Belfast Zoo

"Three is the magic number!🦒🦒🦒
We are thrilled about the arrival of a new Rothchild's Giraffe born on August 13th. Neja, an experienced mother, welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world in the early hours of the morning.
This is the third Rothchild's giraffe to be born this year and despite not being triplets, this majestic trio have already formed a strong bond and their level of cuteness together is off the charts.
It is tradition at Belfast Zoo that any new giraffe calves born are named after towns and villages that begin with Bally. Keeping with tradition a shortlist of three names has been drawn up by the giraffe care team.
Ballycassidy
Ballyshannon
Ballylinney
To vote for your favourite name please leave a comment below.

Voting will close on Friday 30th August at 4pm. The new calf is currently on show and can be visited daily. plan your visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk

💚 Baby sloth update 💚

Baby sloth and both parents have been doing great and adapting to their new family life.

Baby sloths stick with their mother for roughly six months, using their stomach as a cradle. This is an important bonding period that allows the baby to learn and develop.

As our baby sloth is now six months old, they will begin to venture off the mother’s body and spend more time hanging out close by. 🦥

📷Photo credit: Keeper Zoe

We're feeling ‘roar’-some today 🦖🦖 with our new baby Dinos!!.. Budding palaeontologists can view our dinosaurs in our new permanent exhibits- Dino Camp and Dino Nursery.
Plan your visit for a Dino-mite day www.belfastzoo.co.uk

It's World Lizard Day! 🦎

Belfast Zoo is home to a variety of fascinating lizards! You can visit our lizards at the reptile and amphibian house.

Plan your adventure today: www.belfastzoo.co.uk

Baby boom at Belfast Zoo! 💚

We have had lots of new arrivals this summer, from the tiny cotton top tamarin twins to a six foot baby giraffe. 🦒

More species are facing extinction than ever before. Zoos around the world have a responsibility to ensure the survival of species under threat by playing an active role in conservation.

You can support Belfast Zoo, the work that we do and the animals that we care for by adopting an animal. From the tiny pygmy marmoset to the giant giraffe, there's more than 100 species to choose from. 🦒

Animal adoption lasts for one year and with packages starting from £35, there’s an option for every budget.

Visit: www.belfastzoo.co.uk/adoption 💻

Sunday mood.💤

Looking for something to get you through the week? We are open every day from 10am-6pm! ⏰

Visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk to plan your adventure.

It’s World Lion Day! 🦁

Join us today in celebrating this magnificent species. We are home to three barbary lions, Qays, Fidda and Theibba.

Belfast Zoo supports Panthera.org, a conservation project protecting the world’s 40 species of wild cats, including lions, and the vast ecosystems they inhabit.

You can donate online to help support this conversation project at:

You can also choose to include a small donation as part of your online entrance ticket to the zoo. Simply tick ‘Make a donation’ when selecting your ticket.

Book your adventure today: www.belfastzoo.co.uk

Baby news: Double trouble! Critically endangered tamarin twins born ❤️❤️

Can you spot the cotton top tamarin baby? 🐒 👀

This birth is a huge cause for celebration as these miniature monkeys are one of the world’s most endangered primates.

The squirrel-sized monkeys are native to a small region in Colombia but due to deforestation, only 5% of their original habitat remains. Illegal wildlife trade is also another significant threat to their survival.

The female usually gives birth to twins and the father, siblings and the rest of the family group play an active role in child-rearing duties.

Swing by with your little monkeys to see if you can spot our new arrival. Plan your adventure today: www.belfastzoo.co.uk

Hop on over to our brand new Animals of Australia habitat today and view the gorgeous Eastern Grey Kangaroos and the Red Necked Wallabies.🦘🦘🦘

plan your visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk

Happy International Cat Day!🐈‍

Many of you may have pet cats at home who you will be celebrating with today, but we have our own special cats here at Belfast Zoo. We are home to the Scottish Wildcat, one of the most endangered native mammals within the British Isles.

This may look like an ordinary domestic tabby cat; it's not! Scottish wildcats are up to 65 centimetres in length with a tail half this length. They weigh up to 7 kilograms.

