News and Stories

WHO:             On Santa’s last day at the Cincinnati Zoo the animals get a surprise visit from the big man himself! Zoo keepers and staff have stepped in as elves to prepare gifts for the animals and on Monday, December 23, Santa will deliver the gifts to the spectacled bears, black bears, polar bears, African lions, and elephants.

Scheduled gift delivery begins at 10:30 a.m. Visitors are invited to 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:          Monday, December 23

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. – African lions – Christmas tree stuffed with treats

11 a.m. – elephants –gift boxes full of fresh fruit, delivered by Santa