All Experiences must be booked two weeks in advance. Dates are opened a few months at a time – check back regularly for openings!
Animal Experiences last approximately 30 minutes and are overseen by a member of our Animal Care Staff who can answer all of your questions. VIP Tour last approximately 2 hours and are guided by a trained member of staff.
All experience sales are final. Experiences may be rescheduled no less than 48 hours in advance of the experience date.
Admission is included with some Experiences, please read all details for more information.
At least one adult 18 and over must be present during animal experiences.
All children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Some animal experiences will require all participants to wear PPE including face masks and nitrile gloves.
For questions, contact encounters@uticazoo.org
Get up close to our White-Handed Gibbon family! Feed them their favorite snacks and learn about their wonderful adaptations.
Starting at $300 | Up to 4 People | 8 Years +
Booked Friday and Saturdays, 2:15pm
*PPE required and will be provided.
Go behind-the-scenes and get up close to our Red Pandas, Mei Lin and Khairo. Feed them their favorite treats and learn about the red panda conservation status. Please note that this is our most popular encounter and may need to be booked several months in advance. Dates are opened a few months at a time – check back regularly for openings!
Starting at $250 | Up to 4 People | 12 Years +
Currently unavailable for mother & baby bonding
*PPE required and will be provided.
Get up close to some of our carnivores, the African Painted Dogs! This encounter consists of a feeding done by the keeper, a private keeper talk, and an enrichment which guests may be allowed to assist with creating.
Starting at $200 | Up to 4 People | 10 Years +
Booked Sunday and Tuesday at 2:30pm
*PPE required and will be provided.
Get up close to our the Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra! Feed them their favorite snacks and go behind-the-scenes in their barn!
Starting at $150 | Up to 4 People | 8 Years +
Booked Thursday and Sunday at 11:00am
Go beyond the ordinary zoo visit with our exclusive VIP Tour experience! This private, guided adventure offers you an insider’s look at the Utica Zoo and the incredible animals who call it home.
Starting at $75, each additional $25 | Up to 6 People
Contact encounters@uticazoo.org to book
*Admission is not included.
Get up close to meet the Utica Zoo’s 2025 PreZOOdent Hazel, and her two daughters, Nutmeg and Pikaboo, the miniature donkeys. Feed them their lunch, brush them, pet them, and learn about our adorable donkeys from our Keepers!
Starting at $75 | Up to 6 People | 8 Years +
Booked Thursday and Sunday at 12:30pm
*Admission is not included.
Get a closer look at the Utica Zoo’s largest animals while feeding him his favorite snacks and learning from our Keepers!
Starting at $75 | Up to 4 People | 8 Years +
Booked Wednesdays & Saturdays, 12:30pm
*Admission is not included.
Get a chance to feed our Nigerian Dwarf Goats right inside their exhibit! Perfect for young children and families.
Starting at $50 | Up to 4 People | 8 Years +
Booked Tuesday & Saturday, 10:30am
*Admission is not included.
Our Ambassador/Education animals play a special role in telling the stories of their wild counterparts. Meet our animals up close and hear their stories.
Starting at $30 | Up to 4 People | All Ages
Booked Saturday and Sunday, 1:00pm
*Admission is not included.
Purchase the perfect gift: a gift card with a value of your choosing and no expiration date!
This gift card is only good for purchasing items from our website, such as Animal Encounters. It is not good for purchases for general admission, memberships, gift shop purchases, or concessions.
*for groups of 10 or more, ask our ticket window about our discounted “group rate”*