visit the zoo with parents drawing

Zoo Drawing for Kids

Need instructions for how to make a zoo drawing for kids?

There are 9 easy steps to follow, kids will enjoy drawing their own zoo on paper. Also included is a downloadable version of this zoo-drawing tutorial.

Ideal for art teachers and homeschoolers looking to instruct kids how to draw their very first zoo scenery!

Get a thrill out of creating a colorful zoo drawing for beginners and remember to add some personal touches. It’s time to get creative!

• Drawing Paper
• Crayons or Colored Pencils
• Black Marker (optional)
• Zoo Drawing for Kids Printable PDF (see bottom of lesson)

In this tutorial, we will begin with a blank piece of paper and discover how to create a zoo drawing for kids in a series of steps. We will pay attention to the proportions of each part of the zoo.

Time Needed: 30 minutes

Draw A Panda

First, draw the oval shaped head of the panda. Next, attach curved lines to form its ears. Then, form its body by drawing four short curved lines.

Add An Elephant

Start by drawing the rounded shape of the elephant’s head with its trunk sticking out at the bottom. Now, add wavy shapes on each side of the elephant’s head to form its ears.

Form A Hippopotamus

Form the outline of the hippopotamus beside the panda. Attach its short, pointed ears on top of its head as shown.

Draw A Giraffe

Form the elongated outline of the giraffe’s body behind the drawn animals. Then, add wavy shapes to draw the spotted pattern along its body.

Form The Faces Of The Animals

Start by drawing the rounded outline of the animals’ eyes. Next, create an oval shape around the panda’s eyes. Add the panda’s small triangular nose and small curving mouth. Now, draw two smaller circles to form the hippopotamus’ nostrils and two short rectangles to draw its front teeth. Then, form the horn-like ossicones attached on top of the giraffe’s head. Add a small curved line on the side of its head to form its ear. Then, making a curved line for its snout and a small dot for its nostril.

Build A Wall

Build the main wall of the zoo by drawing two horizontal lines.

Add A Banner

Start by drawing two horizontal lines curving downwards. Next, attach a thin, vertical poles on both ends of the banner.

Write The Word Zoo

Write the word “ZOO” on the banner.

Complete The Zoo Drawing

Let’s color our drawing of a zoo! First, fill the background of the banner with a yellow crayon and the text with an orange crayon. Next, color the poles with a blue crayon. Now, shade the wall with a red crayon. Fill the eyes of the animals with a black crayon. For the elephant, use a gray crayon. For the panda, use white and light gray crayons. For the hippopotamus, use a light pink crayon. For the giraffe, use light orange and brown crayons.

Zoo Drawing for Kids PDF Download

Click the link below to view or download this drawing lesson. The PDF is a printable drawing lesson for Zoo Drawing for Kids . The last page of the downloadable PDF includes a coloring book page with just the outlines and an extension exercise for prompting kids to get creative!

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How to Draw Zoo Animals (Step by Step Instructions)

I have fond memories of trips to the zoo, so I thought I would draw some cute little zoo animals. Here are step-by-step instructions for drawing a cartoon lion, rhinoceros, koala, and red panda.

How to Draw a Lion (Cartoon Style)

Draw two curved lines that resemble sideways “C’s” or semi-circles next to each other for the lion’s eyes.

Under the top portion of each curved line, draw a small circle for the irises. The circle on the left should be closest to the right tip of the line in Step 1. The circle on the right should be closest to the left tip of the line in Step 1. Add a line above each eye for the eyebrows.

In the middle of each iris, draw a large black dot for each of the pupils. At the top left of each pupil, draw a tiny, open circle to represent glare.

Below and in-between the lion’s eyes, draw a fat letter “T” for the nose. Below the nose, draw a stretched, curved “W” for the mouth. Add a small, upside-down triangle under each side of the “W” for teeth. Add a squiggly  line below the mouth for the chin.

Draw a series of short, curved lines in a circle enclosing the face for the head. Curve the lines downward as you draw to represent the mane. 

Draw inward-turning “C” shaped arcs above each side of the head for the ears. Enclose the ears using zig-zag lines.

Draw a series of downward-facing, jagged lines all around the face and ears to form the mane. Under the mane, draw two short lines for the lion’s first front leg. Add the paw below by using a C-shaped line on the left and a horizontal line for the bottom. Add the toes inside using two short, curved lines.

Draw the lion’s other front leg the same way by using a C-shaped line on the left and a horizontal line for the bottom. Add the toes inside using two short, curved lines.

Draw an elongated oval for the lion’s body starting to the right of the front legs. Add the top part of the body as a curved line that starts on the right side of the mane. Extend the curved line in-between the legs.

