By TOM LAVIS

TLAVIS@TRIBDEM.COM

One of the coolest angles relating to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is that winter is a great time to visit.

The zoo is open daily and depending on the weather, most animals are out and about enjoying the seasonal temperatures.

Tracy Gray, the zoo’s public relations manager, said if the weather is warmer than 32 degrees, many of the animals are outside and actually are more peppy than in summer months.

“During winter, visitors are not facing long lines that sometimes occur during summer,” Gray said. “When the temperatures are around 35 degrees, rhinos, elephants and gorillas are active.”

The cooler weather brings out the playful side in many of the animals, she said.

Amur tigers love the snow. Visitors may find them taking shelter from the falling rain or snow by lying directly in front of the new viewing window. Farther up the path in the large animals exhibit, lions often lounge outdoors on heated rocks.

People can get within a few feet from gigantic elephants in their indoor space and watch them interact with their family members.

Gray said the enclosures’ doors are open each day, and animals are free to roam outside when they want.

“Elephants love the snow, and gorillas become playful,” she said. “Icy conditions are the only thing that prevent them from being out.”

Patrons visiting in the winter will be the first to see Marty, a 950-pound polar bear that has been out of the public view since arriving in Pittsburgh in the fall.

Marty stands 10-feet-tall and came from the Toledo Zoo when space there became limited.

Toledo has two sets of polar bear cubs and their mothers.

Marty is making his home behind the scenes at the Polar Bear Exhibit at Water’s Edge, but he soon is expected to make his public appearance.

“Winter visitors should keep their eyes open because Marty is about to make his debut,” said Kathy Suthard, lead keeper of carnivores at Water’s Edge. “He has adapted well to his new home and now that we are in a new year, people could see him at any moment.”

Marty joins the zoo’s other two male polar bears, Koda Rogers and Nuka McFeely.

Male polar bears are solitary and don’t socialize with younger males, females and cubs in the wild, so they can’t occupy the same space in zoos either, Suthard said.

All three are males will be in separate quarters.

“We aren’t sure how they are going to react to each other,” Suthard said. “It will be enriching for all of them, something new to investigate and figure out.”

Keepers will work out a schedule so Marty, Koda and Nuka can alternate times in the outdoor tundra.

The addition of the polar bears and sea otters to Water’s Edge has boosted the zoo’s attendance.

Summer and fall visitors who have taken an Arctic journey to view the polar bears and sea otters at Water’s Edge have often encountered large crowds as they walked through the underwater Polar Bear Tunnel.

That is not a problem during winter.

“I was in there recently and there was one visitor who had the entire tunnel to himself as he experienced the thrill of having a 600-pound bear swim directly overhead,” Suthard said.

Water’s Edge is ready to open its doors to another cold-water creature: A walrus.

“We are ready to accept a walrus when an occupant becomes available,” Suthard said. “It could come from another facility, or one that has incompatibility issues or one that has been rescued from the wild by the Alaskan SeaLife Center.”

There are opportunities to get warm while touring the zoo’s exhibits.

To escape the cold, visitors can view primates in the Tropical Forest Complex where it is a balmy 86 degrees year-round.

People also can venture into the PPG Aquarium to view colorful fish that swim in diverse habitats – from cold fresh water to tropical salt water.

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s winter hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Gates close at 3 p.m.

Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens (ages 60 and older) and $7 for children ages 2 to 13 years old. Children younger than 2 are free.

Parking is also free.

Information: (800) 474-4966 or visit www.pittsburghzoo.com.



Snow problem

What: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

Where: 1 Wild Place in the Highland Park section of Pittsburgh.

Winter hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily with gates closing at 3 p.m.

Admission: $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (ages 60 and older) and $7 for children ages 2 to 13 years. Children younger than 2 are free.

Parking: Free.

Information: (800) 474-4966 or on the Web at www.pittsburghzoo.com.