Belfast Zoo is part of an ongoing programme called Saving Wildcats recovery project which is based at Highland Wildlife Park.

You can support Belfast Zoo by adopting a Scottish wildcat today. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/zoo/adoption

We would like to say a big Thank you to everyone who came along to our Dino Day on Saturday 3rd of August. We had a Tyrannoriffic time!!🦖🦖🦖🦖
Our Dino exhibits are available to view every day and keep your eyes peeled for some new additions.
Plan your visit. www.belfastzoo.co.uk

Belfast Zoo is going Down under with our new Animals of Australia habitat 🦘🦘. The former elephant enclosure is being transformed into an exciting new habitat that will show case the unique diversity of Australian wildlife and the challenges it faces.

In a phased approach from August 2024 visitors will see the return of iconic Australian species to Belfast Zoo.

Later this week, you will be able to view wonderful Red Necked Wallabies and Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Plan your visit and come along to view these amazing marsupials. www.belfastzoo.co.uk

📣 Calling all party animals! For a wild experience, host your birthday party at Belfast Zoo! 🐒 🎁

Stay and explore the zoo for the entire day and let your little party animals run wild around our 55 acre site. 🌳 🐘

We have everything you need for a ZOOPER celebration! 🥳

Our pawsome party packages start from £15 per child and you can choose from:

🎉 Little Monkeys Party Package
🎉 Animal Party Package
🎉 Roaring Party Package

Find out more about how your little monkeys can celebrate and book today:
https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/zoo/birthdayparties

It's International Owl Awareness Day! 🦉

Belfast Zoo is home to the white-breasted barn owl.

Barn owls are under serious threat in Northern Ireland with fewer than 30 breeding pairs estimated to be left. It is now one of our rarest and most endangered birds, red-listed on the Irish Birds of Conservation Concern and protected under the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985. ‼️

You can visit our barn owl at the back of the zoo farm, near the entrance of red squirrel nook.

Plan your adventure today: www.belfastzoo.co.uk

It's National Sister's Day!

Swing by Belfast Zoo today so celebrate with sisters Fidda and Theibba. 🦁

Plan your adventure today: www.belfastzoo.co.uk

🦍🎈Happy Birthday Baako!🎈🦍

Baako was born on 3 August 2013 to mother, Kwanza and silverback, Gugas.

The name Baako means ‘first born child’ which is perfect for this gorilla as he was the first Western lowland gorilla to be born at the Belfast Zoo in 16 years at the Cave Hill site.

The family, along with the rest of the gorilla troop at Belfast Zoo are part of a collaborative international breeding programme for Western lowland gorillas. 🔎

This beautiful species of gorilla is critically endangered in the wild and they have seen a population reduction of more than 80% over three generations. ❗🚨

We are open 10am - 6pm with last entry at 4.30pm, so swing by with your troop and wish Baako a very happy birthday! 🕔

Visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk and plan your adventure today.

⭐ Event reminder ⭐

Book your tickets online before 9:30am at www.belfastzoo.co.uk and avail of a discounted price!

We are open 10am - 6pm with last entry at 4.30pm. ⏰

Plan a Tyranno-riffic trip to Belfast Zoo on Saturday 3 August. 🦖

Come see our two new permanent dinosaur exhibits as we go back in time and learn about the zoo animals ancestors. We have lots of activities planned for our dino weekend! 🦖

✨Take part in our trail quiz for the chance to win some zooper prizes
✨Dino themed craft station
✨Dinosaur talks

Plan your visit today: www.belfastzoo.co.uk

📣 Don't forget, our next Quiet Hour session is coming up this Sunday 4 August! 🤫

Quiet Hours run from 9am to 10am and allow visitors with sensory requirements, along with their family and friends, to enter the zoo an hour before normal opening. 👍

This is an ideal opportunity to enjoy the zoo in a more relaxed atmosphere with reduced noise and crowds. ❤️

Quiet Hours will take place on these dates:
📌Sunday 4 August 2024
📌Sunday 8 September 2024

Visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk and book in today.

Happy Birthday Phoenix! 🥳🦩

Phoenix is the first parent-reared Chilean flamingo in Belfast Zoo. Phoenix, hatched on the 1 August 2023, on their mother’s twelfth birthday.

