Go behind the scenes of a favorite animal exhibit and meet them up close and personal. Visit with the Zookeeper who knows them best and learn about their home, daily activities and what it takes to keep each one healthy and happy.
How to Schedule
Please be aware that meet & greets book months in advance and your selected date may not be available. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are currently scheduling into the 2025 season.
First, check out the animals listed below and choose your favorite experience. Click the animal tabs to get more information on what to expect during the experience, since each animal is different. Please contact Erin at 517-244-8042 email EORourke@ingham.org to schedule your visit. Email up to three date preferences for your experience and make sure to get final confirmation a minimum of two weeks before your visit.
Big Cats
Your Experience
*masks required when behind the scenes
Your experience will begin in theFeline/Primate building where a zookeeper will meet you for a short keeper chat with details of the day to day care of our large cats. Feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding our big cats and their habitats.
Then, following the zookeepers lead you will go behind the scenes of the big cat exhibit. Once there, from a very up-close location, you will watch the zookeeper guide the cat through a series of behaviors during a training session. These behaviors are designed to aide with the husbandry and veterinary care of the cats.
Things To Know
- Age Requirement: Ages 8 & up (children 14 & under must be accompanied by a paying adult)
- The experience lasts approximately 25 minutes.
- In order to ensure a close encounter, 2-5 individuals is an ideal group size for the cat experiences.
- The goal of this experience is to allow you to be in close proximity to a large cat. Keeping this in mind, safety is our first priority. The keeper will brief you on proper protocol prior to entering the behind the scenes area.
- We ask that all photos be taken without use of a flash and only when a Zookeeper allows.
Cost
Level I $300 – includes the experience and zoo admission for up to 5 guests
Otters
Your Experience
*masks required when behind the scenes
Your experience with our North American River Otters will begin with a tour behind the scenes of the
otter exhibit. You will have a chance to talk with the zookeeper and ask any questions you may have about these playful animals. This experience provides the opportunity to see the otters up close, watch the keepers feed the otters and use tongs to feed an otter a piece of fish yourself; which is an experience you are not likely to forget!
Things To Know
- Age Requirement: Ages 6 & up (children 13 & under must be accompanied by a paying adult)
- The experience lasts approximately 25 minutes.
- This experience can accommodate up to 6 guests
- The goal of this experience is to allow you to be in close proximity to the otters. Keeping this in mind, safety is our first priority. The keeper will brief you on proper protocol prior to entering the behind the scenes area.
- We ask that all photos be taken without use of a flash and only when a Zoo Keeper allows.
Cost
Level I $300 – includes the experience and zoo admission for up to 6 guests
Penguins
Your Experience
*masks required when behind the scenes
You will begin your experience by entering the penguin exhibit with a zookeeper. The keeper will give you a full tour of the exhibit, share some little known facts and answer any questions you may have about these lovable birds. When the keeper opens the nest boxes you will have the opportunity to be eye to eye with a penguin and with any luck one might get curious and come in to waddle around your feet.
Two guests will then go out and sit pool-side and participate in hand feeding the penguins. Since the penguins are the only animal in the zoo that are hand fed on a daily basis, this is a very rare and special experience!
Things To Know
- Age Requirement: Ages 8 & up (children 13 & under must be accompanied by a paying adult)
- The experience lasts 25-30 minutes and can accommodate up to 2 guests
- Please be prepared to bend or stoop to use a ‘penguin’ size door to access the pools. If you have limited mobility please contact us to get more information.
- The goal of this experience is to allow you to be in close proximity to the penguins. Keeping this in mind, safety is our first priority. The keeper will brief you on proper protocol prior to entering the behind the scenes area.
- We ask that all photos be taken without use of a flash and only when a zookeeper allows.
Cost
Level II $400 – includes the experience and zoo admission for up to 2 guests
Black Rhino
Your Experience
*masks required when behind the scenes
Your experience with our Black Rhinos will begin with a tour behind the scenes of the rhino barn. You will have a chance to talk with the zookeeper and ask any questions you may have about the rhinos. This experience provides the opportunity to see the rhinos up close, and watch the keepers feed and train the rhinos.
Things to Know
- Age Requirement: Ages 6 & up (children 12 & under must be accompanied by a paying adult)
- The experience lasts approximately 25-30 minutes.
- This experience can accommodate up to 6 guests
- The goal of this experience is to allow you to be in close proximity to the rhinos. Keeping this in mind, safety is our first priority. The keeper will brief you on proper protocol prior to entering the behind the scenes area.
- We ask that all photos be taken without use of a flash and only when a Zookeeper allows.
Cost
Level I $400 – includes the experience and zoo admission for up to 6 guests
