Frequently Asked Questions

Groups of 15 or more are NOT allowed to bring outside food or drink. However, individuals can bring bottled water and dry snacks. The Zoo proudly offers the Cool Critters Café and the Flamingo Café with a variety of refreshment options during your visit.

Yes, and we also have strollers and wheelchairs available for rental. These cannot be reserved. We do have electric conveyance vehicles, but they are first come first serve.

Yes! Under the “About” tab, visit the “Employment” section that lists all of our open positions. All applications are handled online.

Visit www.brec.org/careers to see the status of your application or call Human Resources at 225.272.9200.

No, the Zoo does not offer any court mandated community service.

Please email info@brzoo.org with the details of your situation and someone will review it.

Please contact the LSU Vet School or Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. If you were directed to contact us, please email the details of your situation to info@brzoo.org and someone will review it.

Please call our Education Department at 225.775.3877 extension 6520 or email education@brzoo.org.

Individuals are more than welcome to bring an ice chest. However, we do not have picnic space for groups of 15 or more, so please arrange for your group to picnic at a nearby park like Greenwood Community Park.

Individuals can bring dry snacks and drinks, and take advantage of the many picnic benches or green spaces. Groups of 15 or more will need to arrange for a picnic at a local park like Greenwood Community Park.

We welcome guests with disabilities who choose to bring their trained service animal, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), into the Zoo and Gardens. The care and supervision of a service animal is solely the responsibility of his or her owner. Service animals must remain properly leashed at all times. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support or therapy dogs that provide a service to others do not qualify as “service animals” under the ADA. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Pets are not allowed on Zoo grounds. Service animals may only be excluded from the Zoo when that animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. Examples are vicious behavior towards other guests, a dog that is out of control and the handler cannot or does not regain control, or if the dog is not housebroken.

Groups of 15 or more are not allowed to bring outside food or drink. However, individuals can bring bottled water and dry snacks. The Zoo proudly offers the Cool Critters Café and the Flamingo Café with a variety of refreshment options during your visit.

The zoo has undergone significant changes during Phase 1 of construction, and we’re excited to share some of the many new additions and upgrades. We've introduced seven new exhibits, including the North America section featuring bison, elk, and deer. We also opened Sapo Springs, an immersive West African Expedition that offers underwater viewing of pygmy hippos and exhibits of colobus monkeys and endangered birds. Another highlight is the new giraffe exhibit, which allows guests to get closer than ever to these majestic animals. These spaces are designed to elevate the experience for both animals and visitors.

One of the standout improvements is the train. The ride now features brand-new tracks and an updated depot, ensuring a smoother, more enjoyable experience. The renovation not only focused on cosmetic changes but also on crucial structural upgrades for safety and reliability. The train now winds through some of the zoo's most scenic areas, offering a fresh perspective on animal habitats and the surrounding environment.

Behind the scenes, we’ve made important updates that directly impact the welfare of our animals. New plumbing and electrical systems have been installed to improve efficiency, and we've built new night houses, giving animals like the pygmy hippos more enormous and more comfortable spaces with specialized pools for birthing and care.

As we look forward to Phases 2 and 3, there’s even more to come, including exhibits featuring lions and gorillas and the Atchafalaya exhibit, which will interpret Louisiana’s rich bioregion, wildlife, culture, and history. These upcoming phases will add to the foundation we’ve built in Phase 1, creating an even more engaging and educational experience for all.

We appreciate your patience as we continue this transformation and invite you to visit soon to see all the exciting changes.

All exhibits are currently open except for the giraffe feeding station. We’re giving our giraffes time to explore their new habitat, and once they’re out and about more often, guests can purchase lettuce to feed them.

The train is now running! Rides are $3 each, and soon you'll have the option to add train rides to memberships—details coming soon.

Yes! As long as the bar code on a ticket hasn’t already been scanned, the ticket gate will honor them at any time.

All tickets, including the Pardon Our Progress passes, can be used past their expiration date as long as the bar code on the ticket hasn’t already been scanned.

Yes, we offer group discounts for parties of 15 or more that are made in advance. We also offer a Wednesday afternoon discount of $1.50 per person during the hours of 2pm-4pm each Wednesday.

No we do not but we do offer discount admission from 2pm-4pm on Wednesdays.

Unfortunately, the Zoo does not offer an EBT discount. The Zoo offers free admission to former and current members of the military only on our observed Veterans Day in November. Our only other discounts are: (1) the group rate discount with a minimum of 15 paying individuals and (2) the Wednesday afternoon discount, when admission for all ages is $1.50 from 2pm to 4pm.