ZOO HOURS
Zoo Atlanta is open 363 days a year; closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
March 13 – Nov. 6
Monday - Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. The zoo begins to bring animals in for the day at 4:30. Food stands close an hour prior to the grounds closing; rides close a half hour prior.
Saturday, Sunday and holidays (July 4): 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with last admission at 5:30 p.m. The zoo begins to bring our animals in for the day at 5:30. Food stands close an hour prior to the grounds closing; rides close a half hour prior.
Nov. 6, 2015 – March 11, 2016
Daily: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. The zoo begins to bring our animals in for the day at 5:30. Food stands close an hour prior to the grounds closing; rides close a half hour prior.
Two of Zoo Atlanta's female gorillas are old enough to move out.
The second generation of gorillas born at Zoo Atlanta will soon have new social opportunities and a new home. Western lowland gorillas Kazi and Macy Baby, both 9, will move April 13 to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, S.C., where they and two other gorillas will form a new group.
That means this is the last weekend the public will be able to visit these two in Atlanta. Both are part of silverback Taz’s group in gorilla habitat three in the Ford African Rain Forest.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Gorilla Species Survival Plan recommended the move to maintain a genetically diverse population within North American zoos. Zoo Atlanta is home to 22 western lowland gorillas, the most in North American.
“As an active participant in the Gorilla SSP, Zoo Atlanta contributes to the health and success of gorillas in zoos across North America, and this year, two of our Atlanta-born gorillas will have a chance to be part of that success,” zoo president and COO Raymond B. King said. “Kazi and Macy were born here and grew up here, so we’ll certainly miss them, but they have important adventures ahead that we can all look forward to following.”
The daughter of female Kuchi and silverback Taz, Kazi and her twin brother, Kali, were born Oct. 31, 2005. She's probably best known for a YouTube video of her playing in the fall leaves at the zoo.
Born Dec. 12, 2005, Macy Baby is the eldest daughter of Kudzoo and Taz, and was the first surviving grandchild of the legendary Willie B. Having grown up with their mothers, father and siblings in a family group, Macy and Kazi have been able to observe and participate in the care of younger brothers and sisters — an important experience for young female gorillas who might someday be mothers. Of the 22 gorillas born at Zoo Atlanta since the Ford African Rain Forest opened in 1988, all have been reared by their own mothers or by a gorilla surrogate.
Western lowland gorillas are a critically endangered species in need of conservation attention. Experts believe wild populations may have declined by as much as 95 percent over the past two decades as a result of habitat loss and poaching.
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