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Elephant Bathing
Experience what it’s like to bathe an elephant!
In this program, participants will help scrub down one of our African elephants and learn what it takes to care for these amazing animals at the Zoo. All participants must be at least 6 years old, and children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a paid adult participant.
When:
- Jan. 11 – Feb. 29 – Saturdays & Sundays at 10:45am
- May 23 – June 29 – Mondays – Thursdays at 10:45am
Cost:
- Zoo members: $68 per participant
- Nonmembers: $75 per participant (does not include Zoo admission)
Gift certificates make great gifts. Purchase or redeem your gift certificate today.
Elephant Bathing FAQs
All participants must be at least 6 years old. No one under the age of 6 will be allowed to attend this experience. This includes infants.
Children ages 6–13 must be accompanied by a paid adult for the duration of the program.
Your total adventure will be around 30 minutes.
Yes! Touch opportunities are up to the animals and how they are feeling that day, but we do provide time for touch opportunities if the elephant chooses to participate after bathing is done.
During this experience, participants will be guided behind-the-scenes to our elephant barn. There, participants will learn all about elephants and how we care for them at the Indianapolis Zoo. Animal care staff will give each of the four participants an opportunity to bathe a portion of the elephant (typically one quarter of the participating animal in a full program).
Guests are welcome to take photos, but no flash photography or video are permitted. Guests must stay in the area designated by Zoo staff while taking pictures.
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.
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.
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.