Philadelphia Zoo Opens New “Water Is Life” Exhibit

Who doesn’t love newer and better ways to view adorable animals? The Philadelphia Zoo knows you want to get up close and personal with the cuties, which is why they are introducing a new exhibit, “Water is Life.” Water is Life is the newest stage of the zoo’s ground-breaking Zoo365 program, which connects habitats for animals with see-through trails so visitors can follow their movements.

As part of the new exhibit, the zoo’s red pandas and otters have new homes: Red Panda Pass and Otter Falls. The former is the new habitat of the red panda family of Spark, Khumbie, Yeren, and Ping Jing. The pandas will be on display as they navigate the new exhibit’s bridges, trees, tunnels, and other climbing structures. If you look up, you might get lucky and spy the pandas moving from one area to another in overhead tunnels.

At Otter Falls, the giant otters Yeyuno, Thor, Matteo, and Ariranha frolic and play. A focal point of the exhibit is a big slide for the otters that leads down to the water level. There are multiple pools, a waterfall, and several viewing areas from which guests of the Philadelphia Zoo can get a great look at these gentle creatures at play.

According to Penn Live: “In addition to showcasing the otters and red pandas, Water is Life focuses on water’s role in ecosystems and how it is used for both nourishment and play.”

The new additions to the Zoo365 program join similarly-structured exhibits for the lions, pumas, jaguars, lemurs, monkeys, orangutans, western lowland gorillas, meerkats and more.

The Philadelphia Zoo, which is the oldest zoological attraction in the country, is located at 3400 W. Girard Ave. in Philadelphia. Admission to the zoo is $24.95 for adults (ages 12 and older), $19.95 for children (ages 2-11) and free for children under the ages of 2. For more information call 215-243-1100 or visit philadelphiazoo.org.