Birmingham Zoo offering discounts, tips for July attendees

By WVUA 23 Digital Reporter Candace Johnson

Are you looking for fun things to do before school gets back? Birmingham Zoo is offering discounts as well as tips for the last weekends in July. Head on down to see the animals and save money at the same time.

“From seeing the new baby animals to watching the elephants, orangutans, bears, snakes, lions and jaguars, the Birmingham Zoo has hundreds of animals to admire,” said zoo President and CEO Chris Pfefferkorn.

The Birmingham Zoo will be offering $12.95 on admission, compared to the regular $19.95 for adults. Explore the sights and sounds as you observe the animals in their habitats.

“For hands-on experiences, feed the lorikeets and giraffes, then head to Alabama Wilds’ contact yard for goat and sheep interactions. The hourly zookeeper chats are exciting, interactive and educational,” he said.

On July 20-21 and 27-28, the Birmingham Zoo will be holding its “Summer’s Last Road Weekends” event featuring special deals.

On July 21 and 28, there will be a special “Sunday Fun Day” where attendees can buy a $5 wristband for unlimited rides on the Red Diamond Express and unlimited climbs on the Full Moon Bar-B-Que Adventure Tower.

Tips for visiting:

1. Do Your Research and Arrive Early – Come early and don’t wait until late in the day. The zoo opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm from Wednesday to Sunday.
2. First Things First – Do the thing you want to do first. Want to feed the Giraffes? Do it first! Things change and fluctuate. Do the thing you want the most first.
3. Animal Chats – Check the website for updates on animal chat times and locations. It’s always amazing to hear from people who work directly with our beautiful animals. The Ambassador Animals demonstrations are at 11:15 am and at 2:15 pm next to the barn in Alabama Wilds.
4. Cool Spots – The Primate, Predator and Reptile Buildings all have animals inside and are a great escape from the heat. See majestic animals no matter the weather conditions. The splash pads in the Children’s Zoo offer fun and cooling options in the shade plus plenty of seating and food/drink options nearby. Also hop on the train for fun and shade. Drink plenty of water before coming to the zoo and while here.
5. Interact with Animals – Goat and sheep walks are daily at 9:30 am These animals remain in the contact yard from 10 am until 2 pm which is included with admission. For more up-close animal interactions, feed the lorikeet birds between 10 am and 3 pm Giraffe feedings are from 10 to 11:30 am and from 1 to 2:30 pm The feedings are an additional charge but create great memories. Activities subject to change with weather and other factors.

Best times to see which animals

Early Morning

• Otters in Alabama Wilds and Primate Buildings
• Birds
• Orangutans
• Animals in Predator Building

Mid-Morning and Early Afternoon

• Lions and jaguars
• Monkeys

Late Afternoon

• Birds
• Predators – black-footed cats, fennec fox, Pallas cats, Prevost’s squirrel and sand cat
• Giant anteater
• Giant otters
• Orangutans
• Red-flanked duiker

All Day

• Elephants, giraffes, zebras and ostriches
• Bears
• Flamingos
• Red pandas
• Coyotes
• Alligators and other reptiles
• Chickens, cranes and golden eagles in Alabama Wilds
• Barn animals between 9 am and 2 pm