: A family friendly expedition
Get ready to embark on a wild and wondrous journey with our Family Fun Animal Adventure! You’ll meet a delightful variety of reptiles and small animals, including slithering snakes and adorable armadillos. Our expert handlers will guide you through their fascinating world, sharing all about their unique behaviors and habitats. But here’s the twist—some of these incredible creatures are animal ambassadors! These special animals play a key role in helping us teach the public about the importance of wildlife conservation. While they may not be able to live in the wild, they’re here to connect with you and share their story. It’s a fun-filled adventure where you’ll learn, laugh, and make memories with furry, scaly, and fantastic friends, all while discovering how you can help protect the animal kingdom. Don’t miss out on this chance to create lasting memories while learning about the creatures who inspire us to care for our planet!
Days and Times: Saturdays from 2-2:45 P.M.
Pricing: $75
Ages 5+ See Restrictions Below
This encounter is wheelchair accessible.
Book your encounter!
Get ready for a frosty, fun-filled adventure with our Penguin Encounter, perfect for ages 8 and up! Step behind the scenes at our Aquarium and meet our lively Macaroni and Gentoo penguins. These adorable, tuxedoed birds love to waddle, slide, and swim, and you’ll get to learn all about their unique behaviors and fascinating lives. From the vibrant yellow crests of the Macaroni penguins to the sleek swimming styles of the Gentoo penguins, you’ll discover how these incredible creatures thrive in their chilly homes. It’s an educational and exciting experience that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for these charming, charismatic birds!
Our staff will guide you behind the scenes to meet one of our penguin flock and share fascinating facts about them. Feel free to ask questions and capture all the adorable moments with photos! Touching the penguins is strictly prohibited, but you’ll get a close-up view of these charismatic creatures in their habitat. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with our penguin pals!
Penguins enter mating season in March, so encounters are limited. We also have a Penguins On Parade Grand Marshall Program if you are interested in seeing our feathered friends waddle their way into the hearts of our visitors.
Days and Times: Sundays/Thursdays at 12:45 PM
Pricing: $125 Per Person
Ages 8+ See Restrictions Below
This encounter is wheelchair accessible.
Book your encounter!
Get ready for a one-of-a-kind experience with our nine-banded armadillo and tamandua! In this encounter, you’ll have the chance to meet these fascinating animals up close and chat with our expert Ambassador Animal care staff. Learn all about the rainforest habitats they call home, the incredible biodiversity that thrives there, and the important interconnections between people, animals, and the planet. A heads-up: this experience does come with some… distinct smells, so come prepared! It’s a fun, educational, and sensory adventure that will give you a deeper understanding of these unique creatures and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Days and Times: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday at 1:00 p.m.
Pricing: $100 per person
Ages 8+ See Restrictions Below
This encounter is wheelchair accessible.
Book your encounter!Looking for a Wild Encounter at the International Conservation Center in Somerset, PA?
Want a one-of-a-kind proposal experience sure to wow your partner?
Wild Encounter Rules and Participation Requirements
- All participants must follow the rules and restrictions outlined in each encounter, as well as agree to our Zoo Information and Policies.
- Wild Encounters do not include admission. Admission tickets or active Pittsburgh Zoo Membership is required for all participants. Tickets and Memberships may be purchased online in advance or at admission gates.
- Encounters at the Zoo have age requirements listed with the specific encounter.
- All participants under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
- All participants should wear closed-toe shoes.
- All participants are recommended to have COVID-19 vaccinations and must have a face mask in case it is required.
- Extra health and safety measures, such as gloves and/or temperature checks, may be required during your encounter and will be provided by the Zoo if necessary.
- Touching the animals without explicit direction from a Zoo staff member is not permitted.
- Currently, we are unable to accommodate service animals during Wild Encounters.
- Tickets must be purchased online at least 48 hours in advance.
- If you or a group member have a special need or mobility need, please contact us in advance. Accommodations will be made wherever possible.
- All sales are final. First come, first served.
- Available Wild Encounters are subject to change.
- All Zoo groups will first meet the tour guide at the designated meeting area in the Village of the Zoo
The Zoological Society of Pittsburgh, doing business and hereafter referred to as the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, hosts a Wild Encounter program as a public service at both its Pittsburgh and International Conservation Center locations. While the Pittsburgh Zoo and the staff develop and conduct these encounters with everyone’s safety in mind, animal behaviors can be unpredictable. As such, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (the Zoo) is unable to accept liability should an accident occur and participation in its Wild Encounter program is at one’s own risk. It is necessary to have your consent for you and others who may be minors to participate in this program and to demonstrate agreement that the Zoo and its personnel will not be held liable in case of an accident.
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium reserves the rights to use any and all photographs and videotapes for television, public relations, and/or marketing efforts of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.
When purchasing an encounter, you hereby release the Zoological Society of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, the International Conservation Center, its employees, staff, instructors, and other representatives, from any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any injury to persons or property and the consequences thereof, whether known or unknown and foreseen or unforeseen, incurred as a result of participation in this activity.
By purchasing tickets via online form, you agree that you are signing this form electronically and that your electronic signature is the legal equivalent to a manual signature on this form. By submitting the online form, you also agree that no certification authority or other third-party verification is necessary to validate your e-signature and that the lack of such certification or third-party verification will not in any way affect the enforceability of your e-signature.
