Louisville Zoo is clean and respectful of its animals, providing a wonderful opportunity to see species that might otherwise be geographically impossible to view. Visit these majestic creatures and understand more about the importance of conservation.
In the Africa section, stately African and Asian elephants plod slowly through their days and pygmy hippos loll about between baths. Observe lions sedately perusing their landscape and meerkats continually watching as they balance on their hind feet. This section’s Gorilla Forest is extremely popular for the expressive behavior of its 10 western lowland gorillas.
Experience the African savannah by taking a camel ride. Watch a tall giraffe stretch its neck from the ground to the tops of trees. Stop at the supervised African petting zoo and enjoy the garden featuring a number of sculptured animals.
Visit Glacier Run for cold weather animals such as polar and grizzly bears, as well as playful seals in their enclosure resembling a small Canadian town. Sit in a truck’s cab while bears look for food in the back on the other side of a protective glass wall. Gaze upward to see eagles and snowy owls. Bring swimsuits for children to play in the splash park and playground areas.
The penguins will seek your attention in the Islands section. Find orangutans and Sumatran tigers in the Indonesian Village. Travel to South America to view jaguars and snow leopards. Australia’s unique species include wallabies and wallaroos. Feed the friendly lorikeet birds with nectar purchased at the zoo.
Visit the HerpAquarium for less visible animals, such as Gila monsters, boa constrictors, the endangered Cuban crocodile and the threatened hellbender salamander. In additional conservation efforts, the zoo is helping to resurrect the black-footed ferret that faced extinction in North America.
The attraction has a hilly terrain. Walk, take the zoo train or shuttle around the 134 acres (54 hectares). Drive to Louisville Zoo in 15 minutes from the downtown area. The zoo is open daily except select holidays. Purchase admission and parking passes online. Note that weather plays an important role in being able to see certain animals.