Tavi and Kelele, our spotted hyenas, got into the festive spirit with a special gingerbread house filled with paper chains, goat’s milk ice treats in the shape of milk and cookies, plus a heartfelt letter to Santa. Please note: the Zoo will be closed on Christmas Day. 🎁✨

Happy Holidays! Here's our take on the viral wrapping paper trend featuring Pecan, one of our adorable leucistic raccoons. 🤍🦝🎁 Please note: DZCA will be closed for daytime admission and Zoo Lights on Dec. 25 so our staff can spend more time celebrating the holidays with their loved ones.

Western lowland gorilla brothers Gunther and Kal visited the Animal Hospital for routine preventative health exams. Preventative care like this helps us stay ahead of potential health issues and provides the very best care for our primate family. 🦍 Read more: https://link.denverzoo.org/4s7X1H2

The season of giving is here and our animals have a wish list! Viktor's holiday list is full of his favorites; playful enrichment and hearty helpings of beef. Your gift helps make this season extra bright for our big, jolly boy. 🐅🥩 🎁 Donate today: https://support.denverzoo.org/general

It’s a season of cubs near and far. 🦁 We’re thrilled to share that our conservation partners with the Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project in Uganda are also celebrating new lion cubs this year. 📸 Volcanoes Safari Partnership Trust

Join us on Jan. 3 for Zoo Lights Scout Night: Primate Palooza! This program explores the care and nutrition that keep our primates happy and healthy. Plus, registration includes Zoo Lights admission and you'll receive a patch! Learn more: https://denverzoo.org/scout-programs/#winter-scout-programs

We’re proud to share that this mossy frog photo by Volunteer Photographer, Ron Bebus, was featured in the hardcopy edition of the AZA’s Connect Magazine! 📸 We’re incredibly thankful for Ron and all of our volunteer photographers who share their skills to support our mission.

As you get ready to say "Capy Holidays," consider supporting our animals, including Roy and Rebecca! These two are savoring the season with their favorite fruits and veggies and YOU can help fill their stockings with the fresh treats. Donate now: https://support.denverzoo.org/general

The season just got a whole lot hoppier! 🤍 🎁✨ A very limited number of custom-made Marshmallow plushies, inspired by our adorable albino wallaby, are here and available in person or online while supplies last. Adopt now: https://shop.denverzoo.org/marshmallow-adoption-bundle

Winter Safari Camps at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance are the perfect adventure during school break! 📅 Camp Dates: 12/22, 12/23, 12/29, 12/30 & 1/2 👉 Learn more and register here: https://denverzoo.org/safari-camps/#winter-safari

From howler monkeys to capuchins, tamarins, spider monkeys, mangabeys and colobus monkeys, you can find an incredible variety of primate species from around the world right here at DZCA. Visit Primate Panorama and Tropical Discovery to see our monkeys 🐒

🐴 Today we’re celebrating one of the world’s last remaining truly wild horse species: the Przewalski’s horse, also known as the takhi (tah-key). Come visit our takhi this season to learn more about their incredible story!

The lion cubs are growing fast and hitting big milestones along the way! 🦁✨ They've officially graduated from the Maternity Yard to the Primary Yard. And don’t forget: Kids get FREE admission all December long! Get tickets: https://my.denverzoo.org/events?kid=5 Presented by @Primrose Schools.

Still searching for the perfect last-minute gift? We’ve got TWO unforgettable options! 🎁✨ 🎁 Give a Membership: http://my.denverzoo.org/donate/contribute2?premove=y&promo=GIFT25F 🧸 Holiday Adoption Kits: https://shop.denverzoo.org/shop-by-category/adopt-kits

🦙 Meet Fernando and Jorge, our two lovable llama Animal Ambassadors! These fluffy gentlemen are often seen enjoying walks around the Zoo for enrichment. Sometimes, during their training sessions, guests are invited to give them a treat and take a selfie with our boys!

