OREGON ZOO OFFERS FREE ADMISSION DAY ON SATURDAY, NOV. 16

Masai giraffe Buttercup at the Oregon Zoo. © Oregon Zoo / photo by Michael Durham.

With big crowds expected, zoo urges visitors to take MAX and avoid parking hassle

Visitors are invited to enjoy a free day at the Oregon Zoo on Saturday, Nov. 16.

“Periodically, the zoo hosts a free day as a thank you to the community,” said Dr. Don Moore, zoo director. “This is a great time of year to see the animals. We have a full day of activities scheduled, and we hope everyone who comes through the gates on Saturday is inspired to help create a better future for wildlife.”

Zoo hours Saturday are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities taking place include the following:

9:45 a.m. – mountain goat feeding
10:45 a.m. – Species Conservation Lab talk in Nature Exploration Station
11:30 a.m. – condor talk
11:30 a.m. – chimpanzee talk
12:30 p.m. – Asian elephant talk
1 p.m. – reptile talk at Family Farm
1:30 p.m. – river otter talk
2 p.m. – giraffe talk
2:15 p.m. – sea otter talk
2:15 p.m. – penguin talk
3 p.m. – bat talk

“Community free days are typically busy ones for the zoo,” Dr. Moore said. “One tip for making your visit more enjoyable is to ride MAX to the zoo. You avoid traffic, don’t have to worry about parking — and the Washington Park stop lets you off just steps from the zoo entrance.”

For more information on getting to the zoo, visit Explore Washington Park. For TriMet fare and route information, call 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit trimet.org.

As part of the Metro family, the Oregon Zoo helps make greater Portland a great place to call home. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Oregon silverspot and Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies, western pond turtles and northern leopard frogs. Other projects focused on saving animals from extinction include studies on polar bears, orangutans and cheetahs.

Support from the Oregon Zoo Foundation enhances and expands the zoo’s efforts in conservation, education and animal welfare. Members, donors and corporate and foundation partners help the zoo make a difference across the region and around the world.