This was the first time the flock had reared a baby chick with their flamboyance, and it was all hands-on deck with the parents being provided with support from their fellow flamingos.

The Chilean flamingo has striking pink plumage with crimson feathers along the edge of the wings. However, when chicks first hatch, they have fluffy grey feathers. Flamingos will turn fully pink between their first and second birthday.

Come and wish Phoenix a very happy 1st Birthday! Visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk and plan your adventure today.

Plan a Tyranno-riffic trip to Belfast Zoo on Saturday 3 August. 🦖

Come see our two new permanent dinosaur exhibits as we go back in time and learn about the zoo animals ancestors. We have lots of activities planned for our dino weekend! 🦖

✨Take part in our trail quiz for the chance to win some zooper prizes
✨Dino themed craft station
✨Dinosaur talks

Plan your visit today: www.belfastzoo.co.uk

Dhjuna and Yhetto have arrived safe and well at their new home, Burgers' Zoo.

The transport went smoothly and the girls have settled in their new home and are slowly being introduced to their two new companions. 🐘🐘

Go Wild This Summer!

Make the most of the summer holidays and plan a trip to Belfast Zoo! 🦧🐧🦒

With a huge 55-acre site in the beautiful Cave Hill grounds, the zoo is a perfect trip for all the family. 🌳🌤

Our outdoor trek offers wide walkways throughout the site and large open areas.
After working up a roaring appetite, the Ability Café offers a variety of hot and cold food and drinks to suit everyone. 🍦🍕☕

Become a member and enjoy a year of free visits! https://bit.ly/3XJgPE1

We are open everyday from 10am to 6pm. Last admission is at 4.30pm. ⏰

Visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk and plan your adventure today.

Sunday mood 💤
Looking for something to get you through the week?
We are open every day from 10am-6pm!
Visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk to plan your adventure

Visiting Belfast Zoo today? Walk with pride and come see our pride of lions at the Kingdom of the Barbary Lions🦁 🦁 🦁

This year’s parade theme is 'Love your mind', so we encourage visitors to embrace this year’s theme and come dressed in clothing that reflects this theme 🌈

We’d love to you to share your pictures with us. Tag Belfast Zoo and use hashtag

Plan your visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk

Happy four month birthday to our adorable baby sloth. Just look at that face! 🦥

Two-toed Sloths are weened by their mothers for the first 12 months and our baby just loves cuddles from Mum.

Plan your visit to see our gorgeous baby at www.belfastzoo.co.uk

We had a Zooper time with Belfast telegraph and our ring-tailed lemurs as they predicted the winner of this weekends big All Ireland final .🏐
As you can see it was 3-1 and Galway was the clear winner with the lemurs! 😀
Visit the Ring-tailed lemurs in their habitat. Plan your visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk

The votes are in! With a landslide victory our new giraffe's name is...Ballyarchie 🦒🦒🦒

Thank you everyone for your votes.

Swing by and visit Ballyarchie this weekend. Plan your adventure today: www.belfastzoo.co.uk

Yesterday, we waved a final goodbye to our much loved elephants, Dhjuna and Yhetto. The move went really well and both girls were very settled and relaxed during the transfer.
They will be traveling with their keepers on the boat to the Netherlands as they make their way to their new home. We want to wish them the best of luck on their journey, and to thank everyone that made this journey possible. Thank you to our team here at Belfast zoo and the team from Global Elephant Care for all their hard work and dedication.
We would also like to thank everyone who has come along over the past few weeks to say goodbye. We will be updating you on their arrival to Burgers' Zoo over the next few weeks.
Farewell Dhunja and Yhetto, enjoy your retirement with your new herd. 🐘🐘🐘🐘

Eagle-eyed visitors might have noticed some egg-stra activity down at our penguin pebble beach in recent weeks. 🐧 🥚

We are delighted to welcome the first gentoo penguin chicks of the year! 🐣

Look closely at the nest and you will catch a glimpse! Why not hatch a plan and come and see them for yourself!

Plan your adventure today: www.belfastzoo.co.uk

📷 Photo credit: Senior Keeper Ruairi