The Assiniboine Park Zoo will no longer offer their “Free Day at the Zoo” on Canada Day. Instead, thy will offer a “Free Weekend at the Zoo” in September. This year, the weekend falls on September 24 & 25, 2011.
The change is in response to extremely high attendance numbers during the free day which has created a situation of overcrowding and increases the potential for an unsafe environment within the Zoo.
During the summer months, the Assiniboine Park Zoo’s highest daily attendance is an average of 3,500 – 4,000 people. On Canada Day, that number rises almost ten-fold to an average daily attendance of 37,000 visitors.
Image Winnipeg Zoo Originally uploaded by wasme
