Wild Encounters: Memorial Day through Labor Day
Go wild with up-close, behind-the-scenes animal encounters at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium!
Wild Encounters are sponsored by GEICO Military
- Guests must be 8 years of age or older.
- Guests under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Guests must bring a face mask and should wear closed-toe shoes.
- Guests will not touch animals during their encounter.
- 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.
- At this time, we are unable to accommodate service animals during Wild Encounters.
- Tickets must be purchased online at least 24 hours in advance.
- If you or a group member have a special need or mobility need, please contact us in advance.
- All sales are final.
Encounters at the Zoo
Wild Encounters at the Zoo are 30 minutes long and can accommodate a group of up to five guests. Tickets include Zoo admission.
For health and safety during Wild Encounters, all guests, regardless of vaccination status, must bring a face mask and may be asked to wear the mask before entering animal areas. Guests may additionally be asked to wear gloves and/or perform a temperature check, provided by the Zoo.
Aquarium Adventure
Every Day | 2 p.m. | $250 per group
Shadow a Zoo keeper in the PPG Aquarium to see what it’s like to work with marine life from around the world. Aquarium Adventure animals will change daily, and may not be the same each time. You may meet a shark or explore with the stingrays – each encounter will be a different experience!
Ambassador Animals
Fridays through Sundays | 2 p.m. | $250 per group
Meet the Zoo’s most popular animal ambassadors up close. A variety of animals, representing more than 30 different species, are featured in the Zoo’s educational programs. A member of our knowledgeable education staff will guide your experience and provide opportunities to touch the animals and pose for photos. Animals may include owls, kinkajou, fennec foxes, or ball pythons. Specific animals will vary for each encounter.
Sharks
Tuesdays | 2:30 p.m. | $250 per group
Experience the thrill of being up close with sharks from the Indo-Pacific. Explore our large ocean exhibit in the PPG Aquarium, discover firsthand what it’s like to care for these iconic animals, and learn about the importance of sharks in our oceans.
Elephants
Fridays through Mondays | 11 a.m. | $250 per group
Experience a larger-than-life encounter with a magnificent African elephant. Meet the keeper team and learn what it’s like to care for an all-female elephant herd. Get a peek behind-the-scenes at their expansive African Savanna habitat and then pose with the herd for a selfie of gigantic proportions.
Giraffes
Saturdays and Sundays | 2 p.m. | $250 per group
Travel to new heights during this experience while getting up close to the world’s tallest mammal. Staff will share what it takes to care for this unique species, and you’ll get a sneak peek at their 20 inch tongue.
Red Pandas – SOLD OUT
Tuesdays and Thursdays | 10 a.m. | $250 per group
Go nose-to-whisker with one of our most charming animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium – the red panda. Step into a staff-only area to see what goes into their daily care and learn important conservation information about this unique species.
International Conservation Center (ICC)
Wild Encounters at the International Conservation Center in Somerset, Pennsylvania are 30 minutes long and can accommodate a group of up to five guests. Tickets do not include Zoo admission. Please be aware that guests will not yet meet our new elephant calf during this encounter.
International Conservation Center
Visit the Elephants of Somerset County
Fridays through Mondays
10 a.m. / 11 a.m. / 1 p.m. / 2 p.m.
$250 per group
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Give the gift of a behind-the-scenes Wild Encounter experience at the Zoo!