We are celebrating Elephant Weekend this August, come and join us!
Whipsnade Zoo is home to six Asian elephants including our adorable new arrival, a young male calf born on 8 June. They are incredible ambassadors for their wild cousins who are endangered with only around 50,000 left in the wild. With threats such as habitat loss and human-animal conflict, it is more important than ever to raise awareness and celebrate these precious animals.
Caring for elephants at Whipsnade Zoo
What is happening for Elephant Weekend at Whipsnade Zoo?
We have a fun-filled weekend of talks and activities from 11am - 5pm based at our Asian elephant habitat. You will even have the opportunity to go on a behind the scenes tour and meet our elephant keepers*, see what it takes to look after our elephant herd with an elephant keeper experience* or get the chance to feed our elephants*.
- Elephant talks: 11:30am and 2:30pm
- Guided drawing classes - how to draw an elephant: 12:00 and 3:00pm
- A conservation station, elephant artefacts and arts and crafts will be available throughout the day from 11am - 5pm across the weekend.
*Additional costs and terms and conditions apply, find out more below.
Behind The Scenes Tour: Centre for Elephant Care
A rare opportunity to see 'behind the scenes' in our Centre for Elephant Care and find out what goes into caring for our herd of Asian elephants.
Lasting 30 minutes you’ll get a unique insight from one of our team into the lives of our Asian elephants.
- Time: 11.30am and 2.30pm
- Price: £20 per person
Important information to know before you book:
- Admission to the Zoo is not included and must be purchased separately
- Participants must be 5 years of age or older.
- Wheelchair access is available for this tour.
- Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a participating adult - the adult must also have a valid Behinds the Scenes tour ticket.
- Pregnant or nursing mothers who have given birth within the previous six months cannot participate.
- Those with disabilities can be accompanied by an essential carer to support them during their experience. Essential carers can enter the experience area free of charge please contact us at [email protected]
Elephant Encounter
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feed an elephant through our special feeding wall.
- Time: 4pm and 4.30pm
- Price: £60
Important information to know before you book
- Admission to the Zoo is not included and must be purchased separately
- Participants must be 8 years of age or older.
- Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a participating adult – each adult must also have a valid Meet the Elephants ticket. No more than 2 children per adult
- Pregnant or nursing mothers who have given birth within the previous six months cannot participate
- Participants with learning or visual impairment must be accompanied by a carer. Accompanying carers can enter the behind the scenes area free of charge but will not participate in the experience.
Wheelchair access is available for this experience.
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