Add the lion’s hind legs and toes the same way as the front legs (steps 7 and 8 above).

Draw a paintbrush shape for the lion’s tail. Add a series of short strokes at the end for the brush-like tip.

Color your lion! I used tannish-yellow for the body, face, legs, outside of the ears, and tail. I used a darker tan for the mane, tail tip, and spot on one hind leg. I used a lighter tan for the inside of the ears, teeth, and spots on the other three legs. I used white for the scleras and glare of the eyes, and orange for the irises. I used a medium brown for the nose.

That’s it for Mr. Lion!

How to Draw a Rhinoceros (Cartoon Style)

Draw a curved number “6” for the rhino’s eye. Draw a short line under the number “6”

Draw a large dot at the top left inside the closed portion of the “6” for the rhino’s pupil. To the left of the eye, draw a curved, cone-shape to represent the horn.

Under the horn, draw a long curved line that turns up for the muzzle. Draw another curved line under the bottom, right side. Between the mouth and horn, draw a couple of small, curved lines for the nostril.

Continuing with the bottom line from Step 3, draw a long, curved line upward for the rhino’s jaw. Draw another long, curved line for the head by starting at the horn and moving upward.

Draw a leaf-shape on the top right side of the head for the first ear. Add two short, slanted lines at the bottom for the ear’s base.

Continue the top, curved lines to enclose the rest of the head.

Starting at the ear, draw a long, hill-shaped line for the rhino’s back/hump. Draw another curved line at the bottom for the chest. Indent slightly near the neck to make a neck crease.

Under the chest, draw the left front leg using pear-shaped curved lines. Add  a curved “M” with a line underneath to represent toes.

Draw the other three feet using curved, pear-like shapes and curved “M’s” for the toes.

At the right side of the body, draw a curved, paint-brush shape for the rhino’s small tail. At the end of the tail, draw short strokes for the brush-like tip.

Color your rhino! I used grey for the head, body, legs, and tail. Light grey for the horn, inside of ear, tail tip, and toes. White for the sclera, and blue for the iris.

Your Rhino is complete!

How to Draw a Koala (Cartoon Style)

Draw two small ovals for the koala’s eyes. Blacken in the eyes but leave a couple of circles blank inside each eye to represent glare. Between the eyes, draw an oval for the nose.

Draw a square with curved edges around the face for the Koala’s head. Leave the top left corner open. Draw some zig-zag lines at the top for head fluff.

On the left side of the head, draw a large, curved “C” for the first ear. Koalas have big ears! On the right side of the head, draw a large, backwards “C” for the right ear. Add some zig-zag lines to represent fur.

Draw a few zig-zag lines inside each ear to emphasize the structure and fur.

Under the head, on the right side, draw a long, sideways “U” for the koala’s arm.

Under the arm, draw a sideways, curved “M” for the leg and foot.

Draw a long, curved line stretching from underneath the head on the left side to the foot to complete the shape of the body. Draw two vertical, parallel lines behind the koala to represent a tree.

Color your koala! I used medium grey for the head, ears, and body. I used white under the nose and at the bottom or the body. I used pink for the inside of the ears, and brown for the nose and tree.

A cute little koala he is!

How to Draw a Red Panda (Cartoon Style)

Draw two ovals for the red panda’s eyes. Darken in the eyes but leave a couple of circles blank inside each eye to represent glare. Below the eye on the left, draw a small sideways oval for the nose. Then draw a line that curves under the nose for the muzzle.

Starting at the top of the muzzle, draw a line that curves up and to the right, high above the eyes, for the head. Draw some short, spikey shapes to represent fur at the top of the head. On the right side of the head, draw a large, curved triangle for the first ear. Draw another smaller curved triangle inside the ear. Draw some zig-zag lines below that triangle to represent structure and fur. Extend the curved line for the head down below the ear, and draw three zig-zag shapes for the fur on the cheek. Draw a longer line at the bottom that meets the muzzle for the bottom of the head.

Under the head, draw a zig-zag line that curves to the right for the chest. Below and to the right of the chest, draw two vertical lines that slope inward at the bottom for the first leg. On the lower, left side, draw a curved line for the foot, and connect that line to the leg. Under the nose, draw a stretched “W” for the mouth, and upside-down triangles under each side for the teeth.

Draw the other three legs the same as in Step 3. To the right of the first leg, draw a zig-zag horizontal line for the underside (belly) of the body.

Draw a line that curves from the hind leg to the bottom of the check fluff for the rest of the body. On the top right side of the body, draw a long, curved line for the bushy tail. On the left side of the head, draw a curved triangle for the other ear (similar to Step 2).

