Rosamond Gifford Zoo

06/24/2026

The second annual Rosamond Cup, supported by Tompkins Community Bank, is on Monday, August 31! This exciting Ryder Cup themed golf tournament to support the mission of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo – saving species and connecting people to the natural world.

For more information or to register, contact Heidi Strong at [email protected]

See you on the green!

06/23/2026

🦩🦩🦩Happy from our flamboyance of Chilean flamingos!

While the majority of our flamingo flock is behind-the-scenes to encourage reproductive behavior during the breeding season, two of our senior flamingos are out in the pond! Besides having a very low possibility of reproduction, this geriatric pair has advanced medical needs due to age-related ailments, and our animal care and veterinary staff need the opportunity to administer medicine and to conduct visual exams without disrupting the breeding behaviors of the entire flock.

06/23/2026

Asian elephant calf Yaad has always had “fancy footwork!”

06/23/2026

Today is ! 🐪 Did you know that while domestic Bactrian camels are fairly common throughout North American zoos, they are actually remnants of a critically endangered species, as domestic Bactrian camels and wild Bactrian camels are a genetically separate species?

Come visit our resident Bactrian camel, Patrick, and join us for a daily camel feeding demonstration at 11:30 a.m. to support the Wild Camel Protection Foundation!

Patrick continues to be active and in high spirits, and our staff are working closely with experts from the AZA to find him a new companion.

06/22/2026

Summer is in full swing! Starting 6/27, Join us at the zoo for daily animal demonstrations and creature chats. See the schedule below:

10:30 a.m. - Elephant Stretch Training
11:00 a.m. - Carnivore Chat
11:30 a.m. - Camel Chat/Feeding
Noon - Penguin Chat
12:30 p.m. - Hoofstock Chat
1:30 p.m. - Small Mammals Chat
2 p.m. - Elephant Chat
2:30 p.m. - Herp/Aquarium Chat
3 p.m. - Bird Chat
3:30 p.m. - Primate Park Chat

Listen for the location and featured animal on the PA system! Schedule subject to change.

06/21/2026

Happy ! Come practice yoga with the penguins weekends in July! A peaceful (or not so peaceful… have you heard our penguins?) morning with a backdrop of our Penguin Coast exhibit. Join us for a 60-minute yoga session to start your day followed by a chat with our penguin care experts. This program starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes until 9:45 a.m.

Tickets on sale now: https://bit.ly/4glVYji

Sessions on July 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, and 26.

06/21/2026

Happy ! In our working Institution Collection Plan, our future Savannah expansion will hopefully have Masai giraffes!

But this decision wasn’t actually a random “jackpot.” Our animal care specialists are coordinating with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Giraffe Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) to identify what giraffe species represented within AZA-accredited zoos would benefit most from the creation of another breeding herd (among many other factors) – and the endangered Masai giraffe is the top contender!

06/20/2026

What a gorgeous morning for a run around the zoo! Many thanks to everyone who joined us for our annual Zoo Run Run 5K. Over 600 runners of all ages came out to support the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. And, a big Thank You to our sponsors: Hampton by Hilton, Tops Friendly Markets, Countryside Credit Union, Melvin & Melvin, PLLC, Seneca Savings Bank, N.A., Akl & Associates PLLC., Central Rock - Syracuse, Community Bank, N.A., McDonald and Kimball, Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, New York Life Finger Lakes General Office, Salt City Coffee, CST Media Productions and Energy Savers, Inc..

More race-day photos will be added in the coming weeks!

06/20/2026