News and Stories

WHO:  The Cincinnati Zoo’s animals get a surprise guest six days early this holiday season! Zoo keepers and staff have stepped in as elves to prepare gifts for the animals and the big man himself, Santa, will deliver the gifts to the spectacled bears, black bears, polar bears, elephants, and Arctic foxes.

Scheduled gift delivery begins at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 19.  Visitors are invited to come witness the magic of the holiday season and watch as Santa makes his special deliveries.

WHAT:  These special gifts are not only nutritious treats, but are great enrichment activities for the animals.  Like humans, animals enjoy searching for and finding new treats.  Searching is a lot like hunting, which is a behavior these animals would display in the wild while foraging for food.

WHEN:  Wednesday, December 19

• 10:30 a.m. – polar bears – colorful frozen fish-cicles
• 10:35 a.m. – spectacled bears – Christmas trees stuffed with treats
• 10:40 a.m. – black bears – Christmas trees stuffed with treats
• 10:45 a.m. – Arctic foxes – holiday wreaths stuffed with treats
• 11 a.m. – elephants –gift boxes full of fresh fruit, delivered by Santa
  

WHERE:       Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden