I visited this zoo way back in 2005. (twenty years ago, but hey.. whatever.) It was just plain sad. While I now don't agree with the captive nature of zoos, I can say I have good reason not to after everything I saw here. (which I still have on video.) Now granted, it's possible that they are all no longer alive, but I'm just giving my observations from that time period. (I can't say much for the time that has passed since then, but I have doubts.) The tiger seemed to have a hip injury that prevented it from standing or walking. There was a bear that did nothing but pace back and forth like a robot. The spider monkeys just screamed and peed on each other. Flamingoes stayed in the trees and refused to come down (I didn't blame them) Peacocks roamed free around the crowds. There was an emu that stared me down (possibly wanting the candy I was eating but he couldn't catch the tram I was riding on at the time.) There was a zookeeper riding around on a zamboni-looking vehicle.. now I could be wrong, but it appeared to be one to me. What would a zoo in Baton Rouge need with a zamboni?? I really wanted to see the elephants as they are one of my most favorite animals, but they were M.I.A! I wanted to feed this one bird that was swimming in a lake, but there was only one dry pellet.. even the food machines were empty and most of the animals seemed to be starving. I didn't look at the reptile room, but I'm willing to bet that all the snakes were well-fed! And the most egregious offense?... they kept at least 3 fully-grown giraffes in a small, enclosed room. It was disgusting. Made me feel bad for the wildlife.. or the not-so-wild lives that are being wasted in an animal prison. My younger self wanted to go to see some animals, which I love. In hindsight, I now realize that it was actually an opportunity to see with my own eyes why animals should be respected and live their lives far away from humans and their unnecessary traps. Something I myself prefer to avoid at all costs. God Bless those poor souls, then and now. read more

The Baton Rouge zoo is currently undergoing an extensive reconstruction right now, so keep that in mind when planning your expectations. I have always been appreciative of the care the BR Zoo has shown for its animals, and it is nice to some investment happening to improve the area. Before I start - Yes, I went as an adult by myself, and YES, it was the perfect trip. I saw a couple of camps, some grandparents with littles, and several families there. It's a great way to spend the day no matter if you are with others or by yourself, so no, to respond to a friend, it's not weird going solo. I arrived and was greeted by a nice staff member who gave my my entry ticket as well as a bonus ticket for a future visit - because the zoo is undergoing improvements, you get a free return ticket to use before 12/31/2024. That's pretty great. There are maps you can take photos of showing you the suspended areas as well as where open exhibits are. Several of the enclosures are long over due for an update - the tigers need a lot more space, so that will be a nice once started. There are many different species in various areas, and on the hot day that I was there, many were very active. There is a brand new pigmy hippo exhibit with two of the species who are very active - that is certainly worth a trip. There are many seating areas, a children's playground and zoo area, an otter exhibit, and many many other things. The zoo's train is currently not operating due to the construction, but as I recall, that is a great way to see another part of the landscape. The staff were all out and about feeding, cleaning, and checking out the zoo residents. I very much enjoyed my visit, and I look forward to visiting again. read more

This was a major disappointment. I've read good things on here so we decided to make a trip out of our way for this zoo. This is basically a walking park with a few animals to see. Half of the enclosures were empty and the ones with animals actually in there had 1 or 2-3 in there max. This isn't normal for most animals. We've been to about 15 zoos and this is the worst one and it's not even close. My child kept asking where are all the animals at and was excited but was let down. The train ride...$3 a person and it goes by the bobcat enclosure and that's about it. It's literally a 5 minute ride through the woods and you can't see any animals from the tracks, I was very confused why this is even offered and not included in the ticket. read more

My family and I love a good zoo. This one is currently under construction, so they actually gave us free tickets to come back. A lot of the main exhibits are still closed, but we did enjoy ourselves. They have a huge selection of birds, and the rhinos were cool to look at. The goats were probably our favorite spot because you can brush and pet them. We had a nice time. read more

