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Enjoy a close encounter with a Zoo cockatoo!
During this animal encounter, participants will go behind-the-scenes and have a brief interaction with a cockatoo, perched on their arm. The animal care team will give you information about these highly intelligent birds during your meet and greet.
When:
Returning May 2025!
Cost:
$20 per participant, which includes the participant’s experience and one complimentary observer (does not include Zoo admission)
*FOOD ALLERGY NOTICE: During this experience, both tree nuts and peanuts will be fed to the animals, and nuts will be present in the encounter space.*
Gift certificates make great gifts. Purchase or redeem your gift certificate today.
Cockatoo Meet & Greet FAQs
All participants must be at least 12 years old. Children ages 12–15 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program.
Your total adventure will be around 15-20 minutes.
Please dress for the day’s weather conditions. For your safety, closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own devices to capture photos, as photographers will not be provided during this experience. No flash photography or video are permitted. Participants will need to keep both hands free, so their observer will need to take photos/video for them.
The participant experience will include a cockatoo perched on their arm/wrist. A member of the Zoo’s animal care team will be present to tell them about the individual bird they are meeting and ensure safety for both the participant and the bird. The experience happens behind the scenes of the Kangaroo Crossing habitat.
Participants should check in 15 minutes prior to the start of the experience. Look for an Animal Adventures check-in sign outside of the Kangaroo Crossing habitat near the Crossing Café.
At this time, we do not recommend that guests with a tree nut or peanut allergy participate in this experience. Cockatoos are fed nuts as part of their diet, and there is a chance of nut residue being present on the bird’s beak, feet or feathers. Nut shells may be present in the encounter space.
We make every effort to make all Animal Adventures accessible to all guests. Please contact us at edustaff@indyzoo.com prior to registering to discuss accessibility.
We require 48 hours’ advanced notice for any refunds or rescheduling requests for Animal Adventures.
No requests for changes or refunds will be honored after this time. If you do not attend on your scheduled date or cancel within the required time frame of your Educational Program date, no refunds will be issued. Please read program details and requirements closely before signing up to ensure all participating members of your party meet any age or height requirements.
If the Zoo must cancel a program due to low registration, animal well-being or weather, you will be notified by phone and sent an email. You will have 14 days from that notification to reschedule your event to a future date. If you do not reach out to reschedule within this period, you will be issued a refund and are welcome to rebook on your own at a time convenient for you.