The Oregon Zoo is offering half-price admission Feb. 21–25 in appreciation of the community that’s supported it through a decade of campus improvements and a tough couple of years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to capacity limits, walk-up admissions cannot be accommodated, and all tickets must be reserved online in advance. Tickets will be available through the zoo’s website up to 10 days in advance of the visit date. Reservations for Feb. 21 can be made starting at 11 a.m. on Feb. 12.
The past couple of years have been a time of major change at the zoo, as workers completed the final three of eight major projects made possible by a community-supported 2008 bond measure:
- At the new Polar Passage, guests can come face to face with polar bear sisters Nora and Amelia Gray, as they play in piles of ice, snooze under shelters, and plunge into deep saltwater pools.
- Across the way, Primate Forest expands on improvements first helped along by Dr. Jane Goodall. Forty years ago, the zoo’s pioneering work with chimpanzees drew the attention of the famed conservationist, and she visited regularly, getting to know Chloe, Leah, Delilah and the other zoo chimps.
- Nearby Rhino Ridge recently welcomed eastern black rhinos King and Jozi. Zoo caregivers hope the pair will inspire a new chapter in the conservation of this critically endangered species.
“If you haven’t visited for a while, you’re in for a great surprise,” said Oregon Zoo director Heidi Rahn. “We came together as a community to benefit the animals and the environment, and this is an achievement we can all be proud of. We hope everyone who visits is inspired to help create a better future for wildlife.”