Animal Viewing Impacts

Taylor Family Foundation Polar Bear Sanctuary: Our polar bear ‘Siku’ will only be viewable in the inner courtyard of his habitat from Monday, November 18th, through to Thursday, November 21st, due to maintenance in his primary habitat.

Land of Lemurs Walkthrough & Outdoor Gorilla Amphitheatre: The two outdoor animal viewing areas will close for the season beginning on October 15. Lemurs and gorillas will be viewable in their indoor habitats.

PETRONAS Gateway to Asia: The building will have adjusted viewing from September 23 until mid-November while we complete mechanical upgrades to the Malayan tapir habitat. Komodo dragons will remain viewable indoors. Malayan tapirs and red-crowned cranes will be viewable in their outdoor habitats (weather permitting). White-handed gibbons will not be viewable for the duration of the project.

African Savannah Yard: Our Hartmann’s mountain zebras and ostriches will be off-view until the end of the year while we complete exciting upgrades in the African Savannah Yard, including the construction of a new Savannah Barn for the animals. Our giraffe tower will continue to be viewable throughout the project.

Thank you for your understanding.

Pallas’s Cats

At first glance, you might mistake a Pallas’s cat for your average housecat, but this small wild feline is anything but ordinary. We are home to male ‘Olaf’ and female ‘Pema’.

The world’s grumpiest cat

Pallas’s cats are about the same size as an average housecat, but if you spot one of these elusive cats, you’ll see that that they have a stockier build, with a distinctly grumpy expression thanks to their flat faces. They have round ears that are set low on their heads which helps them stay concealed when peering out from behind rocks, and thick fur that keeps them warm in their cold mountain habitat. Unusually among cats, Pallas’s cats are known for their rounded pupils.

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (at relatively low risk of extinction)
Type: Mammal
Habitat: Asia and the Middle East
Diet: Carnivore – rodents, lizards, and birds
Size: 50 to 60 centimetres long, with a 10 to 20-centimetre long tail
Weight: 1.8 to 4.9 kilograms

Care & Conservation

How we care for them

At the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, we are bringing together our passion for plants and animals with our dedication to taking and inspiring action to sustain wildlife and wild places.

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facts about our animals