Go wild
Enjoy animal adventures across Kentucky
Roar, hop and slither your way to an unforgettable animal adventure as you discover Kentucky’s wild side at locations across the state.
Ark Encounter’s Ararat Ridge Zoo
“Our zoo is really designed to get you up close with a lot of animals,” says Ark Encounter’s Ararat Ridge Zoo Director Leanne Sarkisian. “There’s a lot to see, a lot to do and a lot to learn about.”
Located in Williamstown and served by Owen Electric Cooperative, animals on exhibit include Felix, a Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, who spends much of his day hanging around upside down. There’s Rikki, a binturong, also called a bearcat—although binturongs are neither bears nor cats—and “not very common in zoos,” Sarkisian notes. Recently, Ararat Ridge acquired the proper federal and state permits to permanently house General Boone, an injured bald eagle that was found in Eastern Kentucky.
Ark Encounter’s Ararat Ridge lets visitors feed, pet and interact with kangaroos and wallabies. Photo: Answers in Genesis
Up-close animal interactions include a kangaroo walkabout, behind-the-scenes animal experiences, Junior’s Zoo Adventure and animal encounters spotlighting unique animal ambassadors. Zoo programs promote good stewardship in caring for animals from a Biblical perspective.
Sarkisian calls Ararat Ridge a hidden gem with a diverse collection of animals. “We really want to teach people more about the amazing animals that we have in Kentucky and then also species found around the world, as well,” she says.
Animal Ambassador: Luna
Common name: Eurasian eagle-owl
Home: Ark Encounter’s Ararat Ridge Zoo
Fun fact: Luna enjoys enrichment— especially paper items, which she loves shredding.
Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo
Ready for an Australian Outback animal adventure? Then gather your closest mates and head to Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo in Horse Cave. Kentucky Down Under educates and entertains visitors with interactive, hands-on animal exhibits. “We are an animal lover’s paradise where you can get close to many of the animals you love,” says Brian Dale, marketing manager.
Enter the Land of Lories aviary to feed rainbow lorikeets; just be prepared—for a sip of nectar, these colorful birds might land on your shoulder or even your head. Explore “the Outback,” an open field where emus, sulcata tortoises and kangaroos freely roam. While petting the kangaroos, look closely to spot a joey peeking from its mother’s pouch.
Lemurs, dingoes and capybaras, the world’s largest rodent, also make their home at Kentucky Down Under. Daily animal shows include sheep herding and up-close encounters with Luna, the talking umbrella cockatoo, and Clyde, a woma python that handlers drape around the neck of willing volunteers.
“Kentucky Down Under is a place where kids and adults can share their experiences with animals,” says Dale. “Kentucky Down Under creates memories to last a lifetime.”
Animal Ambassador: Luna
Common name: Umbrella crested cockatoo
Home: Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo
Fun fact: Luna can talk and enjoys listening to music. She is spoiled by the zookeepers—often going for golf cart rides and playing peekaboo with her handlers.
Kentucky Reptile Zoo
The largest collection of venomous snakes in the United States—and likely the world, according to director Kristen Wiley—is found at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo in Slade. Approximately 80 different snakes are on exhibit, including taipans and all four mamba species. A collection of native Kentucky snakes promotes education and conservation of regional species.
“We are a pretty unique sort of place because we have snakes from all over the world, and we provide venom for medical research and antivenom development that is shipped all over the world,” explains Wiley, noting the zoo is working on a conservation project on Saint Lucia in the Caribbean and is currently partnering with India to further improve the country’s antivenom.
Besides venomous snakes, the Kentucky Reptile Zoo is home to large constrictors, like pythons, plus lizards, turtles and alligators.
“There aren’t very many places like us in the whole world,” says Wiley. “It’s always a good idea to try to enjoy the things that we have in our own backyard, and we’re a good example of that.”
Animal Ambassador: Artie
Common name: Marginated tortoise
Home: Kentucky Reptile Zoo
Fun fact: Artie loves to climb and explore his habitat.
Louisville Zoo
“The Louisville Zoo is like a living classroom,” says Kyle Shepherd, media relations manager. “And there’s always something new to learn.”
Home to over 1,000 animal species, the zoo boasts three award-winning exhibits: Glacier Run, an arctic-themed habitat with polar bears, seals and sea lions; Gorilla Forest, where gorillas and a pygmy hippo reside; and the Islands, a rotating exhibit featuring orangutans, Sumatran tigers, tapirs and more.
Go wild with four VIP backstage passes for once-in-a-lifetime encounters and discover unique animals, like penguins, seals and sea lions, red pandas and Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth. A fifth pass to meet rhinos also includes a visit to the Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center, one of only five institutions in the world dedicated to a managed system of breeding this endangered mammal.
Upcoming special events include Party for the Planet, a month-long celebration of the Earth that kicked off this month; watch for Funday Mondays and recycling weekends. In May, Wild Lights—an Asian-inspired lantern festival—is back with 20-30 larger than life lanterns illuminating the campus.
Shepherd says every day is different at Louisville Zoo—and there’s something new to see every time you visit.
