Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

On this final day of the Paris Olympics, we salute one of the animal kingdom's strongest kickers. The zebra would certainly earn its stripes on the Zoo's Olympic soccer team - its kick equals about 3,000 pounds of force! ⚽🦓

Happy World Elephant Day - a global celebration of one of nature's largest masterpieces! Elephants are both incredible and important to our world. The Zoo is dedicated to the continuing preservation and protection of these colossal creatures. 🐘

It's World Lion Day: a perfect day to celebrate these phenomenal felines and conservation efforts to protect them - or for just "lion" around in the sun! 🦁

Butterflies have arrived at the Zoo! Tomorrow through Labor Day, guests can get a sneak peek of "I Spy a Butterfly," an all-new, seasonal, walk-through experience.

The exclusive preview is available to all guests for $4 or bundled at a discount with other Zoo attractions as part of the One Wild Day Pass! For details ➡️ https://bit.ly/3AddLGy

It's almost time for another Sip'n Swirl! Join us to sample wine from regional and national vineyards, sample hors d’oeuvres, and enjoy live music to support the Zoo’s conservation programs. Tickets on sale now ➡️https://bit.ly/4fyB1ij

Hatty the macaroni penguin chick passed her swimming test! She hasn't mastered the backstroke yet, but her freestyle is gold medal worthy! She will slowly be introduced to the penguin habitat until she gets a permanent spot on the team. Watch out, Olympians! 🐧🥇

The Zoo is nominated for two categories in Pittsburgh City Paper's "Best of Pittsburgh" voting: Best Camp for Kids and Best Birthday Spot for Kids.

We would appreciate your support - especially for a three-peat win for Zoo Camp. Cast your vote ➡️ bit.ly/4dwrFSh

A sea otter's adaptations make it a lock for a spot on the Zoo's Olympic swim team. It can hold its breath for up to eight minutes and close its ears and nostrils while diving to prevent water from entering. 🏊‍♂️

Happy National Watermelon Day! This favorite fruit helps many of our animals beat the summertime heat. (Frankie the western lowland gorilla approves this message!) 🍉

A reminder that the Zoo will close early on Saturday, August 3, so we can preen for Zoo Brew: Flock Party.

Daytime Zoo gates will close at 3:30 p.m. and the park will close at 5 p.m.

Calling all carvers! The Zoo is looking for artists of all skills levels to populate our pumpkin patch for the upcoming Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza. To apply, please visit https://bit.ly/3Worphk

Bombay, Brandy, Chardonnay, Eggnog, Grigio, Martini, Mead, Mojito, Noir, and Sangria...did you know the Zoo's flamingos are all named after drinks?

Let your spirits fly this Saturday, August 3, as we present Zoo Brew: Flock Party! Pretty up in pink and enjoy craft beer samples from the area's finest breweries.

Don't miss out on your ticket ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Woj7HH 🦩🦩🦩

Lewis would definitely make the cut for the Zoo's Olympic team. One of the fastest land animals, his muscular legs allow him to run as fast as 35 mph. Plus, at 18 feet tall, he would be a shoo-in for basketball! 🏀

If there were Olympics for Pittsburgh Zoo animals, the cheetah would certainly bring home the gold in track events! The fastest land animal, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just six seconds. When galloping, it is off the ground for more than half of its running time! 🥇

Our Zoo Campers made a special National Zoo Keeper Week card for our animal care staff members who make sure their favorite animals are happy and healthy.

As Zoo visits are an essential part of school field trips and other unforgettable learning experiences, our keepers' vital work intrigues and inspires future generations of animal conservationists!

Our keepers are exceptionally passionate people. Each animal has its own unique and compelling story to tell. Our animal care staff inspires our guests to care about animals and take a stand for their conservation.

National Zoo Keeper Week honors the excellence and dedication that goes into this profession and the efforts put in daily by each and every Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium keeper.

