Endangered Species Day

May 16

Endangered Species Day is held annually on the third Friday in May to bring awareness to the plight of wildlife populations.

Join us the following Saturday as Zoo Atlanta celebrates by focusing on simple actions you can take to help protect endangered species near and far.

 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Join us for games, activities, and challenges to discover how healthy habits can create healthy habitats (and vice versa).

Activities are free for Zoo Atlanta Members and children under 3; free with general admission.

Buy Tickets

  • Make your own seed bombs and learn how you can help pollinators and other natural wildlife species.
  • Visit our Biofact Station and get hands-on with skulls, feathers, and more to learn about species that have benefited from the Endangered Species Act and have come back from the brink of extinction.
  • How are you going to help protect wildlife? Join us at our Pledge Table to learn about different actions and let us know how you want to help.
  • Discover how you can connect to nature and contribute to scientific research at our Citizen Science Station.
  • Stop by the Home is Where the Heart Is Conservation Station in The Ford Willie B. Gorilla Conservation Center to find out how you can help combat habitat loss (open between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.).

Stations can be found on Tembo Trek and along the Main Spine. 

Enrichment Schedule

Species around the Zoo will be enjoying special enrichment. Check out the schedule below to find out when your favorite animals will be getting in on the action! All animal activities are weather permitting.

  • 9 a.m. – African Savanna animals
  • 9 a.m. – Binturongs
  • 9 a.m. – Lions
  • 9 a.m. – Naked mole rats
  • 9 a.m. – Red panda
  • 9 a.m. – Wattled cranes
  • 9 a.m. – Wieland Wildlife Home animals
  • 9:30 a.m. – African monkeys
  • 9:30 a.m. – Elephants
  • 9:45 a.m. – Orangutans (Habitat 2)
  • 9:45 a.m. – Petting zoo animals
  • 9:45 a.m. – Tigers: This activity is a naturalistic feeding opportunity that consists of a meal made up of a whole animal or a portion of a whole animal. Viewing may not appeal to all guests. Learn more here
  • 10 a.m. – Blue-throated macaws
  • 10 a.m. – Gorillas (Habitat 3)
  • 10:30 a.m. – Patagonian maras
  • 11 a.m. – Lappet-faced vultures
  • 11:15 a.m. – Komodo dragon
  • 11:30 a.m. – Southern ground hornbills
  • 11:45 a.m. – Golden lion tamarins
  • 1:30 p.m. – Giant otters
  • 2 p.m. – Sun bears
  • 2:30 p.m. – Kunekune pigs
  • 2:30 p.m. – Lemurs
  • 2:45 p.m. – Gorillas (Habitat 1)
  • 3:45 p.m. – Milky eagle owls
  • Throughout the day – World of Wild Theater birds

Why should you care?

We share the Earth with an amazing variety of species.

From microscopic bacteria to massive mammals like the blue whale or African elephant, all life on Earth is connected. Although some of these connections are easier to see than others, we must remember that our actions impact the lives of numerous other species. As the human population continues to grow, it is increasingly imperative to lessen our individual impacts on the environment that supports all life on Earth.

You can help by taking simple actions to reduce the environmental impact of your daily life.

Small actions, like cutting out one serving of beef each week from meals, reducing single-use plastics, and growing native plants in your yard, can have positive impacts on wildlife.

Connect With Your Wild Side #onlyzooatl