Animal Ambassador: Pocket Shark
Common name: Black-footed ferret
Home: Louisville Zoo
Fun fact: Pocket Shark is new to the zoo, and she’s a 9-month-old bundle of energy. Pocket Shark is fast, loves to climb and tries to steal her food bowl as she’s being fed by zookeeper Chris Florence, who adds that Pocket Shark is very determined.
Salato Wildlife Education Center
“At Salato, kids can discover Kentucky’s wild side while learning about conservation in a way that feels like an adventure,” says Jules Foster, conservation education program coordinator at the wildlife center, which is located on the grounds of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources headquarters Frankfort.
True to their motto—“Come prowl awhile!”—Salato’s knowledgeable conservation educators bring learning to life through props and up-close encounters with live animal ambassadors in the outdoor amphitheater. Guests can meet an American kestrel, red-tailed hawk or even non-venomous snakes. “These moments of excitement are hard to replicate in a traditional classroom or on a screen,” Foster notes.
Program topics vary weekly but include black bear enrichments designed by the animal care team to keep the bear’s day interesting. Help the Hellbender is an interpretive program highlighting North America’s largest salamander while guests learn about Kentucky’s hellbender population and ways to help protect this unique species. Reel Talk introduces kids and adults alike to fish commonly found in Kentucky’s waterways and explores the benefits of fishing.
Foster says a visit to Salato “gives people something to talk about long after they leave and inspires families to get involved in hunting and fishing, hobbies that can become lifelong passions.” She adds, “There is no better way to bond than that.”
Animal Ambassador: American black bear
Home: Salato Wildlife Education Center
Fun fact: As an ambassador for his wild counterparts, this bear doesn’t have a public name. He loves to eat lettuce, and his favorite things to play with are fresh sheets and blankets.
Newport Aquarium
Newport Aquarium is not a look-but-don’t-touch experience.
“It’s immersive. It’s eye-level. It’s hands-on,” says Valerie Baker, sales and marketing director. “Kids aren’t just looking into tanks as they walk past them. They’re crawling through tunnels, locking eyes with sharks, touching rays and learning in real time.”
Special programs include animal enrichment moments, giving visitors an opportunity see animals solving puzzles or engaging with new objects designed for mental and physical stimulation. Groups learn directly from animal experts during scheduled animal feedings, spotlighting penguins, sharks and other species. Interactive touch experiences offer supervised opportunities for kids to safely connect with marine life while learning about anatomy, habitat and conservation.
Walk across the world’s first Shark Bridge—if you dare—as sharks swim directly beneath your feet. “In terms of unique animals, we call ourselves the Shark Capital of the Midwest, as we are the only place around where you can see sharks swimming,” explains Baker. The aquarium is also home to shark rays, the perfect cross between a shark and a stingray. And Snowflake, a rare white alligator, fascinates everyone.
Blending fun and education, Newport Aquarium is special because kids are learning without even realizing it, Baker says: “It feels like adventure and play, but there is real education happening. Families leave with great memories and a deeper understanding of wildlife and conservation.”
Animal Ambassador: Denver
Common name: Loggerhead sea turtle
Home: Newport Aquarium
Fun fact: When Denver hatched, caretakers noticed his back flipper wasn’t quite right. Because of that, he was chosen for a life under human care instead of in the open ocean. Today, he’s one of the aquarium’s most iconic residents, spending his days inspiring guests, snacking like a king and showing off his big personality.
Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure
Open since 2021, Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure in Carlisle is owned by husband-and-wife team Shaun and Julie Wendt, consumer-members of Bluegrass Energy. “Our goal is to educate people in a fun and engaging setting about the amazing animals of the world through up-close interactions,” explains Julie Wendt. “We are continually growing and improving our grounds and exhibits to make each return visit exciting.”
Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure is home to many unique animals—kangaroos, capybaras, sloths, camels, zebu cattle, various reptiles, African porcupines and more. Guests can experience the Parakeet Encounter, home to hundreds of parakeets, plus some cockatiels and conures. In January, the park welcomed Tango, a 4-year-old reticulated giraffe.
Capybaras are among the unusual species at Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure. Photo: Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure
Visitors can also explore Brushy Fork Creek for freshwater critters or gem mining. History buffs will enjoy a self-guided tour of the original Daniel Boone Cabin, built by Boone and his son in 1795. There’s also a gift shop, and overnight lodging is available.
“Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure is a hidden gem that people are amazed exists in small-town Kentucky,” Wendt says. “We’re just a short drive from all the major cities—Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati—and make a perfect day trip or even an overnight getaway. Visitors are never sorry they found us.”
Animal Ambassador: Tango
Common name: Reticulated giraffe
Home: Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure
Fun fact: Tango is around 13 feet tall and will be about 18 feet tall when fully grown. He loves to wrap his long tongue around treats.
Video Links
Discover the animals at Ark Encounter’s Ararat Ridge Zoo.
View venom extractions and learn more about snakes at Kentucky Reptile Zoo
Can’t make it to Louisville Zoo? Don’t get your feathers ruffled. Check out lots of videos on their YouTube channel.
Swim on over to Newport Aquarium’s YouTube channel:
Salato Wildlife Education Center offers resources, including activities and videos for distance learning here.