Our antennae are up! Something beautiful is about to emerge at the Zoo! Keep your eyes on the skies, more info soon 👀🦋

Steeler training camp begins today. Pavel the Amur tiger is hoping he makes the cut! 🏈

Continuing our celebration of National Zoo Keeper Week, we spotlight Aquarist Justine Curley: “Every day is different, and each one comes with a unique set of challenges and learning opportunities. I have experienced every shade on the emotional spectrum, but I have never been bored!”

Many moving parts keep the aquarium ecosystem healthy. Most of Justine’s day is spent caring for these tanks. Her duties include testing the water quality to make sure that our aquatic animals are living in habitats with safe water, growing and harvesting plankton to feed our residents and keep their homes clean, and even scuba diving to clean the tanks or prepare animals for exams and procedures.

Since Pittsburgh doesn’t border an ocean, we make our own at the Zoo! Every day, Justine and her team use a specialized salt mix to make sea water for all our marine fishes and invertebrates! 🪸🐠🦈🐡

Our keepers are the unsung heroes who ensure that the Zoo and its animals thrive in the best conditions possible.

This National Zoo Keeper Week, we honor the hard work, patience, and professionalism of each and every Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium animal care staff member! ❤️

It’s National Zoo Keeper Week! Join us as we celebrate our animal care professionals and their dedication, hard work, conservation efforts, and passion.

Today we spotlight Shaye, our Senior Ambassador Animal Specialist: “I love that I get to work directly with all 60 of our animal ambassadors and form relationships with them. I also love that I get to educate guests in and outside of the Zoo why each species is unique and why we should care about their conservation.”

A typical day for Shaye can include anything from prepping a kinkajou’s diet to training a macaw to creating a ball pit for a bearded dragon!

Thank you for your patience today! The Zoo is now once again able to accept credit cards and digital transactions as usual. Plan-Ahead Pricing is back on our website, and admission gates and the Zoo overall will operate as normal on Saturday, July 20. Plan your next visit at https://bit.ly/4d4uVUP

Due to a global technical system outage, the Zoo will be operating on Cash Only today. Guests of all ages may purchase tickets for a flat rate of $20 cash per person. Members will be admitted as normal. Pre-purchased tickets and programming will be honored and admitted as purchased with no additional adjustments. Special discounts usually applied during purchase at gates will not be available today; all guests may purchase entry at the $20 cash rate each. Please check back for updates, thank you!

Set a course for adventure to the International Conservation Center in Somerset for an unforgettable overnight! Activities include an evening hike, stargazing, a bonfire, and a morning wagon ride to view elephants. 🏕️ For details ➡️ https://bit.ly/3WlrfIN

Birthdays at the Zoo mean one wild party! Celebrate your little one's special day at Pittsburgh's Best Birthday Spot as voted by readers of Pittsburgh City Paper. Plan your party at https://bit.ly/462itmh

Celebrate all things slithery this World Snake Day! Extremely important to our ecosystem, there are over 3,500 species in the world and the Zoo cares for many of them.

Our black-tailed rattlesnake received a veterinary exam today. Animal care staff use a clear tube to keep the animal calm and staff safe during the procedure. This allows them to inspect the venomous snake, take a blood sample, radiograph its body, and offer the best reptile care po-sssss-ible.🐍

Do you have your ticket yet for Zoo Brew? It's almost time for summer's best evening of craft beer samples and live music to support the world's most amazing animals! 🍺🦩 For info, visit ➡️bit.ly/3Woj7HH

A macaroni penguin chick scored a hat trick at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: her egg was discarded by her parents, she was given an assist by a pair of gentoo penguins, and she successfully hatched and found a family with her adoptive parents. Named Hat Trick, or Hatty for short, the healthy female chick is the ultimate "peng-win", as she is uniquely being fostered at the Zoo by penguin parents of different species. 🐧

Although Hatty will not take to her habitat home ice for several weeks, she scored a behind-the-scenes visit on July 7 from Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan, who approved the Zoo penguins’ victory.

Learn more ➡ https://bit.ly/4cS6t9i