Color your red panda! I used dark brown for the legs and under belly, medium brown for inside of the ears, eye stripes, and tail tip, burnt orange for the head, body, and tail, white for the ears and muzzle, light orange for the zig-zag tail stripes, greyish-white for the teeth, and a dull brown for the nose.

Red pandas are my favorite! Isn’t he adorable?

I hope you enjoy drawing these cute little zoo animals. I will see you soon in our virtual art world!

Mikayla Finley

Hi I’m Mikayla! I’m primarily a digital artist, but I love all types of art projects. I promise to keep my project posts varied and interesting in our virtual art world. I hope you enjoy trying all of them.

Zoo Learning Activities

Yearly visits to the local zoo are always highly anticipated and enjoyed by our family. Zoo excursions totally count as homeschool field trips and pass for zoology and other science-related classes if you are being intentional about it. Supplemental zoo learning activities kick the educational value and fun of a zoo trip up a notch. Choose one or several activity ideas that you think your child(ren) will enjoy and plan your next zoo visit! 

Tip: Quickly checking out your local zoo’s website before visiting would be helpful for many of these zoo learning activities.

Disclosure: *This post may include affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the disclosures and terms for more information.

Zoo Learning Activities & Ideas

Research Activity – Give your child a blank notebook (or art journal ) and a pencil. Have them sketch pictures and/or write facts about each animal they see at the zoo. Later, have older children write a research paper on their favorite animal. This also works great for a geography report. 

Scavenger Hunt – Give each child a list of items to find while at the zoo. The list can include animals, plants, foods (animal & human), and more. Use pictures of each item in place of words for younger children. 

Matching Game – Create two columns on a paper; 1 list of animals and 1 list of animal foods. Have your child match them by drawing a line, based off of what they learn while at the zoo. This will also teach kids about prey vs. predator. 

Geography-related – Print blank maps of each continent on paper, make a little booklet, and while at the zoo, have the child draw pictures of the animals in the continent they belong in. Include a world map for geographical awareness.

Domestic VS. Exotic –  Have your child learn the differences between animals that are domestic to your area and animals that are exotic. How does the geographic location influence the animal’s diet, habitat, and traits?

Photography Assignment –  Pretend you are on assignment with National Geographic to catch specific animals on camera. Provide a disposable or child-friendly camera and an “assignment” for each child and let them capture some photographs on their own!

Safari Guide –  Let your child be your “Safari Guide”. Tell them they will need to read about each animal from the information provided at the zoo and then, in turn, give you a simple summary of the animal. Give them a safari hat and kid binoculars  to help them pull it off. This will teach them leadership and teaching skills while allowing them to have fun! 

Multi-Subject Activity – If you are feeling ambitious or desire to incorporate more educational value into your zoo visit, then put together a pack of zoo-themed worksheet pages and have your child practice spelling, critical thinking skills, math, and more while walking through the zoo. Placing the pages in a clipboard with an attached pencil (using string or yarn) works great for this! Or have them complete the worksheets at home afterward.

Continue Learning After You Visit The Zoo

Be Inspired –  Use the zoo trip to inspire your child to choose an animal or geographical region to learn more about. Make a trip to the library to gather books on the topic. Find appropriate documentaries of the topic to watch on DVD or Netflix. 

Build A Zoo –  Create a mini zoo habitat or an entire zoo with several habitats using Lego , craft supplies, or even food. Be creative, have fun!

Go On A Safari –  Send your child outside and let them spot the amazing creatures in their own backyard! They can observe the animals and look them up in books or online to learn more about them. 

Whether you homeschool or not, zoo learning activities are a fun supplement to your child’s typical school day. You can easily adjust the difficulty of each activity based on the child’s age. These ideas are perfect for your next family outing or homeschool field trip! 

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This Post Has One Comment

Hi Clarissa,

Thanks for the cool zoo ideas. I never thought about using binoculars at the zoo before, but it makes a lot of sense – both for kids and adults. I’m going to have to remember to take my binos along next time I look at the rhinos.

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• Give Monthly
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Educational Resources

We have many engaging and fun ways to learn about animals, plants, and wildlife conservation at home. Students, parents, and educators can discover a wide variety of online options, from live animal cams, to videos and activities, to lessons and courses designed for different age groups, to resources for research, and even participating in community science. We invite you to explore these learning opportunities and bring our wildlife into your home!

