Wild Encounter - Polar Bear

Polar Bears

Step behind the scenes to discover more about this iconic Canadian species as you explore the polar bear house kitchen and gain insight into the specialized care and nutrition they receive. Feel the excitement as you touch and interact with enrichment items designed to encourage natural behaviours. Then, in an exclusive behind-the-scenes area, meet Aurora, Nikita, Hudson, or Juno during an enrichment session or a display of husbandry behaviours—guided by positive reinforcement and their favourite treats—showcasing their intelligence and unique personalities. Join us for an unforgettable experience and forge a meaningful connection with these incredible Arctic ambassadors.

Yearly Availability: September-May

Capacity: 5

Experience Length: 30-45 minutes

Meeting Location: Greenhouse

Directions: The meeting location is approximately a 10-minute walk from the Front Entrance Gates. Upon entering the zoo, turn right and proceed past the Zootique and Goat World into the Core Woods. Continue towards the Tundra Trek, passing the Caribou Cafe and whale bones. From there, follow the path to the BeaverTails store, pass the Tundra Zoomobile station and cross the road to arrive at the Greenhouse.

Rules and Policies

Wild Encounter tickets do not include Zoo admission: Zoo admission must be purchased separately 

Interaction: There is no direct interaction with the polar bears in this Wild Encounter. It is up to the animals to choose to participate and we cannot guarantee the duration of time the animals will spend engaging with us. The encounter may be subject to change based on the animals’ health, safety, and behavioural needs.

Drugs & Alcohol: Impairment due to alcohol or drugs is not permitted before or during your Wild Encounter. Anyone who is drinking or appears to be even slightly intoxicated before the Wild Encounter will be denied participation. Refunds or alternate dates will not be given.

Adult Supervision: Children aged 12 years or younger must be accompanied by a paying adult (at least 18 years of age)

Children 2 & Under: To maintain guest capacity limits, tickets (free of charge) are mandatory for all children 2 & under. 

Reschedule/Cancellation: By purchasing tickets, you are agreeing to the following refund policy. Exceptions will not be made. The Wild Encounters team requires at least 48 hours’ notice prior to your scheduled encounter to process any refund or rescheduling requests. Failure to attend your encounter at the scheduled date and time will result in forfeiture of your tickets, and refunds will not be issued. Please ensure you arrive at the designated meeting location before your scheduled start time. Late arrivals or guests who are unable to locate the meeting point will not be eligible for refunds. We recommend reviewing your confirmation details carefully and allowing extra time to navigate the Zoo.

Weather conditions: The Wild Encounter program runs rain or shine unless cancelled due to thunder and lightning/extreme weather alerts by the Zoo due to guest, staff, and animal safety concerns. If this occurs, a notice will be sent out upon cancellation for guests to reschedule or receive a refund. 

Strollers/Personal Items: Strollers/wagons are permitted to be brought behind-the-scenes left in designated areas but may be left unattended at times. 

Accessibility: Please note that this experience is wheelchair accessible. Guests with disabilities who require the assistance of a support person are encouraged to email us before making a reservation so we can provide the appropriate support and ensure the best possible Wild Encounter experience. At this time, service animals cannot be accommodated in behind-the-scenes areas. The Access 2 Card is accepted for support persons. . 

Fees: A processing fee of $1.00 per ticket will be applied at checkout.

Please contact us at wildencounters@torontozo.com or call us at 289-200-4362 for more information.