Lehigh Valley Zoo

About Lehigh Valley Zoo

Lehigh Valley Zoo sits on 29 acres at 5150 Game Preserve Road in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It opened in 1974. According to its own frequently asked questions, the zoo is home to approximately 130 different species, ranging from domestic animals to species extinct in the wild, totaling roughly 340 animals. The zoo's website lists at least 55 named species in its current collection, from Grant's zebra and Masai giraffe to red panda, two-toed sloth, and a range of domestic barnyard breeds.

The zoo states that conservation is the prime directive of its mission, describing itself as dedicated to saving species from extinction and preserving the natural world. It participates in the AZA's Species Survival Plan program, a cooperative breeding effort across accredited institutions, and it frames its guest experience — including hands-on encounters with animals like penguins, giraffes, porcupines, and sloths — as tied to that conservation and education mission. The zoo operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

History

Available materials for this page do not include detailed history beyond the zoo's 1974 opening year. Recent milestones documented on the zoo's own site include the arrival of a baby bison in partnership with the County of Lehigh, and the birth of an African penguin chick — its first since 2017 — alongside the loss of a young African penguin in a separate incident. These items point to an active breeding and animal-care program rather than a static collection.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo's collection spans domestic and exotic species across open-air habitats. Species named on the zoo's website include Grant's zebra, Masai giraffe, common eland, scimitar-horned oryx, plains bison, red kangaroo, tammar wallaby, red panda, red ruffed lemur, mongoose lemur, two-toed sloth, bobcat, Canada lynx, Mexican gray wolf, gray fox, raccoon, ringtail, striped skunk, North American porcupine, nine-banded armadillo, lesser hedgehog tenrec, alpaca, and aoudad. Bird species include bald eagle, golden eagle, Eurasian eagle-owl, peregrine falcon, emu, ostrich, black swan, Egyptian goose, tawny frogmouth, blue-faced honeyeater, lorikeet, white cockatoo, and raven. Reptiles include leopard tortoise, spotted turtle, matamata, girdle-tailed lizard, green tree monitor, Amazon tree boa, Angolan python, and Pueblan milk snake, alongside a barnyard roster of goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens, including Alpine, LaMancha, Toggenburg, and pygmy goats, Dorset and Hampshire sheep, a pot-bellied pig, and Blue Cochin and Crevecoeur chickens.

Bison and elk herds are kept in a preserve area of the property, visible either by driving along the exit road or by walking the zoo's labeled hiking paths, though the animals' visibility depends on weather. The zoo also runs private "Animal Encounter" and education programs featuring ambassador animals not kept on public exhibit, including Bean the sloth, whom guests can meet through booked programs or occasional special appearances.

Animal highlights

The zoo describes its collection as approximately 130 different species and about 340 animals total, with at least 55 species named on its website, a floor rather than a full list. The roster spans domestic breeds, native North American wildlife, and species from Africa, Australia, and South America, including penguins, giraffes, and sloths, which the zoo highlights as guest favorites. Seasonal feeding experiences let visitors feed goats, sheep, swans, lorikeets, or giraffes, using food supplied by the zoo to keep diets controlled. The zoo notes that animals may be taken off exhibit at times for environmental, health, or behavioral reasons, and that some habitats are designed to let animals remove themselves from view.

Conservation and programs

Lehigh Valley Zoo states that conservation is the prime directive of its mission, and it participates in the AZA's Species Survival Plan program alongside its own education and animal-care efforts. The zoo also frames public education around the exotic pet trade, noting that purchasing exotic animals as pets can support illegal trafficking and reduce wild populations. Its broader conservation messaging covers habitat loss, deforestation, and sustainable living, tying these themes to its work as an AZA-accredited institution held to accreditation standards for animal welfare and conservation education.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's website, hours run from 10 am to 4 pm from April 1 through October 31, and 10 am to 3 pm from November 1 through March 31. The zoo is open every day during its regular spring, summer, and fall season, weather permitting, and during winter it is open Wednesday through Sunday. It closes for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve Day, and New Year's Day.

Admission pricing is not listed in detail here; check the zoo's official website for current rates. A discounted admission program called LVZ4A offers guests with a state-issued EBT card and matching ID, plus up to three members of their household, entry for $8 per person at the gate; the discount cannot be combined with other offers and is limited to one card per household. Annual memberships include free admission and parking, discounts on retail and dining, and access without advance reservations.

For food, the zoo lists a main concession area serving tacos, burgers, steak sandwiches, hot dogs, and sides, a grab-and-go spot in the lower portion of the zoo, the Cockatoo Café near the main entrance, and a seasonal Mini Melts ice cream cart near the barnyard; the Cockatoo Café is open weekends year-round, weather permitting. Visitors may bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited number of wheelchairs are available to rent on a first-come, first-served basis — three in total, offered in two time sessions between 10 am and 4 pm, with a 500-pound weight limit and a liability form required; prebooking is preferred. Smoking and vaping are prohibited anywhere on zoo grounds, and only service animals as defined by the ADA are permitted; pets, emotional support animals, and therapy animals are not allowed. According to the zoo, a full loop of the grounds takes about 45 minutes, or up to three hours with keeper chats and interactive exhibits included. The zoo is located off Game Preserve Road; multiple driving routes are detailed on its website depending on the direction of travel. Confirm hours, admission pricing, and any closures on the official website before visiting.