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My son and I come to the Baton Rouge zoo about once a month... here is our view in the good and bad. 1. Cost - super reasonable. Almost too low. I wish they would charge more, get more income, and use it to improve the animal habitats. 2. Cleanliness - we find the zoo is typically very clean. 3. Maintenance - the animal habitats are kind of sad. The zookeepers definitely are working hard, but the place is very clearly not funded adequately. There are some major renovations going on that have shown improvements, but there is still a strong disparity between this zoo and any large city zoo. The habitats are just so different from a natural one, that it's just sad to see. I feel a bit embarrassed to bring out of town guests here. 4. Staff - everyone we have met has been very nice and helpful. The animal chats are always fun, and we love when they have some extra animals at the front, out in the open. 5. Food - There are two spots: the Flamingo Cafe, where you can get burgers/chicken nuggets/hot dogs, and Cool Critters (I think?), which serves desserts. Food at flamingo is fairly cheap, but you get what you pay for in terms of quality. Lines are sometimes really slow too... not the staffs fault, patrons just tend to be indecisive and ordering for large groups. I wish there was a way to order online and set a pick up time to avoid the line. 6. The farm animals section is really cool! There is a large barn and several outdoor spaces for goats, cows, donkeys, and sheep. Really neat addition to a zoo, especially for young ones! My son usually comes straight here. 7. The playground is large and fun for kids, mostly designed for kids under 10. To playground is next to the dessert spot so 8. The zoo is almost never crowded (outside of major events). Parking is easy, and you can roam around in peace. And it's not big, so it's a fairly easy walk through. 9. Membership perks are nice. Because we go so often, we have "earned" lots of free desserts and an animal encounter experience. I'm always a fan of incentive programs like this While we are fans of the zoo, and think it's a great spot for kids to visit in Baton Rouge, it is not on par with most other zoos we have visited. read more

Cute zoo. Undergoing renovations, so no zoo train, and about half the exhibits are closed. Employees are friendly. Children were chasing the peacocks and no one was really stopping them. read more

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What happened too the Baton Rouge Zoo, Visited yesterday Sept 15 2024 and several cages were empty including the giraffe. Also, The signs were inaccurate for directions. including the gift shop sign within the zoo, We finally found the new gift shop within the zoo but the sign on the gift shop was very small. read more

The cost is reasonable. The zoo is small and easily walked within a couple hours. The people were all extremely friendly. Our concern was more for the animals. The tigers seemed stressed with no enrichment in their enclosures and the monkeys seemed bored and dissatisfied. Our own local zoo brings toys and games into all the animal enclosures to be sure they have enrichment and are constantly working their minds. We felt bad for the animals in this zoo. Large birds with no area to spread their wings and actually fly... large animals pacing with no other activity. I believe in zoos but only when their needs are met and the animals are completely satisfied. I hope the zoo is able to consider this and make some adjustments. It def seems like the employees care so lets hope. read more

Who doesn't love visiting the zoo ? I love the zoo and I start off riding the train then I ride the tram then we walk the zoo, we'll my family walks I rent one of the mobility scooters because I can't stand long due to a car recent accident that messed up some disc out.I'm so glad that the zoo now rents mobility scooters they didn't used to. They are enlarging the zoo and soon it's gonna be really big. Lots more exhibits and stuff. Spring is my family's favorite time to visit zoo's because the weather is so amazing. If you haven't been out to the zoo lately come spend the day watching the animals they'll amaze you every single time read more

This zoo has never really been super impressive. It does offer something to do on a day, especially if you have kids. They are currently doing improvements and expanding. No complaints really it's just hard to give a great review when it's so close to the Audubon Zoo. read more

Baton Rouge Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

This zoo needs a little facelift (and they are getting one next year!) but it is still a great place to bring a young child. The staff has done a great job during the pandemic and even though my family has gone during peak events (Boo at the Zoo & Zoo Lights), we have always felt safe. We usually get there at 9:30 for opening, stop by Flamingo Cafe for lunch, and are back at our car by 12:30 for toddler's nap. We have not visited the petting zoo yet but maybe next time! We can't wait to see what the 2022 brings to the zoo! read more

Baton Rouge Zoo - Pretty zoo lights! - Zoos Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

It was good & looked good they were working on it still so they gave us free tickets to come back and I was able to spend time with me mom

