This event is fully accessible.
Join us throughout 2025 as we celebrate a menagerie of animals. From somersaulting bats and waddling penguins, to sleeping lions and soaring parrots, each celebration day will highlight their animal in its own unique way.
Whether it's special talks, animal feeds, family friendly activities, or extra animal experiences; we're honouring a whole variety of different animals, why they're important, and how ZSL is helping them.
What dates are we celebrating animals?
Some days include extra talks and animal feeds whilst other days will include games, quizzes, or activities. More information can be found by checking signage at the Visitor Centre or by clicking the links to their unique webpages. Find out what days we'll be celebrating below:
February
Saturday 15th: World Hippo Day - join us at hippos for our hippo touch table or come up at 3:00 for a special hippo talk
April
Thursday 3rd: World Aquatic Animal Day - we have special BSL talks for our 2:00 Tropical talk and 3:00 hippo talk. This will also be the focus in our Toddler Safari programme on Tuesday 1st and our Walk of the Week on the 3rd
Tuesday 8th: World Pygmy Hippo Day - join us up at hippos for our special hippo talk at 12:00
Friday 25th - Sunday 27th: World Penguin Day - we are having a whole weekend of fun. Check out the World Penguin Day webpage for more information
May
Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th: Bear Weekend - a whole weekend of fun. Check out the Bear Weekend Celebrations webpage for more information
Wednesday 28th: World Otter Day - join us for an otter talk and feed
Saturday 31st: World Parrot Day - join us at our Birds of the World display at 11:15, 1:30, and 3:30, and for parrot themed craft sessions as part of our Mister Maker Half Term event
Saturday 31st: World Bongo Day - meet our bongos Pembe and Kora at our talk and feed
June
Wednesday 11th: International Lynx Day - join us for a special lynx talk
Saturday 21st: World Giraffe Day - join us for a giraffe talk and feed
Sunday 22nd: World Camel Day - join us for a special camel talk
Monday 23rd - Sunday 29th: Insect Week - Join us throughout the week as we celebrate small animals that have a big impact. We'll be having extra talks throughout the week and activities at the weekend. Insect Week will also be the focus for that weeks Toddler Safari programme and for our Walk of the Week
July
Wednesday 2nd: Porcupine Appreciation Day - join us for a special porcupine talk
Thursday 3rd: World Meerkat Day - join us for a meerkat talk and feed
Saturday 12th - Monday 14th: World Chimpanzee Day - a whole weekend of fun. Check back later to find out more information
Monday 21st - Sunday 27th: International Zookeeper Week - join us for talks and keeper Q&As. We will also focus on roles zookeepers do within a zoo for our final Toddler Safari session before summer
Tuesday 29th: International Tiger Day - we are celebrating all things tiger with talks and enrichment feeds, a tiger touch table, and a "What Tiger Are You?" quiz!
August
Saturday 9th: Action Indonesia Day - join us up at Monkey Forest and Asia for special talks for our Action Indonesian Animals!
Saturday 9th - Sunday 10th: World Lion Day - a whole weekend of fun. Check back later to find out more information
Tuesday 12th: World Elephant Day - such a big animal deserves a big celebration. We'll be having talks, activities, and behind the scenes tours. Check back closer to the time to find out how to book this special experience.
Saturday 16th: International Oryx Day - join us for special scimitar horned oryx talks
Thursday 21st: International Goat Day - join us for a special farm show at 12:00 where we'll celebrate goats in style
September
Monday 1st: International Primate Day - join us for talks around site, celebrating the different primates that we look after at Whipsnade Zoo
Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st: International Red Panda Day - a whole weekend of fun. Check back later to find out more information
Monday 22nd: World Rhino Day - join us for a special talk at our white rhino and a special talk and feed at our greater one-horned rhino
October
Saturday 25th - Friday 31st: Bat Week - join us all week for talks and activities all to do with bats!
Friday 31st: World Lemur Day - join us for a special lemur talk and feed
December
Thursday 4th: International Cheetah Day - join us for a talk and feed and our Walk of the Week
How to take part
Our animal celebration days are included in the cost of your ticket or membership. Additional talks, demonstrations, and activities are happening throughout the year so download the Whipsnade Zoo app for the latest talk times, interactive map and other useful information. All events and activities are subject to change and some activities are at an additional cost.
Don't miss out on an animal celebration day, get a zoo membership today!
Plan your day with the Whipsnade Zoo app to get the most from your visit. Explore with step-by-step navigation to your favourite animals, habitats, or eateries. Keep up to date with all the latest talk times so you won't miss a thing.
