BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Get ready to count down the New Year with two celebrations featuring the cougars at the Birmingham Zoo on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
These are family-friendly events perfect for those who may have trouble staying up until midnight. A giant 2025 lantern featuring cougars has been specifically created for the celebrations by the artisans behind Glow Wild, Hanart.
Daytime Celebration: 1 – 3 p.m.
A daytime celebration will be held at the zoo from 1 to 3 p.m. The cougars lanterns will be lowered at 2 p.m. in a countdown for the New Year. Activities include special keeper chats featuring the cougars and fun educational activities related to cougars.
The schedule of events is as follows:
- 1:15 p.m. – Cougar Zookeeper Chat at Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing in Alabama Wilds
- 2 p.m. – NYE Countdown Drop in the Plaza. There will be photo opportunities.
- 2:30 p.m. – Cougar Zookeeper Chat at Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing in Alabama Wilds
- 1 – 3 p.m. – Educational activities in the Plaza related to cougars and a scavenger hunt throughout the Birmingham Zoo
Evening Celebration: 5 – 7 p.m.
When the sun goes down, a second Zoo Year’s Eve celebration will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Enjoy a magical evening with a special NYE drop at 6 p.m. There will be fun photo opportunities and educational activities Plus, you can take a stroll and admire the 300+ animal lanterns at Glow Wild. Since Alabama Wilds will be closed at night for the animals to sleep, a special scavenger hunt will feature big cat lanterns.
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The schedule of events is as follows:
- 5 – 7 p.m. – Educational activities in the Zoo’s Plaza
- 6 p.m. – Cougar Countdown Drop in the Zoo’s Plaza. There will be photo opportunities.
- 5 – 9 p.m. – Big Cat Lantern Scavenger Hunt throughout Glow Wild
These celebrations are included in the cost of regular Zoo admission or Glow Wild admission. The Red Diamond Express train and Virtual Reality experience will be available during both celebrations for an additional fee.
“As the Birmingham Zoo celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025, the new Cougar Crossing habitat was a significant new chapter in the Zoo’s overall history,’ said Chris Pfefferkorn, President and CEO of the Birmingham Zoo. “We would like to thank Larry and Phyllis Wojciechowski for their generosity to help make this facility a reality. This has truly become a community initiative with hundreds of people, companies, and other organizations joining together to help us be successful,” he said.
Wojciechowski now houses two cougars and two bobcats. All four cats were orphaned and have found a wonderful home in the new facility. Juniper came from Montana where she was found orphaned. Spruce was rescued in January in California and joined Juniper in April, coming from the Oakland Zoo. Both cougars are approximately one year old. Their habitat is next to Boomer and Baxter, two bobcats rescued in the San Diego area. All four cats were transported with the help of FedEx.
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