Recently we spent a day at the Calgary Zoo with our 8-year-old, neighbour Knox, who was our very able tour guide (he and his family have been to the zoo countless times, as is the case for most families in Calgary I expect). Backstory: We had given him a coupon for an “adventure” with us for his birthday in January - and he decided his adventure would be to go to the zoo.

I can’t remember when we were last at the Zoo. It might well have been 10 years or more, with the twin girls who coincidentally also used to live next door in the same house as Knox.

In the words of Simon and Garfunkel, “It’s all happening at the zoo / I do believe it / I do believe it’s true.”

The place was packed with not only young families enjoying at wonderful walk in the park-like setting, but also young couples and seniors like us enjoying the wonderful ambience.

The Calgary Zoo has a wonderful sense of arrival with this 25 foot Easter egg artwork “Egg - The Unity of Diversity” by Brower Hatcher and Marly Rogers (2013). The colourful egg-shaped structure which includes modelled representations of both animals and plants is meant to provide an engaging way to encourage zoo visitors to consider the many ways that everything in nature is connected.

As you get closer to the entrance there are several steel sculptures of the various animals you will see at the zoo. The Calgary Zoo is more than just a zoo, it is bit like an art park.

Before you get to the Zoo you have to walk through a tunnel underneath Memorial Drive. It makes for a very dramatic entrance.

The walls of the tunnel are a huge relief mural with all of the animals you are about to see in the Zoo.

Walk In The Park/Garden

I was surprised at how park-like the Calgary Zoo is with its several waterfalls, ponds and huge trees making an oasis in the middle of the city. Yes, despite the busy Memorial Drive and the LRT being next to the Zoo, you don’t hear or see either.

There are many picnic areas (visitors are not only allowed to bring their own food, but invited to do so), places to sit (some are in the sun, while others are in the shade) and just people watch. Several playgrounds, where kids can climb, jump, and swing to their hearts content are scattered throughout – all bathed in shade from the trees nearby.

The outdoor Dorothy Harvie Garden was spectacular as was the indoor butterfly (tropical) garden. A sign said, “stand still and the butterflies might land on you,” and sure enough there was a young girl with a beautiful butterfly on her leg. Link: Garden Tour: Dorothy Harvie Gardens

While there have been gardens on St. George’s Island where the Calgary Zoo is located, it wasn’t until 1984 that a botanical garden was established thanks to philanthropist Dorthy Harvie. Today the entire Zoo is like a park and garden.

The Animals

As you would expect, the Zoo has animals, lots of them divided into their native continents. We saw bears, goats, lions, tigers, giraffes, hippos, many different birds, and monkeys but the highlight was the penguins. We were fortunate enough to arrive at “feeding frenzy time” and were treated to minute or so of diving, swimming, and splashing. The penguins are not only cute, but they were the most animated animals in the zoo. Both the penguins and the visitors enjoyed the comfort of their in refrigerated enclosure on this hot July day.

One of the first things we encountered was a zookeeper taking a peacock for a walk.

The Dinosaurs

One of the unique features of the Calgary Zoo is the Prehistoric Park that replicates what Alberta’s landscape might have been like in prehistoric times when dinosaurs roamed the area.

Having been to the badlands near Drumheller and the Milk River, I was impressed by how realistic the rock formations were and how the dinosaurs are animated. Dinosaurs have been featured at the Zoo since the 1930s, including Dinny the Brontosaurus who is still standing guard today and has become the Zoo’s mascot. Born in 1937, “Dinny” the Brontosaurus was constructed as part of the original Natural History Park. An imposing figure at 120 tonnes, 34 feet tall and 107 feet long. Dinny is the last remaining structure from the original Natural History Park (which was dismantled in 1983) was recently refurbished thanks to a donation by the Braun Family Foundation.

Animated dinosaurs at the Calgary Zoo.

Born in 1937, “Dinny” the Brontosaurus was constructed as part of the original Natural History Park. An imposing figure at 120 tonnes, 34 feet tall and 107 feet long and was recently refurbished.

Zoo History 101

A zoo has been located on St. George’s Island in the Bow River at the eastern edge of the City Centre since 1917. Starting with just a few deer and other local animals, it became an official zoo in 1929. Today, it home to about 1,000 animals, on 120 acres divided into seven zones: Destination Africa, Canadian Wilds, Penguin Plunge, Dorothy Harvie Botanical Gardens, ENMAX Conservatory, TransAlta Rainforest, Eurasia, and Prehistoric Park.

This pedestrian bridge is a Caglary hidden design gem.

The Calgary Zoo has been increasingly active in global animal conservation initiatives for the past 30 years. The Wilder Institute (located in outside the city) currently manages reintroduction programs for hippos, lemurs, mountain bongo, sitatunga, Vancouver Island marmots, burrowing owls, whooping cranes, fishers, half-moon hairstreak butterflies, northern leopard frogs, greater sage-grouses, swift foxes, black-tailed prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets and siheks (Guam kingfisher).

The Calgary Zoo is easily accessible by car (near Memorial Drive and Deerfoot Trail, two major highways), transit (the Zoo has its own LRT station) and bike (the Bow River pathways run right by the Zoo).

The Wilder Institute Parade

Last Word

The Calgary Zoo is a “must visit” for tourists visiting Calgary and Calgarians looking to be a tourist in their own city (aka an everyday tourist). And if you are lucky enough to have an 8-year-old tour guide like Knox…it will make the adventure even that much better.