We're thrilled to share that USA TODAY 10Best has once again nominated Toyota Elephant Passage for Best Zoo Exhibit in North America! 🐘 Show your DZCA pride by voting once a day through March 9 and help Toyota Elephant Passage take the top spot. 💚 Vote here: https://10best.usatoday.com/qr/57054/

Meet Luna, our Eastern screech owl! 🦉 While everyone’s cheering on their favorite team this weekend, we’re celebrating Superb Owl Sunday with this beautiful bird. Luna lives behind the scenes with our Animal Ambassadors, helping us inspire guests to appreciate and protect native wildlife.

Our next SCFD Community Free Day is Sunday, February 22 and tickets are now available! Anyone who would like to attend a Free Day must register online once tickets are released. As a reminder, Free Day tickets will not be available on-site at the Zoo entrance. https://denverzoo.org/free-days/

Today is #ReverseTheRed Day, a reminder that extinction isn’t inevitable, and recovery is possible. At DZCA we are committed to turning the tide for wildlife. Read more about how these efforts are Reversing the Red and how you can be a part of the impact: https://link.denverzoo.org/46sNJMz

Hip, hop, hurray! We are thrilled to welcome our very first Endangered Huon tree kangaroo joey! 🧡 This male joey was born late July 2025 to first-time parents Pearl and Tristan. Learn more: https://denverzoo.org/zootales/baby-bulletin-dzca-welcomes-endangered-huon-tree-kangaroo-joey/

Roses are red ❤️ Violets are blue 💙 Adopt an Animal is the perfect Valentine's gift for you! 💘🐾 Spread the love this Valentine's Day and support DZCA: https://shop.denverzoo.org/shop-by-collection/adoption-kits Presented in partnership with @childrenscolo.bsky.social

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, but love is always in the air at DZCA! From the care our animals receive every day to guest experiences, everything we do is rooted in love for wildlife and wild places. Learn more: https://denverzoo.org/zootales/conservation-is-love-in-action/

Our armadillos take their exercise very seriously. Happy belated #ArmadilloDay from our Ambassadors, Chaco and Willow the three-banded armadillos, and Dillon the nine-banded armadillo! 🎥: Behavioral Husbandry Manager, Heather G.

Happy #OstrichDay from Dusty!

The tentacled snake is one of nature’s most fascinating ambush predators. Disguised as a stick and fully submerged, this aquatic snake relies on patience, precision, and a truly wild adaptation to catch its prey.

#ICYMI: Our lion cubs have names! 🦁💛 Learn how to tell them apart and read more about their personalities: https://link.denverzoo.org/4q2eONx We don’t have a set schedule for when the cubs will be out, but we’re aiming to have them visible most days, especially on weekends.

When you buy a NEW Valentine's Day Adoption Bundle, you'll gain a new cuddle buddy AND directly support animals here and around the world. Order by Feb. 6 to make sure it arrives in time for Valentine's Day! 🩷 Spread the love: https://shop.denverzoo.org/shop-by-collection/adoption-kits

She may look like an ordinary housecat, but Dia is anything but domestic. She’s a Geoffroy’s cat, a wild carnivore native to South America. Dia now lives behind the scenes in Village Hall, where she rotates through the habitat with Jonas the fishing cat.

🐍 At DZCA, you can safely see rattlesnakes from Colorado and beyond up close in Tropical Discovery and learn how to coexist with them in the wild. Join us in appreciating these fascinating reptiles! https://youtu.be/2H5CB9RNANc

Today we’re celebrating Winnie the southern tamandua’s 8th birthday! 💛 Join us in wishing Winnie a gentle and love-filled birthday.

Reminder that our next Free Day is Sunday, January 25! Free Day ticket reservations are only available on our website. Please only plan on arriving if you have tickets. If you do have tickets, be sure to check out our indoor habitats if you need to warm up! https://denverzoo.org/free-days/

CLOSURE UPDATE! ❄️ Due to the extreme cold weather, DZCA will remain closed to the public tomorrow, January 24. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for our animals, staff and guests.

