Diehard winter visitors know that when the mercury dips many of the Zoo’s animals come out to play.  The Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys, aren’t bothered at all by cold weather and can often be seen hanging out in their outdoor hot tub.  The tigers, wolverines, red pandas, Asian wild horses, elk and bison also adapt well to colder temperatures and become more active.

A popular attraction in any type of weather is the Arctic Ring of Life with its 70-foot underwater Polar Passage providing spectacular views of swimming polar bears and seals.  For a more tropical experience, visitors can head for the Butterfly Garden – where the temperature is always a balmy 75 degrees – and enjoy over 40 species of butterflies as well as the habitat’s newest residents, five Peruvian hummingbirds.

Other indoor experiences at the Zoo include the National Amphibian Conservation Center, Penguinarium, Holden Museum of Living Reptiles and Mardigian River Otter Habitat.  In addition, the Great Apes of Harambee, giraffe, white rhino, lemur and farm animal habitats all have indoor viewing areas.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October.  Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October, and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056.