AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos hosted festive, family fun events this month, ranging from the creative to the creepy. Thousands of adults and children connected with nature during our facilities’ “Boo at the Zoo,” “Aquascarium,” and other events and fundraisers. Halloween at AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos isn’t just about the candy. These events serve as opportunities to educate guests about animal welfare, saving species,and related conservation actions, such as using reusable treat sacks or buying sustainable palm-oil treats.
Here are a few of the highlights from this year:
AZA-accredited facilities are committed to providing positive experiences for guests of all ages, cultures, and abilities. Elmwood Park Zoo and Roger Williams Park Zoo hosted sensory-friendly Halloween events, assuring those with special needs also have the chance to enjoy trick or treating at the zoo. Dozens of zoos participated in trick-or-treat events for the whole family, and during the evenings, Aquarium of the Pacific, Topeka Zoo, and others hosted adult-only events with food and drink vendors. Events held at dusk or during the night offer a whole different perspective into the behavior of nocturnal animals.
Halloween is the perfect time of year to highlight those “creepy, crawly” creatures that might not get as much public attention. Butterfly Pavilions’ ‘BUGTOBER’ exhibit featured some of the most poisonous and venomous animals on the planet; pretty frightening! Vancouver Aquarium proved the ocean could be scary too, with an “After Hours” spooky event starring goblin sharks, skeleton shrimp, bloodworms, vampire squid. Meanwhile, Woodland Park Zoo and Florida Aquarium challenged misconceptions the public may have about important species like spiders, teaching guests why these animals are so important to the ecosystem as a whole.
Animals at AZA-accredited facilities also got into the Halloween spirit with their own themed enrichment. The elephants at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo chowed down on a 1,300-pound pumpkin, while at Detroit Zoo, animal care professionals provided animals with treat-filled pumpkins, cornstalks, and more to encourage natural foraging behavior. Pandas, tigers, and other animals at the Smithsonian National Zoo, Oklahoma City Zoo, and Cincinnati Zoo received scent enrichment in the form of everyone’s favorite autumn scent: pumpkin spice. Scents like condiments, spices and extracts enhance the animals’ senses of touch, smell, and sight, stimulating natural behaviors.
Oregon Zoo and North Carolina Aquarium gave guests a creative view of familiar animals: through x-rays. Check out the skeletons of a beaver, bat, and snake taken during routine health exams at Oregon Zoo! North Carolina Aquarium posted radiographs of its turtle, burrfish, pencil urchin, and several other sea creatures on Facebook here.
X-Ray of a Cape Porcupine from Oregon Zoo.
Speaking of creative, thousands of intricately carved Halloween pumpkins lit up the Minnesota Zoo. Louisville Zoo also continued an 11-year tradition showcasing pumpkin art. And at the Great Plains Zoo, over 300 pumpkin carvers donated their time to design creative Jack-O-Lanterns. It’s great to see the art community and the zoo community working together!
Thank you to all the staff members, volunteers, sponsors, and partners that make Halloween at AZA-accredited facilities possible.