On Saturday, the Abilene Zoo welcomed spring break visitors with the return of its annual Wild Days celebration. The event features live animal presentations, interactive exhibits, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours for guests. Zoo staff members revealed that the event is designed to connect visitors with wildlife through engaging educational experiences.
According to General Curator Robert Trejo, the annual event gives visitors the opportunity to see animals from the zoo’s collection that are not typically on display during a standard visit.
“We are actually extending it this year. It typically lasts one week,” Trejo said. “Now, it will run through March 22nd. This year, visitors have an extra week to experience the zoo’s spring break celebration.”
Animal Care Program Supervisor Caylie Hicks explained that the experience doesn’t stop when the show ends.
“At the show, visitors will get to see four or five animals. After that, you get the chance to meet those animals from the show,” she said. “You can book a backstage tour and learn a few more facts about the animals. You can discover additional personality traits about them and some other facts that we didn’t get to talk about on stage.”
For many families, the chance to meet and observe animals is what makes Wild Days such a popular spring break attraction. During Burdett’s visit from Midland, Texas, she highlighted the zoo experience as a unique way to enjoy the day with her daughter.
“We’ve had so much fun. My daughter and I got to feed the animals,” she said. “It’s also beautiful outside. It’s always good to get some fresh air and see some nice animals.”