Zoos make me sort of sad tbh so I can't say I ever really seek them out but we came here for Zoo Lights and it was a fun holiday activity. $5/pp and about an hour to take a leisurely stroll through the lights. We stopped at the flamingo cafe and got hot chocolate which was cheap and good warm fuel for the latter half of our walk. Very cute light displays and you could see some of the animals (zebras, elk, cranes, etc). We saw lots of families/kids and also some couples like us. It's a bit of a trek from the main part of Baton Rouge but a fun thing to do during the holidays nonetheless. read more

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It was ok. The zoo was under construction so a lot of the exhibits were closed and there were a ton of missing animals. They did let us know that prior to us entering. What they did to make it right was provide us with a free return ticket that we can use when the renovations are done. Overall it was a good family outing read more

For a small zoo, the BR Zoo wasn't bad. For the price ($9 per adult), it's a fun way to spend 2 hours. They had a few really neat animals (tiger, jaguar, Pygmy hippos, lots of monkeys, giraffes), and a lot of really average animals. The zoo itself could use some work in terms of beautification. Some of the exhibits are old and decrepit and could use some TLC. Some of the animals were nowhere to be seen for some reason. Overall, it is worth the price and we will probably be back with the little one. read more

I have to say that it has been years since I've been to this zoo. Honestly, zoos are not my favorite places. I end up feeling so bad for the animals afterwards that they are not in their respective natural environments. Some of the enclosures are just plain sad. The hippo, jaguar and bear (just to name a few) enclosures seem so tight... uh not a lot of space for them to roam around and they just look so lonely. This zoo has been here for a long time and needs some major updates. The fams and I went during phase 2 of COVID-19 reopening and there were restrictions (no need to wear a mask) with social distancing, certain exhibits closed and there were one-way directional arrows that helped guests navigate their way thru the zoo. I'm happy to report that the staff that I encountered though were all really nice. It was a hot day, so we didn't spend more than a couple hours there. Thankfully, there were plenty of shaded areas and benches we could rest from the heat. It was definitely something different to do. My daughter always enjoys going there and I'm glad we got to do it as a family for the Father's Day weekend. read more

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This little zoo was perfect! Upon arrival we were told that Wednesdays from 2-4, tickets are only $1.50! Which was an awesome surprise. We also got tickets for another day for free because of all of the construction. This alone was in my opinion worth 5 stars. But the animals and exhibits were so cool. Peacocks roam the zoo, you can go inside the bird enclosures, and you get to get really close to the animals. It's under construction at the moment, so a few of the exhibits are closed, but honestly we didn't mind. This zoo, while small, was a great addition to our trip to Louisiana! read more

This zoo is pretty good. There are a few of the exhibits that could use some work, and it's not as nice as the New Orleans Zoo, but for what it is, it's nice. They have a pretty cool tiger exhibit that they built not too long ago. And there is a variety of different animals. And the zoo trip wouldn't be complete without a ride on the cypress swamp train! read more

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It nice for young child to see animals n not too pricey i always go for halloween u get candy n coupon for the children!

It's amazing how central this zoo is and how much they have going on, no one who guess only 20 min from downtown there is an entire world housing some of the worlds most exotic animals. I look forward to returning one day soon, they have almost 1,000 animals from all the continents on earth. They sell food like chips, hot dogas, sodas, etc - good quality too! read more

Baton Rouge Zoo - Bunny - Zoos Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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The children loved the boo at the zoo theme! Was so excited to go see the animals and the park area! Super packed but so much fun! read more

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Took my two young grandchildren for the first time here. I wasn't impressed. While it was pretty and clean, there's just not a lot of animals, exhibits or hands on activities. And def not enough food/snack stations. Maybe I'm just spoiled to other zoos (fort worth, tx) and the level of exhibits. The staff was super friendly, all of them. I would say this is a good zoo for younger kids and a short afternoon trip. It def will not occupy or entertain older kids. read more

Baton Rouge Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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Good small zoo to kill a couple of hours. We were surprised that we saw only one other family at the zoo until we were headed out of the gate. Many of the exhibits appear old or run down, but the animals all appeared well-cared for. Many animals were off exhibit the day we were here, but it was quite cold as well. I read that the zoo may be moving to another location in town -- this sounds like an excellent idea. The current location was tucked away on the north side of town, and not easy to get to for these tourists! We look forward to visiting the new location! read more

