Want in on a secret? Baby animals in real life are even MORE adorable than the ones on your Facebook feed! Take a Great Canadian Day Trip and see some of these cuties for yourself.
African Lion Safari is recognized internationally for its breeding programs for rare and endangered species, which also happens to make it home to some of the cutest babies on the planet! The park has 16 Asian elephants, the largest Asian elephant herd in any zoological facility in North America. While they may be more “toddlers” now than “babies,” little Gigi and Anna were just born in 2015, and they’re still pretty darn cute.
On December 31st, 2013 African Lion Safari welcomed “Safari,” Canada’s first artificially inseminated giraffe. This was the first time a giraffe had been born by means of artificial insemination in Canada and only the second time ever in the world. Baby Safari, a Rothschild Giraffe, was just 175 cm tall at birth. Plan a trip this spring or summer to see for yourself how much a giraffe grows in just 2.5 years.
To get closer than you’ve ever imagined to that diverse cast of characters at African Lion Safari, consider a Wake Up The Wild experience. This behind-the-scenes tour with a Game Warden guide offers unrivalled access to the park before it opens and allows you to witness the animals during their most active time of the day. You’ll also be whisked away on an open-air truck tour where you’ll come within one metre of endangered rhino, zebra and ostrich and get the opportunity to hand-feed a giraffe.
At Brantford’s Twin Valley Zoo, children can learn how certain animals change as they grow, their natural habitats, and why they are important to that habitat. Educational presentations let children experience some smaller animals and babies up-close. While visiting bring along your lunch and enjoy our picnic area, and take a stroll on a short nature trail (less than 1km long) in our 5 acres of woodland.
If your crew is looking for farmyard fun, there are several hands-on barnyards located in Hamilton Halton Brant where you can get your baby animal fix. In Milton, visit Chudleigh’s or Springridge Farm. In Oakville, make a stop at Bronte Creek Provincial Park Play Barn, where in addition to meeting farm animals, kids can climb and jump in the Play Loft. In Stoney Creek, stop by Puddicombe Estate Farms to meet the horses, cows, goats, chickens, emus, and pigs that call the farm home. In Campbellville, Mountsberg Conservation Area’s barn has Percheron horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, and chickens. Mountsberg is also home to a herd of bison, so take a stroll beside the paddock and see if you can spot any new additions.
Don’t keep all the cuteness to yourself! Share photos of your animal adventures with us using #HamiltonHaltonBrant.
