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animal encounters

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Your chance to meet some of our animals up close and personal!

Capybara Encounter

Have you ever dreamt of giving a capybara a tickle? Join our capybaras for a close-up unforgettable experience!

Keeper Note – Our Capybara like to enjoy a swim and a mud wallow, be prepared to get muddy! Please wear shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, whilst you are giving the capybara a tickle.

Duration: 30 minutes maximum
Time: 11.30am and 3pm
Number of people per encounter: maximum of 4
Price: £50 per person (includes zoo admission for the participant)
Age restrictions: 8 years +

Important Notes
1. Please wear sturdy shoes, no open toed shoes.
2. Please wear shoes and trousers you do not mind getting dirty.
3. Dress for the British weather as the encounter is outside and under cover.
4. Once booked it is non-refundable and non-transferrable, therefore please check your date before completing a booking.

Giant Anteater Encounter

You will meet and feed Diego our Giant Anteater some of his favourite treats and his lunch from the safety of our designated encounter area with our keeper whilst learning more about his unusual and unique feeding and survival adaptions.

Keeper Note – although Diego is lovely, he has a very unique way of feeding, be prepared to get a bit messy!

Duration: 20 minutes maximum
Time: 11.30am
Maximum of 2 people.
Price: £40 per person (includes zoo admission for the participant)
Age restrictions: 10 years +

Important Notes
1. This encounter has seasonal availability from April through to October.
2. Dress for the British weather as the encounter is outside.
3. Please wear shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
4. Once booked it is non-refundable and non-transferrable, therefore please check your date before completing a booking.

Sloth Encounter

Are you crazy about sloths?  In our sloth encounter you have the chance to meet our sloth up close-up and feed him some tasty treats. Another unforgettable experience! 

Keeper Note – Sloths are the slowest moving mammal on the planet, so don’t expect anything to happen fast with Santiago, it’s all in his own time!

Duration: up to a maximum of 20 minutes
Time: 2.30pm
Number of people per encounter: maximum of 2
Price: £70 per person (includes zoo admission for the participant)
Age restrictions: 8 years +

Important Notes
1. Patience is required, sloths really are a very slow-moving animal and may take time to come down and meet you.
2. You must remain calm during the encounter with no sudden movements or loud noises.
3. Only the paid encounter participant(s) are allowed to enter the sloth enclosure with the keeper.
4. Once booked it is non-refundable and non-transferrable, therefore please check your date before completing a booking.

What’s included in the encounter

Zoo admission is included in the encounter price for the participant of any of the above encounters. Only the participants are allowed to enter the animal encounter area for safety reasons. Any spectators are required to purchase a general zoo admission ticket, which can be done here or paid for upon arrival.

Your zoo admission is a full day pass, so you can arrive from 10.30am onwards, we just ask that you arrive arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time of your encounter.

Meeting your chosen encounter animal up close and learning about them with the keeper.

What you need to know before you book

Once a booking is made they are non-refundable and non-transferrable this includes online purchases and bookings made with a Wild Discovery Gift Voucher.  Therefore please check your chosen date before completing any booking/purchase.

The encounter can only by completed by people of the minimum age or above. If a person is booked for an encounter that is not above the minimum age they will not be allowed to complete the encounter, and no refund will be given.

Anyone completing the encounter that is under the age of 18, must be accompanied by a responsible adult. This responsible adult must be present when completing the health & safety form. The responsible adult(s) are not permitted to enter/participate in the encounter, they can spectate from the public viewing area. The responsible adult will need to purchase the normal zoo admission day ticket. To book admission day tickets click here.

If you have any allergies, phobias, visual/hearing/mobility impairments, and/or any physical or medical conditions you must contact us before booking to make sure that we can provide you with a safe and enjoyable experience. Upon arrival you will be asked to complete a Health & Safety Declaration form before your encounter. The encounters are not suitable for pregnant persons. Please contact Wild Discovery if you are a wheelchair user and/or require a carer to be present before making a booking to ensure that we can provide a safe and enjoyable experience. If you arrive for an encounter without declaring any of the above and we can not provide you with a safe and enjoyable encounter no refund will be issued.

Please read the full terms and conditions before booking, click here.

How to book

To view our animal experience calendar and book please click here.

You can purchase a gift vouchers for these animal encounters, please click here for more information.