After 7 successful years, President & CEO Bert Vescolani will be departing this December. We offer our heartfelt thanks to Bert for his vision, compassion, and leadership. Read more: https://denverzoo.org/zootales/dzca-president-ceo-announces-departure-after-7-successful-years/

Thank you to everyone who supported the Zoo this #ColoradoGivesDay! Thanks to your donations, we are able to continue providing the best care for the 2,500+ animals that call DZCA home. 💚🩺

Happy Colorado Gives Day! From a tiger to a tortoise, our dedicated Veterinary Medicine team helps ensure our 2,500+ animals are happy and healthy. There's still time to donate to support our beloved animal family. Donate now: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Denverzoo

Colorado Gives Day is HERE! 🎉 🐾🩺 At DZCA, our dedication to veterinary excellence comes at a high price. For every donation made today a group of generous donors have agreed to give an additional $100! Maximize your impact and donate today: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Denverzoo

Colorado Gives Day is TOMORROW! Our dedication to veterinary excellence comes at a high price, with medicine and equipment alone costing $367,000. With your support, we can continue to provide great care for every animal at DZCA. Donate now: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Denverzoo

We’re thrilled to congratulate our incredible volunteer photographer, donor, and DZCA champion Matthew Nalty for being recognized with a Highlight in the 2025 AZA Connect Photo Contest! 📸 See all the photos here: https://www.aza.org/connect-photo-contest-winners

🌟 Happy International Volunteer Day! 🌟 Today, we’re celebrating the incredible volunteers who bring heart, passion, and purpose to Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance every single day. To every volunteer who gives their time, talent, and energy: THANK YOU. Your work truly makes a difference. 🐾

Healthy soil is built, protected and powered by some of the planet’s smallest (and most overlooked) heroes: native dung beetles. Tim Luethke, Grasslands Restoration Coordinator was recently featured in the Western Landowners Alliance for his leadership in restoring native dung beetle populations.

🌍💚 Today, we’re celebrating #WorldWildlifeConservationDay and the many ways wildlife conservation happens: right here on our campus, throughout Colorado, and across the globe. Together, we’re building a future where animals, habitats, and communities can thrive.

We’re proud to share that Winnie the tamandua’s pregnancy announcement and the collaborative work behind her care has been featured in Denver Westword! 📖 Read the full article: https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/denver-zoo-prepares-for-first-tamandua-birth-in-more-than-a-decade-40810912/

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance will be CLOSED during normal daytime hours on Wednesday, December 3 due to the continued snow. PLEASE NOTE: DZCA will OPEN for Zoo Lights tonight from 4:30-9:00 p.m. ❄️✨

Happy #GivingTuesday! Help keep our Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital on the cutting edge of veterinary care. Donate now to support the health of the 2,500+ animals and contribute to the cost of providing world-class zoological medicine: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Denverzoo

❄️🦁 Our four little lion cubs experienced their very first snowfall this weekend! Kids Free December presented by @PrimroseSchools ✨ All children ages 3–15 receive FREE daytime admission all month long!🦁 Plan your visit: https://link.denverzoo.org/48cyoRB

That post-Turkey Day feeling... 💤

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 Our wallaby mob enjoyed a very special holiday treat: a paper mâché turkey handcrafted by our incredible volunteers! The whole group hopped over to investigate, and of course, Marshmallow made a star appearance. From all of us at DZCA, happy holidays!

✨🎄 It’s official: Zoo Lights is ON! More than a million lights came to life, marking the start of one of Denver’s most beloved holiday traditions! Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic: https://denverzoo.org/events/zoo-lights/

🦃 Holiday Hours Reminder! Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27 so our teams can enjoy time with family. We’ll reopen at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 28 for a full day of post-holiday fun!