ItEarlier this week was #AppreciateADragonDay 🐉✨ Meet our Animal Ambassador bearded dragon named Falcor. He is a gentle reptile with a big personality. Stop by our Animal Ambassador carts to see if you can meet Falcor and learn more about how reptiles are adapted to their environments.

Closure Alert! ❄️ We will be closed to the public on January 23 due to the forecasted extreme cold temperatures. Most of our animals will need to remain in their indoor habitats for their safety and comfort. We hope everyone is staying safe and warm out there!

Happy 1st birthday to Aster! 🎉🖤 Celebrate her first birthday and learn more about why her arrival matters for conservation: https://denverzoo.org/zootales/dzca-welcomes-first-somali-wild-ass-foal/ 📷: Animal Care Specialist, Emmy W.

🐿️ Marshall and Beck, our Prevost’s squirrels, are here to remind us that these arboreal acrobats are as clever as they are colorful. Native to the forests of Southeast Asia, Prevost’s squirrels play an important role as seed dispersers. #SquirrelAppreciationDay

Happy #PenguinAwarenessDay! 🐧 At Pinnacol African Penguin Point, we’re proud to care for a flock of Critically Endangered African penguins as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP).

Let's be cute with mama! 🥰 #ICYMI: We welcomed an adorable lesser kudu to our herd earlier this year. She’s calm, curious, and loves to hang with the rest of the girl gang consisting of mom Eleanor, big sis Lizzy, half-sis Elphie, and Aunt Betty the gerenuk (or our “lessest” kudu).

❄️ Delayed Opening Alert! ❄️ Due to the icy conditions, DZCA will open to the public at 12:00 p.m. today, January 19. See you this afternoon!

Meet Daphne, our 67-year-old Siamese crocodile and the oldest animal at DZCA! 🐊 Read more about Daphne’s story, how we care for our oldest resident, and why she’s a conservation success: https://denverzoo.org/zootales/meet-daphne-a-living-dinosaur-in-tropical-discovery/

This #WorldWaterfowlDay, we’re celebrating the winged wonders of Forest Aviary—birds that swim, whistle, and waddle their way into our hearts. Stop by Forest Aviary to meet them up close and chat with our knowledgeable staff and volunteers about these water-loving birds.

We're thrilled to announce that our African lion cubs have officially been named! Please join us in welcoming male cub, Guion, and our little lion ladies, Alpine Lily, Olive and Poppy. Read more: https://denverzoo.org/zootales/naming-the-next-generation-of-african-lions-at-dzca/

Our five-year-old reticulated giraffe, Jasiri, has officially arrived @cmzoo.bsky.social for a temporary stay in support of giraffe conservation efforts! He recently took a smooth road trip down south and is settling in nicely with his new care staff and herd members. 🦒🧡 📸: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Our Rodeo Queens paid us a special visit today! 👑🦒 They kicked things off by meeting Sloan, our ambassador sloth, then headed out for an up-close encounter with BB and Thorn the giraffes and Opal the zebra. Thanks for stopping by and sharing the love for wildlife with us!

Our kudu herd just got a little bigger, and a whole lot cuter! Please join us in welcoming the newest member of the family, a sweet baby girl born to lesser kudu Eleanor on January 5! Meet this calm and confident kudu in our latest Baby Bulletin, presented by Intermountain Health.

Just in case you needed a reminder: Siska, our two-year-old Sumatran orangutan, is just a perfect as ever! 🧡 📷: Animal Care Specialist Christa K.

Our next Free Day is January 25 and tickets are now available! Anyone who would like to attend a Free Day must register online once tickets are released. As a reminder, Free Day tickets will not be available on-site at the Zoo entrance. Learn more: https://denverzoo.org/free-days/

Happy belated 24th birthday to our beloved grizzly bear, Tundra! 🐻 Join us in sending Tundra lots of birthday love as she snoozes her way through winter. We can’t wait to see her back and bustling when spring arrives!

