2013 Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Polar Bear Arctic Encounter Tour
Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend
Daily at 4:00 pm
$15 per person
Maximum of 15 people
Advanced registration via Group Sales or day of at Tour Cart/Admission Gate
Meeting place – Arctic Fountain Tour Cart
Tour description:
Did you hear we have cubs? Your guided tour begins in the Arctic Encounter® where you’ll discover how the Zoo takes care of its seals and polar bears. You’ll make quick stops at the diet freezer, dig yard, water filtration room, and peek into the North Vet Hospital. We’ll end our tour in the VIP viewing room, giving you a close encounter with our polar bear mom and cubs. Enjoy their antics, learn fun quirks & stories, and discover how climate change is impacting the polar bear’s future. This walking tour lasts approximately 35 minutes. There are no feeding opportunities on this tour.
Africa! Exhibit & Giraffe Feeding Tour
Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
$15 per person (must be 5 years old to participate)
Maximum of 10 people
Advanced registration via Group Sales; remaining spots available at Tour Cart/Admission Gate
Meeting Place –Train Ticket Booth
Tour description:
What’s a better way to enjoy your day at the Toledo Zoo than having a close encounter with a giraffe? Your guided tour will start by taking a little journey on our Safari Railway, where you’ll get dropped off at the back of the Africa! exhibit. You’ll walk through the train barn, hay/feed storage building, and then peak into an animal stall in our hoofstock barn. To wrap up our adventure, you’ll meet up with a giraffe keeper, who will show off our great holding areas & give insight into the hard work that goes into taking care of these tall creatures. The group will walk to outdoor enclosure for the grand finale of a giraffe eating right out of your hand! This walking tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Australia: Off the Beaten Path Tour
Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend
Daily at 11:00 a.m.
$15 per person (must be 5 years old to participate)
Maximum of 12 people
Advanced registration via Group Sales; remaining spots available at Tour Cart/Admission Gate
Meeting Place – Tiger Merchandise Cart in Skeldon Plaza (near Waterfowl Pond)
Tour description:
G’day, mates - the Zoo brought Australia to Toledo this summer! Take this behind-the-scenes tour to learn about and meet some of our special Aussie visitors. You’ll get to jump to the front of the line of Wallaby Walkthrough, enjoying some up-close time with these adorable “Down Under” creatures. The group will swing past our new Australian dingo and saltwater crocodile exhibits as well. Your walkabout will conclude with a special tour of the Education Animal Center, a building that is inaccessible to the general public, and filled with small Australian animals for you to meet! This walking tour lasts approximately 50 minutes.
Elephant Excellence Tour
Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend
Tuesdays at 1:30 pm
$15 per person (must be 5 years old to participate)
Maximum of 15 people
Advanced registration via Group Sales; remaining spots available at Tour Cart/Admission Gate
Meeting Place – Hippo Head Statue (across from snow leopards)
Tour description:
Ever wonder what it takes to care for the largest land mammal on Earth? Between our state-of-the art elephant facility and excellent keeper care practices, our Toledo Zoo elephants enjoy a healthy and active life. Walk through the bull barn built in 2011, see just what an “ERD” is, learn what (& how much) elephants eat, how we train them, and other exciting elephant factoids. You will wrap up your tour with a public enrichment demonstration led by an elephant keeper, watching how we keep our elephants’ minds & bodies fit with this important Zoo-wide practice! This walking tour lasts approximately 45 minutes. Please note – there will be no elephants in the building during the tour and tour is subject to cancellation if necessary.
Toledo Zoo - Behind the Scenes Tours