This is a hidden gem in Baton Rouge. No one ever talks about it and they should. Its very nice and has every zoo animal that you would ever want to see. read more

I'm only giving them 2 stars because they failed to accommodate guest. How on the hottest days is one concession stand closed and the other only accepting cash?! If that's the case make it known when guest come in at the entrance. There were quite a few animals to see so the kids were happy. read more

The zoo is overall great but some of the animals have very small enclosures such as the tiger, and many of the snakes. Otherwise I enjoyed my time here!! read more

I had a great experience at the Baton Rouge Zoo. It's definitely a hidden Easter egg here in Baton Rouge! I went with my friends for a fun weekend, but I am sure this would be the perfect adventure for a family with kids of any age. I would not recommend going on an extremely hot day because if you don't want to be out in the heat, the animals surely don't either, so if you want to see the most creatures roaming about, sometime in the morning would be the best bet in the summertime. Overall, I highly recommend! Watch out for the peacocks roaming about... read more

Very disappointing, i traveled a long way to visit the zoo and i didn't even get to see half of the zoo due to construction. We were given tickets to come back for free due to construction but we weren't told about the construction until after she had already swiped my card. A lot of the animals weren't out even outside of construction areas. It was definitely not worth the money or gas. read more

My family went to the zoo yesterday! I was very skeptical because of how cheap it was, but it was very nice! Lots of animals! Animals were very active while we were there. Also very few people so it did not feel rushed at all. Park was very clean and we at at one of the snack huts, fries and popcorn nice and fresh! Zoo is a lot bigger and nicer than expected, it's like a hidden gem. We got also got lucky and hit it for guest appreciation weekend and they had BOGO free. So for less than $10 my wife, my son (1yo), and I had a great experience. read more

Great zoo! Didn't expect too much considering the price ($8.75 per adult), but there was a decent amount of exhibits and variety of animals. The scenery was beautiful and it made for a peaceful few hours. Kind of bummed some of the animal enclosures seemed too small, the monkeys and birds in particular... don't know if these are just their quarters for the day or if they're always there but could definitely use an expansion on some of their exhibits. Doesn't seem fair these animals are the reason the zoo exists but aren't as properly accommodated as they could be. read more

Baton Rouge Zoo - sweet pea - Zoos Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

A great place to enjoy a sunday morning. The admission price was very reasonable at 8.25 for each adult. Zoo grounds were almost deserted which made the walk with the animals very peaceful. The exhibits are laid out in a circle. The animals have good space to roam and the fences are low enough so you can see them clearly. We really enjoyed the tigers and the parrot paradise. The aquarium was also a nice break from the heat. I liked the variety of fish and how there were open tanks to watch the catfish. Worth a visit while you're in town! read more

Admission is $15/person. Lot of potential, but animals are not on display due to construction. We saw 10 turtles, 2 cheetahs, a tiger and five monkeys..... 75 empty exhibits. No train either. They estimate train to be back in service by 2026. There are better options in the area. read more

Of course the weather has something to do with this review as it is high 60s temperature and a slight breeze---ie chamber of commerce weather---but the Baton Rouge zoo has had some new additions recently---a rhino, 2 tiger cubs, geese, wolf and more which adds to its appeal. The size of the zoo is small enough such that the little ones can enjoy the entire zoo without getting too tired or the adult can comfortably pass through it in 60-120 minutes. Today the otter exhibit was not available but overall definitely a nice visit today with a return desired before the end of the year read more

Baton Rouge Zoo - Besides the 2 baby tigers, the newest Baton Rouge zoo resident---the rhino - Zoos Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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It's the size of a postage stamp. BUT if you hit the weather at the right time, and off the crowd time, it's a nice little stroll... In the zoo. Not a lot to see or do, but enough to make the walk entertaining. Staff is really nice and for what it is, it is well maintained. Inexpensive. Got kids? Let them loose! read more

