GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Get ready, Grand Rapids! The city is about to get wild.
John Ball Zoo is opening for the 133rd season on Friday, March 22. And they have some new animals to celebrate.
“We are very excited to welcome the community back to the Zoo for the 2024 season,” says Peter D’Arienzo, CEO of John Ball Zoo. “We hope families can create lasting memories and learn about conservation during their visit and engage with our new Zoo residents and events. There is so much to look forward to this year.”
On their opening day, you can meet a new face in the chimpanzee troop. Zuhura, known as "Zu," is a 10-year-old chimpanzee from the Detroit Zoo. Her name means "morning star."
She was transferred for the social needs of John Ball chimpanzees, as well as Zuhura's.
The zoo also welcomed four male Chocoan peccaries. These are a pig-like endangered species native to the hot, dry plains of Paraguay. They can be found along the zoo's South American boardwalk.
Three new additions are coming to Red's Hobby Farm this season. The San Clemente Island goats will be living in the freshly-renovated area, complete with new climbing structures and extended fencing. They'll share the space with Pumpkin, the Dwarf Highland cow.
A familiar face is also making his way back to John Ball. Titan, an Amur tiger, is returning from Toledo Zoo to be part of a breeding pair.
This season, the zoo will also feature Wild Explorer. It's a new experience using virtual reality so guests can get closer than ever to gorillas in the jungle and learn about their natural habitats. It's expected to stay at the zoo for a minimum of three years.
Following opening day, there will be a lineup of events at the zoo. The popular Grand Rapids Lantern Festival is making its comeback, as well as Wildlife Exploration Days, RendeZoo, Dino Adventures and more. You can find more information on their website here.
John Ball Zoo will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on opening day and throughout the week. On weekends, they'll extend hours to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The zoo encourages visitors to reserve tickets online before their visit, but you can also buy them at the front desk. Tickets are $17 for adults and $13 for those 12 and under. Children under 3 get in for free.
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