What Animals Are at the Reston Zoo (Roer’s Zoofari)?

The Reston Zoo was recently taken over by new management, Vanessa Stoffel and Jacob Roer.

They will continue to manage the hands-on experience under the new name, Roer’s Zoofari, so that visitors can experience wildlife and animals close by.

Currently, they are preparing new hands-on experiences and wildlife experiences for visitors.

The new Roer’s Zoofari will reopen on March 19, 2022. Expect to see and experience a wide variety of animals from exotic birds, safari wildlife to a petting program. Below is a limited list of the animals that visitors can experience.

On the Zoofari Wagon Ride, visitors will experience camels, antelope, watusi, ostrich, zebra, and buffalo.

zoo zebra

The petting barn is filled with llamas, sheep, pigs, goats, and rabbits. Piglets, lambs, and goats can be fed by bottles.

Continue to the Reptile House to see baby alligators, snakes, turtles, and frogs. The Budgiery Adventure Aviary gives visitors the opportunity to feed birds.

Often, they will land on a feeding stick or a hand.

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Incoming residents

The new management is looking to bring new animals into the zoo experience. This will include miniature horses and baby goats.

Visitors can also look forward to learning more about Fennec foxes and African Crested porcupines.

What to expect from a visit to the Roer’s Zoofari

While zoos offer educational experiences and the opportunity to view animals, many are not able to provide hands-on visitor experiences.

This is the difference between regular zoos and Roer’s Zoofari. Family members can learn about a variety of animals, many of which can be pet and fed.

This doesn’t make one experience better than the other – they just offer different experiences.

Enjoy the Zoofari wagon ride

This experience is included in your family’s admission price. During this animal experience, the wagon drives through the park so that visitors can see and sometimes feed animals.

ostrich

Many of the animals are very used to visitors, so they will often come close to the wagon or poke their heads in.

Visitors experience up-close views of a wide variety of animals including zebras, giraffes, ostriches, llamas, and buffalo.

Occasionally, the wagon will pause for photos and an opportunity to feed the animals. While this may be an uncomfortable experience for very small children, older children will love the whole experience.

When you enter the park, remember to have a couple of feeding bottles and cups so that everyone in the family can enjoy the feeding experience.

Also, don’t forget a feeding stick to feed the birds in the Budgiery Adventure Aviary!

Enjoying the Budgiery Adventure Aviary and Petting Zoo

Families tend to spend a lot of time in the Budgiery Adventure Aviary. The ability to be close to and learn about the birds is a unique experience.

Learning about the bird is all well and good, but most families have a lot of fun actually feeding the birds.

actually feeding the birds

For many younger family members, the petting barn

is another exciting experience. Not only can they pet the animals, but they can also feed them.

Hand sanitizer is available when everyone is ready to leave.

It’s party time!

The Roer’s Zoofari offers activities on various holidays, including Easter, Halloween, and winter holidays.

Be sure to follow their website as the new management plans this year’s activities. These are great times for families to experience something truly special and definitely fun.

Speaking of parties, Roer’s Zoofari is the perfect place to host a birthday party. Guests receive a Safari Tour, a cup of feed, a Walking Experience Tour, and then a party in the Private Picnic Pavilion.

There are set times for birthday parties, and they should have at least ten guests.

But that’s not all! There are a number of party add-ons such as private animal encounters and additional animal feed.

Why not add on camel rides for a truly unique experience? At certain times of the year, there is also access to the butterfly gardens.

School field trips

Schools Safari Tour

Schools often bring groups of students to explore and learn about wild and tame animals that are kept at Roer’s Zoofari.

Schools can take a Safari Tour using their own vehicles, then follow that with a walking tour.

A feed cup is provided for each child so that everyone has an opportunity to feed the animals.

Then the group can have lunch in the picnic area. If the students are studying a particular animal, a private animal encounter can be arranged for an additional fee.

Chaperones are required to participate with the students. This ensures the safety of both the animals and the students.

They are responsible for the orderly conduct of everyone during their visit.

Educational materials

Additional educational materials are available for students visiting during a field trip. These materials can help enhance a student’s understanding of the animals they are seeing, their behavior, animal classifications, and animal wellness.

Module Option One: Animal Adaptations

During this lesson, students are given a scavenger hunt where they learn how animals adapt to various situations.

Animal Adaptations

Following the scavenger hunt, an animal keeper leads a small tour. During the tour, they talk about various animal adaptations and why they are so important.

Important to the discussion is how animals adapt so that they can survive both in the wild and in captivity.

This program is about 30 minutes long.

Module Option Two: Diet and Nutrition

What do animals eat? Students will learn how zoo handlers make sure that every animal in their care gets the nutrition that they need.

Their needs vary based on what they have in their natural habitat. Not only do students receive instruction, but they are also able to watch as meals are prepared and feed the animals.

This course takes about 35 minutes.

Module Option Three: Animal Welfare

This course teaches students about what animal welfare is and why it is so important. Students will learn about each animal and why welfare is so important in each case.

Through activities and direct observation, students can develop an understanding of how enrichment activities make every animal’s life better.

Sometimes, when we just discuss animal welfare, it’s an abstract thought. This activity gives students the opportunity to see conservation in action.

Animal Welfare

This program lasts about an hour.

Module Option Four: Animal Classifications

All animals are classified into several categories. These can include mammals, invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles.

Learning to understand what makes each animal unique helps every student to understand the world around them.

This course is about thirty minutes.

For the ultimate experience, try a private zoo tour

When you want the best in experiences, try a private zoo tour! This two-hour tour will give everyone in your group a first-hand experience with the animals on the safari.

Usually, students are able to experience 56 different animals on this tour. It’s a great way to begin to understand the animal world around us.

Plus, you get to avoid all the lines that come with normal tours.

amphibians

The new zoo owners have a wealth of professional experience. This is seen through every step that you take through the 150-acre park.