Behind the Scenes Zoo Experiences
Enjoy a once in a lifetime behind the scenes experience at Assiniboine Park Zoo! These tours will bring you up close with some of the Zoo's most charismatic creatures. Tours are guided by our experienced educators and animal care professionals.
Important Information to Read Before You Book
Before booking your experience, please read the following information regarding rules, policies, safety protocols, and more.
- Closed toed shoes are mandatory throughout the duration of the experience.
- All participants must be 10 years and older. Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
- All experiences are wheelchair accessible, with the exception of the harbour seal honorary trainer experience. Please inform us if a participant has limited mobility when booking.
- All behind the scenes experiences, with the exception of the cougar enrichment experience, start in front of Tundra Grill, located in the north end of the Zoo. Please arrive at the Zoo entrance 30 minutes prior to your experience so you have time to get to the meeting spot.
- The cougar enrichment experience starts at the main Zoo entrance, just past the gates. Please arrive at the Zoo entrance 15 minutes prior to your experience so you have time to get to the meeting spot.
- Experiences are non-refundable and are only valid for the date and time booked. Guests must arrive on time to the meeting point or will not be able to go on the experience.
- Masks are mandatory throughout the duration of the tiger, cougar, and snow leopard experiences.
- Photos or videos will only be permitted when your guide specifies it is safe to do so. Our team will take photos throughout the experience which will be sent to participants within 2 - 3 business days.
- Life jackets will be provided for the harbour seal experience and must be worn properly.
- Service animals cannot be accommodated in the behind the scenes experiences.
- Please be advised encounters are subject to change based on zoological operation requirements.
- Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members: Please log in to the member tickets section of our webstore to access pricing that excludes Zoo admission. Non-members must purchase a package that includes a Zoo admission ticket.
Experience Dates
Schedule subject to change based on zoological operation requirements. Please click a 'Book Online' button to see current availability and reserve your experience. If your preferred date does not appear in the booking calendar, it is sold out.
Cougar Enrichment Experience
Experience begins at 11:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo at least 15 minutes prior to your experience.
| Experience Dates | |
| May | Friday, May 26 |
| June | Sunday, June 4 | Sunday, June 11 | Friday, June 23 |
| July | Monday, July 3 | Wednesday, July 12 | Monday, July 17 | Sunday, July 23 | Saturday, July 29 |
Snow Leopard Enrichment Experience
Experience begins at 10:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo at least 30 minutes prior to your experience.
| Experience Dates | |
| May | Sunday, May 21 | Sunday, May 28 |
| June | Saturday, June 10 | Saturday, June 24 |
| July | Sunday, July 2 | Saturday, July 8 | Friday, July 14 | Thursday, July 20 | Wednesday, July 26 | Monday, July 31 |
Tiger Enrichment Experience
Experience begins at 10:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo at least 30 minutes prior to your experience.
| Experience Dates | |
| May | Friday, May 19 |
| June | Saturday, June 3 | Saturday, June 17 | Friday, June 30 |
| July | Thursday, July 6 | Monday, July 10 | Sunday, July 16 | Saturday, July 22 | Friday, July 28 |
Harbour Seal Honorary Trainer
Experience begins at 1:00 pm. Please arrive at the Zoo at least 30 minutes prior to your experience.
| Experience Dates | |
| May | Monday, May 22 |
| June | Friday, June 2 | Friday, June 16 | Sunday, June 25 |
| July | Wednesday, July 5 | Sunday, July 9 | Saturday, July 15 | Friday, July 21 | Thursday, July 27 |
Polar Bear Honorary Trainer
Experience begins at 11:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo at least 30 minutes prior to your experience.
| Experience Dates | |
| May | Saturday, May 20 | Saturday, May 27 |
| June | Friday, June 9 | Sunday, June 18 |
| July | Saturday, July 1 | Friday, July 7 | Thursday, July 13 | Wednesday, July 19 | Monday, July 24 | Sunday, July 30 |
Behind the Scenes: Cougar Enrichment Experience
Length: 60 minutes
Cost per person: $85 + Zoo admission*
Maximum Group Size: 4 people
Start Time: 11:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo 15 minute prior to your experience
Meeting Location: Zoo entrance - meet just past the gates
Join our educators and animal care professionals for a memorable behind the scenes experience that brings you up close with our cougar. With the guidance of an animal care professional, you will be introduced to Teeka and enjoy a marvelous opportunity to discover how we enrich the lives of our animals and create unique enrichment items for one of the cats. Your incredible adventure wraps up by observing her interact with your enrichment item which directly contributes to our high standards of care.
Masks are required for this experience.
*Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members - please select the "Member Package" option which excludes the cost of Zoo admission.
Behind the Scenes: Snow Leopard Enrichment Experience
Length: 60 minutes
Cost per person: $85 + Zoo admission*
Maximum Group Size: 4 people
Start Time: 10:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo 30 minutes prior to your experience
Meeting Location: In front of Tundra Grill
Join our educators and animal care professionals for a memorable behind the scenes experience that brings you up close with our snow leopards. With the guidance of an animal care professional, you will be introduced to one of our snow leopards and receive a marvelous opportunity to discover how we enrich the lives of our animals and create unique enrichment items for the cats. Your incredible adventure wraps up by observing the cats interact with your enrichment item which directly contributes to our high standards of care.
Face masks are required for this experience.
*Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members - please select the "Member Package" option which excludes the cost of Zoo admission.
Behind the Scenes: Tiger Enrichment Experience
Length: 60 minutes
Cost per person: $85 + GST and Zoo admission*
Maximum Group Size: 4 people
Start Time: 10:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo 30 minutes prior to your experience
Meeting Location: In front of Tundra Grill
Join our educators and animal care professionals for a memorable behind the scenes experience that brings you up close with our Amur tigers. With the guidance of an animal care professional, you will be introduced to one of our tigers and enjoy a marvelous opportunity to discover how we enrich the lives of our animals and create unique enrichment items for the cats. Your incredible adventure wraps up by observing the cats interact with your enrichment item which directly contributes to our high standards of care.
Masks are required for this experience.
*Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members - please select the "Member Package" option which excludes the cost of Zoo admission.
Behind the Scenes: Harbour Seal Honorary Trainer
Length: 60 minutes
Cost per person: $85 + GST and Zoo admission*
Maximum Group Size: 6 people
Start Time: 1:00 pm. Please arrive at the Zoo 30 minutes prior to your experience.
Meeting Location: In front of Tundra Grill
Join our educators and animal care professionals for a memorable behind the scenes experience that brings you up close with our harbour seals. With the guidance of an animal care professional, you will be introduced to one of our seals and enjoy a fantastic opportunity to learn about and observe how training benefits our animals. Your experience continues as you transition into an honorary trainer, directly participating in our positive reinforcement training program.
Please note: the Seal experience is not wheelchair accessible.
*Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members - please select the "Member Package" option which excludes the cost of Zoo admission.
Behind the Scenes: Polar Bear Honorary Trainer
Length: 60 minutes
Cost per person: $85 + GST and Zoo admission*
Maximum Group Size: 4 people
Start Time: 11:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo 30 minutes prior to your experience.
Meeting Location: In front of Tundra Grill
Join our educators and animal care professionals for a memorable behind the scenes experience that brings you up close with our polar bears. With the guidance of an animal care professional, you will be introduced to one of our polar bears and enjoy a fantastic opportunity to learn about and observe how training benefits our animals. Your experience continues as you transition into an honorary trainer, directly participating in our positive reinforcement training program.
*Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members - please select the "Member Package" option which excludes the cost of Zoo admission.