The 10 Best Zoos & Aquariums in Canada, Canada

From the splendor of the Rocky Mountains to the heart of Destination Africa, The Calgary Zoo takes you to see almost 900 animals from around the world. Trek through the gorilla’s rainforest, safari over the Savannah to watch the hippos swim, or climb the Canadian Wilds to see a grizzly bear. Cool off and get beak to nose with 4 species of penguins in our popular Penguin Plunge or visit endangered red pandas and amur tigers in Eurasia! Wind down your trip with a walk through our fragrant Dorothy Harvie Gardens or sit with the butterflies in ENMAX Conservatory. You'll love knowing that every visit helps protect endangered animals at home and in the wild. NEW in 2017 is the unique and immersive permanent Land of Lemurs exhibit. Coming in 2018 are the iconic giant pandas!

With over 60,000 amazing aquatic creatures at the Vancouver Aquarium, what will you see today? Stop by and say hi to the adorable sea otters, or come see the mesmerizing jellyfish. Enjoy daily sea lion, otter and penguin experiences, as well as the free-roaming animals found in the popular Amazon gallery. And make sure to visit the Treasures of the BC Coast gallery to discover the unique and breath-taking animals that live in BC’s local waters, including ‘Ceph Rogen’, the Pacific Octopus. You can also immerse yourself in the 4D Experience Theatre, which combines the high-definition excitement of a 3D film with thrilling sensory effects! The Vancouver Aquarium is an Ocean Wise initiative, a non-profit society dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life. Your visit to the Aquarium directly contributes to its conservation, education and research programs. Find out for yourself why the Vancouver Aquarium is one of the world’s favourite aquariums!

Zoo de Granby is one of the major zoos located in Canada and North America’s northeast. It is home to nearly 1,500 animals from over 225 different species.

The BC Wildlife Park is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue & rehabilitation of injured wildlife. Discover some of British Columbia's iconic wildlife and view nearly 200 animals and 65 animal species, including bears, elk, bobcats, arctic wolves, and cougars. The majority of the Park’s animals are rescued, including Clover, the only Kermode Bear in human care in the world. Book an interactive VIP Wildlife Experience or Wildlife Encounter, or enjoy seasonal activities such as feed talks, animal encounters, Bird of Prey flight demonstrations, splash park, playground, Wildlife Express miniature train, and more. For more detailed information, check out the daily activity schedule online.

The Victoria Bug Zoo opened its doors in 1997 and has been showing visitors of downtown Victoria our awe-inspiring bugs ever since. A visit to this must-see mini zoo offers an excellent opportunity to view and experience live tropical bugs from around the world. All the animals are alive and in tanks. Discover roughly 50 fascinating species including giant walking sticks, beautiful praying mantis, glow-in-the-dark scorpions, hairy tarantulas, and Canada’s largest ant colony. Knowledgeable tour guides will introduce you to the wonderful world of bugs, give a wealth of information about the animals on display, and provide a safe bug handling experience for the more adventurous. You can choose the level of interaction you have with our friendly animals. Don’t forget your camera to document this unique experience! The displays are ever changing so come in and be amazed by the extensive collection of invertebrates from around the world any time of the year. This stop is sure to thrill everyone; from children, adults, bug-lovers to even the more skeptical visitors! Tours always in progress, so no matter when you come, you are always right on time. Don’t miss this unforgettable, hands-on adventure while in Victoria, BC!

*Please note, for health and safety reasons, we no longer allow walk-in visits. All General Admission tickets MUST be purchased online in advance. Please visit our website for more information.* We at Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park believe that all living creatures are significant and must be treated with value and respect. Since 1983, our purpose has been to connect our guests with the animals in our care in a respectful and mutually meaningful way.

Indian River Reptile Zoo is unique in Canada and is one of the most modern and exciting specialized animal centers in the world! Here you can see snakes, lizards, monitors, alligators, turtles, crocodiles, and even special guest animals such as monkeys and more! The animals are housed in state of the art, climate controlled facilities which were specifically designed to house reptiles.we were first and only reptile zoo to be accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos & Aquariums (CAZA) and have remained accredited since that time. We are a non-profit charity.

There is no other place in the world like the Canadian Polar Bear Habitat. It offers the most space in the world for polar bears in human care, all while providing unique research opportunities for polar bear specialists. The Habitat is currently home to Ganuk, Henry, Inukshuk, and Eddy, who could not survive without human help. These four bears have 24 acres of pristine, subarctic and boreal terrain to roam, including a 10-acre lake. The best time to see the bears is usually in the mornings when they are at their most active. Since the bears have as much control over their environment as possible, they choose when and where to eat, swim, sleep, or explore. You may have to be patient to get the best views, but they’re worth it. The Habitat offers daily talks with Animal Care Staff to provide guests a chance to speak one-on-one with the people who take care of the bears. While you-re on-campus, check out the Heritage Village (seasonal), the Snowmobile Museum, and the Gift Shop.