Spring Schedule
Pick up a Zoo map for the latest schedule of cool stuff going on this week!

Kid Zone & Pedal Tractors
Daily 10:30 am – 3:30 pm

Stop by the Kid Zone to brush African Pygmy and Nubian goats or ride Pedal Tractors! (Maryland Wilderness Farmyard)

Base Camp Discovery
Daily 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Just after you get off the tram, stop by our education center to see live Animal Ambassadors, investigate animal artifacts, and learn more about wildlife.

Animal Outpost
Daily 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Meet Animal Ambassadors up close and personal! (Base Camp Discovery)

Keeper Chats
Ask questions about the animals or just chat with one of our expert keepers. (Chats last 15 minutes)
Sat & Sun             12:00 pm              Otter
Sat & Sun             1:30 pm                Polar Bear
Sat & Sun             2:00 pm                Giraffe
Sat & Sun             2:30 pm                African Watering Hole
Sat & Sun             3:00 pm                Chimpanzee

All activities are weather and staff permitting and are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Right now, anyone in the world might be watching The Maryland Zoo's colony of African black-footed penguins on camera. They are stars, after all, of the "Live Penguin Cam!"

(What? You've never heard of it?!? Then Click Here!)

Watch for a minute or two and curiosity might get the better of you. You'll wonder what the penguins are up to off camera. You'll wonder what life is like for their wild cousins off the coast of South Africa . Rest easy, curious cam viewers! Here's the inside scoop.

For the Zoo penguins, day starts at daybreak (which makes sense). They wander outside and bathe or swim. On shore, they preen, socialize, explore the island, gather stuff for their nests, and play.

These penguins relish the chase. They chase each other underwater at top speed. They also chase gulls, mallards, dragonflies and, yes, even the cormorants. Zoo penguins learn quickly, though, that the cormorants don't like to mess around and will fight back!

When keepers arrive for the morning check, some penguins follow them around, tugging on pants or shoe laces. Most keep their distance, inspecting the inspectors.

When buckets bang, everyone takes notice. Time to eat! First capelin, then squid, then.a feeding frenzy set off by herring. Penguins swarm the buckets trying to get this oily, smelly delicacy while keepers struggle to feed one bird at a time. Madness!

When night falls, most of the colony heads inside Rock Island to sleep. Penguin couples - mates for life - retire to their nest boxes. Juveniles and single adults lounge in the center of the room. Any penguin curious or unwise enough to wander too near a nest box entrance is promptly attacked by those inside. No welcome mats here!

A day in the life of a Maryland Zoo penguin. Now you know.

Make sure that your next adventure at The Maryland Zoo includes a visit to Rock Island !