✨ Zoo Lights BEGINS TONIGHT! ✨ 💡 Visit https://link.denverzoo.org/3K39vi5 to secure your Zoo Lights tickets. 🏆 And don’t forget to vote Zoo Lights as the Best Holiday Zoo Lights in the nation! Vote here: https://link.denverzoo.org/4acnmgx Zoo Lights presented by Your Front Range Toyota Stores

Help us sparkle sustainably this holiday season! 🌟From now until January 31, drop off your old string lights at our collection bin next to the Boettcher Welcome Center (to the right of the sliding doors). ✨

Reminder that our next Free Day is tomorrow, November 23! Free Day ticket reservations are only available on our website on a first-come, first-served basis and will not be available at the Zoo entrance. Please only plan on arriving if you have tickets! Learn more: https://denverzoo.org/free-days/

🐢💚 Recently, our Animal Care and Veterinary teams removed a protective patch from Ethel's plastron. This patch was originally placed over 20 years ago after Ethel underwent a life-saving plastronotomy. Ethel is doing wonderfully, moving comfortably, and continuing to thrive in her golden years. 💛

We’re saddened to share that Ruby, our 22-year-old Endangered Grevy’s zebra, passed unexpectedly on November 16. After showing signs of colic, she was treated immediately, but her condition worsened and she passed away. Her loss is deeply felt by all those who knew and loved her. 🤍🖤

Happy #WorldTamanduaDay! We shared that Winnie is expecting, marking what will be our first tamandua birth in over a decade! She is trained to participate in her own veterinary care and will continue regular ultrasounds and her iconic “walks with Winnie” to stay healthy throughout her pregnancy.

🍁🦁Looking for a fun, hands-on adventure for your young explorer? Our Fall Safari Camps return November 24 & 25—and spots are filling fast! Give your kiddo a school-break experience they’ll never forget! 👉 Learn more + register: https://denverzoo.org/safari-camps/#fall-safari

Home for the Ma-hali-days! 🦛 Mahali’s move to Texas has been postponed to spring 2026 to ensure he is comfortable and ready for his final steps of crate training. Learn more: https://denverzoo.org/zootales/staying-home-for-the-ma-hali-days/

⭐ Happy Sea Star Day! We’re thrilled to share these stunning images of our spiny sea star, captured by @joelsartore, Photographer, the visionary photographer behind @natgeo 's Photo Ark. Want to see one up close? ⭐ Visit Tropical Discovery and discover the beauty and diversity of ocean life.

✨🎄 Zoo Lights, presented by your Front Range Toyota Stores, has been nominated for USA TODAY 10Best’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Zoo Lights! 🌟 Vote now ➡️ https://link.denverzoo.org/3WWocX3

Short-Stack, one of our male pancake tortoises, needs CT scans to monitor urinary bladder stones. Each scan costs $250, and your support helps this Colorado Gives Day ensures he gets the tests he needs to stay healthy. Donate early: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Denverzoo

Eirina is a first-time mom to little Siska, and watching her step into motherhood has been beautiful for everyone to watch. This wraps our highlights of the incredible orangutans that call DZCA home for #OrangutanCaringWeek!

Reminder that our next Free Day is tomorrow, November 15! Free Day ticket reservations are only available on our website on a first-come, first-served basis and will not be available at the Zoo entrance. Please only plan on arriving if you have tickets! Learn more: https://denverzoo.org/free-days/

You know her, you love her, you can’t get enough of her. It’s time to highlight the tiniest member of our orangutan family… Siska! One thing is for sure: Siska is growing fast, and we love every moment of it!

🌍🐾 Our Fall Safari Camps are coming up November 24–25, offering full-day sessions for campers currently in grades K–4. Learn more and sign up today: 🔗 https://denverzoo.org/safari-camps/#fall-safari

The “class clown” of our orangutan family, Cerah is known for her playful, goofy nature and big personality packed into a small frame. Stay tuned as we continue celebrating our incredible great apes this #OrangutanCaringWeek

As the weather cools down, we’ve officially moved to winter hours: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. daily. Please note: Member early entry will return in the spring 🌸 Come enjoy a cozy winter visit with your favorite animal. Plan your visit: https://denverzoo.org/hours-admission/

Our next Free Day is Sunday, November 23, and tickets are now available! Free Day and tickets are now available online on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone who would like to attend a Free Day must register online once tickets are released. Reserve today: https://denverzoo.org/free-days/