BioPark Blitz

July 29, 2016

By Tina Deines, ABQ BioPark Communications Officer

The ABQ BioPark Zoo is a great place to spend an afternoon, and if you plan your day ahead of time you can enjoy several animal feedings while you’re at it.

Start this tour at the Asian elephant habitat at 1:30 p.m. Say hi to young Jazmine and her family before making your way to the giraffes, where you’ll see juvenile male Kumi spending time with his herd. Make your way onto the Africa trail. You’ll pass the zebras, rhinos, Sichuan takins, chimpanzees, African painted dogs and more before stopping at the hippo exhibit in time for the 2 p.m. feeding.

Here, you’ll stop to watch zookeepers feed the BioPark’s family of hippos. Enjoy as young Brynn, his sister Boopie, and parents Moe and Karen open their hippo mouths wide to catch lettuce and other treats. After the feeding concludes, make your way down the path and visit the muntjac, emus and family of Debrazza’s monkeys before making your way through the Tasmanian devil and wombat exhibits. Pass through the seal and sea lion exhibit and make your way toward the polar bear pool to watch zookeepers feed Koluk and Kiska at 2:30 p.m. Enjoy as the two brothers splash into the water in pursuit of delicious fish.

Next, make your way through the catwalk, saying hello to lions Dixie and Kenya, snow leopards Azeo and Kachina, kangaroos, a binturong, jaguars, mountain lions and more. The seal and sea lion feeding starts at 3:30 p.m. If you have some time to spare, stop for a treat at the Parq Café, visit the prairie dog community, cool down on the splash pad, visit the Life on a Limb building, feed the ducks or take a ride on the Endangered Species Carousel.

The seal and sea lion feeding features special behaviors from the seals and sea lions, who work with their trainers for food. Tommy the sea lion also does a fantastic job fetching his Frisbee. After the show, don’t forget to visit the zoo’s other animals at Koala Creek, the Ape Walk and Tropical America. Then stop by to take a peek at the zoo’s Mexican gray wolves.

Afternoon feeding times on this suggested tour:

Hippos: 2 p.m.

Polar bears: 2:30 p.m.

Seals and Sea lions: 3:30 p.m.

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Photos from ABQBioPark