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.
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: May: Sundays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 2-2:45 P.M.
Starting in June: Saturdays from 2-2:45 P.M.
Pricing: $75 per person
Ages 5+ See Restrictions Below
This encounter is wheelchair accessible.
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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: $80 per person
Ages 8+ See Restrictions Below
This encounter is wheelchair accessible.
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Get up close and personal with one of nature’s cutest creatures! This private encounter includes a behind-the-scenes training session, a feeding opportunity, and lots of fascinating facts about these playful animals.
Days and Times: Sessions take place on select Thursdays at 12:30 p.m.
Pricing: $100 per person
Restrictions: Children must be 8 years or older to participate in this encounter; participant limit of 4 guests.
River Otter Habitat Sponsored by J&A Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electrical.
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Have you been captivated by a certain adorable international pygmy hippo? Well, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium offers something a little closer to home that is just as great! Immerse yourself in a private encounter with our remarkable pygmy hippo, Hadari! Join us for an up-close encounter with our charming “not so little” pygmy hippo, delve into his daily life with insights from his expert keeper, and witness a private feeding that reveals his delightful personality. By connecting with Hadari, you help support vital conservation initiatives dedicated to helping all of the Zoo’s animals and the places where they live. 
Days and Times: Mondays at 11:30 a.m.
Pricing: $100 per person
Restrictions: Children must be 8 years or older to participate in this encounter. Participant limit of 4.
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Take flight with our feathered friends! From majestic owls to vibrant parrots, embark on an educational adventure to meet our captivating avian ambassadors. Our expert educators will share fascinating insights into their unique behaviors, diverse habitats, and the vital conservation efforts protecting these incredible feathered friends. Bird species participating may vary.
Days and Times: Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Pricing: $75 per person
Restrictions: Children must be 8 years or older to participate in this encounter.
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Answer the call of the deep and plunge into the mysterious realm of sharks! Join our expert aquarists and gain a deeper understanding of the ocean’s most misunderstood creatures. This immersive program introduces you to diverse species like the sleek blacktip, the striking zebra, and the intriguing epaulette shark. During a special feeding demonstration, you will gain rare insight into their natural behaviors and feeding strategies. Our experts will dissect their unique characteristics and ecological importance, transforming your understanding of these vital ocean inhabitants.
Days and Times: Select Fridays and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m.
Pricing: $60 per person
Restrictions: Children must be 8 years or older to participate in this encounter.
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Ever wonder what makes the cheetah the world’s fastest land animal? Our expert keepers will unveil the mysteries of these breathtaking creatures to you through a fascinating training session and where you will have the rare opportunity to witness the cheetah’s intelligence and grace in action. Explore their incredible adaptations, confront the pressing conservation challenges they endure, and see firsthand the vital role they play in the wild heart of their native habitats.
Days and Times: Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m.
Pricing: $90 per person
Restrictions: All participants must wear a face mask. Children must be 8 years or older to participate in this encounter.
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?
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.