Meet Valor, our bald eagle ambassador! Thanks to trust-based training, Valor is helping guests learn more about bald eagles and how human actions can make a real difference for wildlife. Learn more about Valor’s incredible story here: https://link.denverzoo.org/49uCuEe

This #WorldDesertDay, we’re highlighting our desert bighorn boys and the important conservation work we support alongside the Navajo Nation Department of Fish & Wildlife to better understand and protect wild sheep populations.

Jasiri, our five-year-old reticulated giraffe, is temporarily heading south to spend a few months with our friends @cmzoo.bsky.social and support giraffe conservation.🦒 After the passing of CMZoo’s breeding bull, the timing & genetics lined up perfectly, making Jasiri a great match for this move.

Reminder that our next Free Day is Friday, January 9! 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/

Happy 56th Birthday, Groucho! 🐘 Earlier this year, our beloved Asian elephant Groucho celebrated an incredible milestone turning 56 years young. 🐘

Thanks to a great collaboration, Boi received successful cataract surgery at our Animal Hospital. Boi is now back in Wallaby Way and thriving with the rest of the mob! 🦘 Read more: https://denverzoo.org/zootales/boi-can-see-clearly-now-cataract-removal-for-our-youngest-red-necked-wallaby/

Our Holiday Light Recycling Initiative is back through January 31. Bring your old string lights to the collection bin located next to the Boettcher Welcome Center (to the right of the sliding doors), and we’ll make sure they’re recycled properly.

Baby on board, literally! #DYK that male Anthony’s poison arrow frogs care for the young? After a female lays her eggs in leaf litter, the male takes over caring for the eggs. Once the tadpoles hatch, dad carries them on his back to a nearby water source, where they’ll continue to develop.

Birds are some of the most diverse animals on the planet, and here at DZCA we’re lucky to care for more than 300 individuals. Come visit the Zoo and take a moment to appreciate the colors, calls, and stories of birds from around the world. 🐦 #NationalBirdDay

In a digital world filled with AI, we’re committed to sharing what’s real—real wildlife, real people, and real action. This new year, take a break from the screen and experience it for yourself at DZCA. Join us in Saving Wildlife Together. Plan your visit: https://denverzoo.org/hours-admission/

Only a few nights remain for Zoo Lights! If you missed out before the holidays, we’re still lighting up the night until January 4. Begin 2026 with an enchanted evening filled with wonder, whimsy and wild animals, only at DZCA! ✨ Get tickets: https://denverzoo.org/events/zoo-lights/

Our First Free Day of 2026 is on January 9! To provide the best experience for all our guests, we are offering a limited number of timed tickets for each Free Day. Tickets are now available online on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve your tickets here: https://denverzoo.org/free-days/

Happy 2026 from Ady and Gunnison! As another incredible year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to express our sincerest gratitude for the passion and support you showed us in 2025. We’re wishing you joy and good health throughout the New Year!

Winnie, our seven-year-old Southern tamandua, gave birth three weeks premature on December 27. Despite the tireless efforts of our teams, the pup sadly passed away on December 28. Winnie is doing well, and her team will continue to monitor her.

It was an honor to welcome one of our African conservation partners, Dr. Deo Ruhagazi, of the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA), to Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. A focal species of RWCA’s work is the African grey crowned crane—a regal bird with a complex conservation story.

🎉 Ring in the New Year at Zoo Lights! 🎉 Celebrate with two special Zoo Lights experiences designed for every kind of guest: ✨ Sensory-Friendly Zoo Lights | December 31 🥂 Zoo Lights Adult Night | January 1 Get Tickets: https://link.denverzoo.org/47atTp3

✨ There’s less than one week left to experience the magic of Zoo Lights! ✨ Don’t miss your chance to enjoy one of Denver’s favorite holiday traditions before it’s gone for the season. Tickets: https://link.denverzoo.org/44mdAVD