To redeem a gift certificate purchased prior to 12/15/2022, please call 317-630-2180 for assistance with booking.
Animal Adventures
Gift certificates are available for our Sloth Adventure, Elephant Bathing, and Animal Art Adventure. Gift certificates allow the recipient to schedule their adventure on their own time. Certificates are valid for one year from the date of purchase.
Dolphin Meet & Greet
You’re invited to come behind the scenes to get up close and personal with one of our amazing marine mammals!
Following one of the Zoo’s scheduled Dolphin Presentations, participants will be led to the back pools of the Ascension St. Vincent Dolphin Pavilion. During this brief encounter, participants will have the opportunity for a quick interaction and each guest will get a double “high-five” from one of the members of the dolphin pod.
All participants must be at least 6 years of age and participants under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a paid adult participant. Starting September 5, participants must also stand at least 3 feet, 6 inches (42 inches) tall.
One paid adult participant must accompany every five youth participants under the age of 10. Individuals under the age of 6 are not able to participate or enter the Dolphin Meet and Greet area.
Cost: $20 per participant (does not include Zoo admission)
- Dolphin Meet & Greet Frequently Asked Questions
How old do participants need to be?
All participants must be at least 6 years old. Individuals under the age of 6 are not able to participate or enter the Dolphin Meet and Greet area. Children aged 6-13 must be accompanied by a paid adult participant for the duration of the program. Can I take photos?
Guests are encouraged to bring their own devices to capture photos/videos as photographers will not be provided during this experience. Due to needing both hands free, participants will not be able to “selfie” this experience, but the opportunity will be given for a paid member of your party to take photos/video of the interaction. What is the experience like?
During this brief encounter, dolphin staff will ask participants to kneel on a mat at the edge of one of the behind the scenes pools to meet a dolphin up close. A dolphin will be called to the meet and greet location and you’ll have an opportunity to briefly hold their pectoral flippers. Participants will not be in the water but rather at the edge of the pool. Can I participate if I have a disability or special need?
Yes. This program requires a short period of kneeling. If someone in your group has a special need or mobility issue, please contact us in advance so that we can better accommodate the need. When should I arrive and where do I meet?
Participants should check in 15-20 minutes prior to the start of the Dolphin Presentation. Look for the Dolphin Meet and Greet check-in sign upon entering the Ascension St. Vincent Dolphin Pavillion. What if I get exposed to COVID-19 before my experience?
Please note that if you or a member of your party have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), or any mutation or variation thereof, or has confirmed exposure to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), or any mutation or variation thereof, within the last 14 (fourteen days) you will be unable to do this experience. If you have already been reserved your experience, please call us 317-630-2000 and we will reschedule you.
Cockatoo Meet and Greet
You’re invited to have a close encounter with one of the Zoo’s cockatoo flock!
During this animal encounter, participants will go behind-the-scenes and have a brief interaction with a cockatoo, perched on their arm.
All participants must be at least 12 years of age, and participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: $20 per participant, which includes the participant’s experience and one complimentary observer. (does not include Zoo admission)
FOOD ALLERGY NOT ICE : D uring this experience, both tree nuts and peanuts will be fed to the animals , and nuts will be present in the encounter space.
- Cockatoo Meet and Greet FAQ
How old do participants need to be ?
All participants must be at least 12 years old. Children ages 12–15 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program. Can I take photos?
Guests are encouraged to bring their own devices to capture photos/videos as photographers will not be provided during this experience. Participants will need to keep both hands free, so their observer will need to take photos/video for them. What is the experience like?
During this brief encounter, participants and their observer will be guided behind-the-scenes. The participant experience will include a cockatoo perched on their arm/wrist. A member of the Zoo’s animal care team will be present to tell them about the individual bird they are meeting and ensure safety for both the participant and the bird. The experience happens behind-the-scenes of the Kangaroo Crossing habitat. When should I arrive and where do I meet?
Participants should check in 15 minutes prior to the start of the experience. Look for sign at the Kangaroo Kiosk outside of the Kangaroo Crossing habitat. I have a nut allergy. Can I participate in this experience?
At this time, we do not recommend that guests with a tree nut or peanut allergy participate in this experience. Cockatoos are fed nuts as part of their diet, and there is a chance of nut residue being present on the bird’s beak, feet or feathers. Nut shells may be present in the encounter space. What if I get exposed to COVID-19 before my experience?
Please note that if you or a member of your party have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), or any mutation or variation thereof, or has confirmed exposure to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), or any mutation or variation thereof, within the last 14 (fourteen days) you will be unable to do this experience. If you have already been reserved your experience, please call us 317-630-2000 and we will reschedule you.
Sloth Adventure
Experience sloth up-close and personal in our new sloth adventure. Participants of this program will meet and learn about one of the Zoo’s sloths. As a guest of this experience you will have an opportunity to feed the sloth. For animal and guest safety participants will not be able to hold a sloth. See our frequently asked questions below for more details.
All participants must be at least 6 years old and children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a paid adult participant.
Your sloth experience will last around 30 to 40 minutes and includes:
- Admission into the zoo for the participant
- Sloth food preparations in our Zoo Kitchen
- The chance to feed one of our sloths
- One-on-one time with a Zoo Keeper to ask any questions you may have
- The opportunity for some close up sloth photography
- You will receive an Animal Encounter certificate at the end of your sloth experience
- Please be aware that the Sloth encounter takes place in enclosures which can only be accessed via steps.
- We have two sloth enclosures at the Zoo and your experience may take place in either of these depending on which sloths are available on the day.
- Sloths need very warm, humid environments and so during the winter months, experiences will take place inside to ensure our sloth’s needs are being met.
- These enclosures can be very warm and humid so we advise to wear layers of clothing that can be removed.
- Our enclosures are also home to a number of other animals: Rodrigues fruit bats, common marmosets, Saki moneys, silvery marmosets, golden lion tamarins, red-footed tortoises, and pygmy marmosets.
- Sloth encounters are strictly no-contact experiences
Prices
Vary depending on date. Please see our booking calendar to view prices
- Entry to the Park is included for the Sloth Experience participant(s).
- Participants under 16 must be accommpanied by an adult who will require a valid day ticket.
- An additional participant can be added if both participants are from the same group or family, and booked at the same time
- Additional (non participating) guests will require a valid day ticket
- Minimum age 5 years, no maximum age!
Gift voucher holders will need to contact us to request a booking form. We regret that we are unable to make provisional bookings or take bookings over the phone.
Please read our Animal Experience Terms & Conditions before booking.
Please make sure you read our Health & Safety information once you book an encounter.