I've been to zoos all over. As a nature and wildlife photographer, they are some of my favorite places to visit to take photographs of animals I couldn't encounter outside of them. From a photographers standpoint, the zoo isn't that great. It's hard to get clear shots of the animals when they're behind miles of chain link or glass so dirty you have to squint to see if there's actually an animal inside. They do have a relatively decent amount of exhibits and the animals seem taken care of for the most part, but I wish they would take hints from the New Orleans zoo or the Denver zoo in Colorado, by making it easier to actually view the animals. I'm not saying jeopardize safety, but cleaning the glass and swapping out the old chain link for glass fronts would be a great start for visibility for photographer, and visitors alike. read more

Baton Rouge Zoo - Giraffe - Zoos Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

went there today for my birthday and it was under construction when i looked it up before i drove 3 hours here to go to this zoo and there was no information on this , was not worth driving that far for , the animals look sad , don't recommend going there will not be returning read more

My daughter and I love this Zoo. It's the perfect size for a quick day trip. It's a little smaller than other Zoos but very well kept.

The entire zoo takes about 2 hours if you stop at every exhibit. There's never a problem parking. The price is relatively low. However, there's no animal interactions or uniquely set up exhibits. read more

Baton Rouge Zoo is a really great way for families to spend the day! The highlight for us is the train ride - my kiddies just love that! I too love it! The breeze is so nice on a balmy day. Recently they were fundraising for updated elephant habitat. They seem to always be updating. The zoo is very clean and overall pleasant. There are lots of trees for shade. The zoo is larger then one might expect. We saw many animals. The otter exhibit was quite fun for the kids. Otters are very entertaining critters. We encountered a macaw that said 'cracker' - which was also quite entertaining. The aquarium was also pretty neat. Have a full gas tank and a picnic lunch ready. Do note your directions well BEFORE going as the areas around the zoo appear better to pass through without stopping for directions or provisions. read more

Of course I am a fan of our Zoo. I have been my entire life. As a kid my Mom and dad had every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon off. We would come to the zoo a lot and walk around after school. The zoo was very different way back then. It was a very different time. The animal habitats were nothing like we have today but I still loved it just the same. It has always been a special place for me and I am always excited to take the kids. Today I took not only my own daughter but my great niece who is two. It was the 2 year-olds first trip and I am so glad I got to be here for it. I took my little girl for the first time when she was 5 and we were here on vacation. She is 14 now so the zoo had changed quite a bit even since then! We decided at the last minute to day to "do the zoo" so when we got there and it was Zoofest it was a surprise. I was afraid it would be so crowded that it would be hard for the toddler to enjoy it but I have to say I was totally wrong. Even parking was a breeze! They had planned in advanced and Chalked off "parking spots" in the grass which when combined with PLENTY of BRPD to help as parking attendants made the process easy and painless! We entered the zoo a little after Noon and there were tents and kiosks set up all about. Face painting and kids tattoos, a stage with live music and a kids play area all there to help celebrate our Zoos birthday. It was great. We enjoyed watching as we began our trek into the zoo! The zoo is beautiful. I loved seeing the changes to the habitats and how nicely it is laid out. We strolled around for almost two hours and enjoyed everything from lions and rhinos to otters and alligators. The kiosks set up throughout the zoo for beverages and snacks were great! I especially enjoyed the crawfish pies! The only thing I will say I was disappointed in was the shaved ice stand. The lady working it was very impatient and she did not seem to know how to use the equipment. She was complaining that she was running out and kept demanding the girl who was working the soft drink and snack stand across from her come fix it.... They were less than professional and I finally just gave up and bought a pop elsewhere. It was ridiculous. But that was the ONLY bad thing all day. We watched the otters for the longest in their habitat. I love how they have built the river shack! So cute! The fish and snakes are cool too - but those slithery things make my skin crawl even behind that glass. we did not play on the play ground as the two year old was nearing nap time so we decide to save it for our next visit. We instead stopped for treats at the souvenir shop! A perfect end to a perfect day! I know there are talks of moving our Zoo.... and as much as it will be weird to have the zoo moved I cannot wait to see what amazing things they will do next! Here is to many many more great years in Baton Rouge! read more

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