Eye-Popping San Diego Zoo Exhibits!They may not be a cuddly as they look (try actually climbing in the exhibit with them and you'd be in for a surprise), but the panda, polar bear, monkey, and tiger exhibits float our kids' boats every time. So we've put together a variety of videos, links, photos, and more so you'll know what to expect on your visit. Enjoy!
Panda Research StationWatch this adorable video of Zhen Zhen the panda, and then get a bonus peek at Polar Bear Plunge.
Try visiting the pandas in the morning for a great look at those cute black and white faces! As the day goes on, you're more likely to catch the pandas snoozing. Something more like this...
Read more about the
Giant Panda exhibit.
Monkey TrailsThis beautiful exhibit is the Zoo's newest, opening in June 2005. As you enter through the San Diego Zoo entrance, you'll see an elevated walkway that takes you through a tree canopy where you will see some of the most rare and endangered monkeys on Earth. Their names are probably not familiar unless you're a zoologist...golden-bellied mangabeys, Schmidt's guenons, and mandrills. Keep going and you'll find an African riverbed habitat with aquatic tanks for watching the endangered pygmy hippos, both above and below water.
Read more about Monkey Trails.
Video of Giraffes, Elephants, Monkeys, and Even (Mating) TurtlesPolar Bear Plunge
You know the line, "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?" Well, you might say the same to an Arctic polar bear. "What are YOU doing in a place like sunny San Diego?" It's something only the San Diego Zoo could pull off...creating one of the largest polar bear exhibits in the world in warm Southern California. The polar bears have come a long way. The first polar bear at the Zoo was received in 1917 and displayed in a cage. Now, the polar bears get to swim in chilly 55 to 60 degree Fahrenheit to their heart's content. Both outdoor and underwater viewing make this exhibit especially fun for kids and adults alike! If you ride the Skyfari Aerial Tram, the polar bear exhibit is right there. Make sure to combine these two memorable zoo experiences! Read more about Polar Bear Plunge.
Absolutely Apes
If you want a good laugh, stop by the orangutan exhibit for a swinging good time! The enormous, glass-fronted habitat has plenty of play structures, ropes and sway poles to keep the orangutans active. You can even stare face to face with them as they approach the glass frequently, delighting your kids every time!
And when you're there, look for Clyde, the 300 pound gentle giant with the crazy coat of hair. I mean crazy!
Read more about Absolutely Apes.
Tiger RiverAs you reach Tiger River, you’ll walk along a riverbed pathway that leads to a tiger’s lair and a pool of crocodiles. Oh, the adventure! Plus you’ll enjoy the cooling shade of misting water on the path and towering trees overhead.The tigers can actually be challenging to find. The exhibit is designed to resemble a natural jungle habitat, and the tigers can certainly blend in at times. If you hear a tiger, it’s most likely the push button display the Zoo has created to listen to all the different sounds a tiger makes. Your kids will love this! The part of the Zoo is truly magical, a simulated rain forest that will give you a sense of wonder and discovery about creation.
Read more about Tiger River.
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A brand-new exhibit area has been built to house these amazing giant pandas. The two original pandas were named Bai Yun and Shi Shi. In 1999, Bai Yun gave birth to Hua Mei, the first giant panda born in North America to survive to adulthood. Does that make her a citizen? The San Diego Zoo is proud to have the largest number of giant pandas in the United States.