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers Corner

• Wildlife Explorers Corner Episodes

The San Diego Zoo is bringing the Zoo to you, through San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers Corner! In each episode, you'll be taken on a fun and wild adventure to learn more about animals and their lifestyles. Dr. Zoolittle, Roberta the Zebra, and a cast of cool characters share stories, jokes, poems, songs, and interesting facts about wildlife. They also show you their favorite magic tricks, cook yummy treats, lead you through science experiments, and demonstrate how to make special crafts.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers

• WILDLIFE EXPLORERS WEBSITE

Young Wildlife Explorers can jump into the world of wildlife with every visit to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers website. This family friendly site is jam-packed with videos and information about animals, fun stories, hands-on activities, and games.

Tiger Life-Drawing Lesson

Did you ever wonder how movie animators make animals look so real? Follow along with story artist David Derrick as he draws a realistic tiger. You can create a striped big cat of your very own!

San Diego Zoo Youth Curriculum (Grades K-12)

San Diego Zoo Youth Curriculum

• ALL YOUTH CURRICULUM
• Africa Rocks (Grades K-5)
• It Began With a Roar (Grades 3-6)
• Panda (Grades K-8)
• Australian Outback (Grades K-3)
• Adaptation Connections (Grade 2)
• Wild Cats (Grade K-5)
• https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/index.php/curriculum/self-guided-activities
• Watershed Heroes (Grades 3-5)
• Rhinoceros (Grades K-5)

A variety of curriculum packages focused on specific species, Zoo habitats, and science or conservation topics are available at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers website. Recommended grade levels are included, but many can be adapted to other ages.

Middle School and High School

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Animals & Plants

• ANIMALS & PLANTS SITE

With detailed information, fun trivia, and much more, this website is a user-friendly, A-to-Z guide about favorite animals and plants—as well as many fascinating species you may not know much about.

• Science Blog

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance scientists are engaged in a wide variety of studies to help animals and plants all over the world. Read first-person accounts about their current projects in the Science Blog.

Wildwatch Communty Science

• https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/sandiegozooglobal/wildwatch-kenya
• Wildwatch Burrowing Owl

Anyone can become a “community scientist” and contribute valuable data to conservation scientists through this online tool. Help count and identify giraffes and other wildlife in field sites in Africa with Wildwatch Kenya, and help identify populations of burrowing owls and their behaviors with Wildwatch Burrowing Owl. You'll be helping field researchers sort through thousands of field camera photos that it would take them years to do alone—and help them make conservation discoveries and decisions much faster!

Learning to Read Scientific Literature

• LESSON PLANS

Learning to read scientific literature is an important and useful skill. These lessons were developed by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance for use in conjunction with Exploring Conservation Science field trips to the Beckman Center and the adjacent Safari Park.  All of these lesson plans are related to research being done by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance scientists.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library

• Library Animal Fact Sheets

These fact sheets—commonly used by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance team members and freely available online—summarize information on an animal species or animal group. Sources include peer-reviewed journals, scholarly books, authoritative reports, and databases, as well as scientific and husbandry experts.

Karyotype Activity

• Download Lesson Files

This activity is designed for middle school students, but can also be done at the high school level if appropriate. It is an art and craft style activity requiring a few household supplies. Constructing a karyotype is in conjunction with learning about chromosomes and how they are used to determine the sex of a sexually monomorphic species, such as the California condor.

iNaturalist

The Biodiversity Investigations Field Mission was created in collaboration with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the San Diego Natural History Museum to enhance middle school student exploration and learning around the iNaturalist community science program and the Life in a Biodiversity Hotspot program. This is a three-part educational experience, in which educators introduce their students to iNaturalist; students actively explore biodiversity concepts at the Beckman Center, and students are led through an iNaturalist Biodiversity Investigation, focused on scientific research being conducted at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Our hope is that upon completion of this program, students are able to engage with active scientific research as community scientists, and walk away with a greater appreciation of San Diego's regional biodiversity and the role they play to protect it.

Virtual Field Trip (Pre-recorded)

• Virtual Field Trip

Take a walk on the wild side through the San Diego Zoo! This 22-minute, narrated exploration of the San Diego Zoo is the perfect way for you and your students to take a plunge with our polar bears, talk about the tigers, wave to our black-headed weavers, and check out the other wildlife that lives at the San Diego Zoo, all from the safety and comfort of your own home or classroom!

• San Diego Zoo Tickets
• Safari Park Tickets

Megan Coyle: Artist & Illustrator

Lesson Plan: Visiting the Zoo

Activities for this Lesson Plan

Background on the Zoo Zoo Animal Collages Animal Habitats in the Wild vs. the Zoo

Make a Collage of your Favorite Animal (worksheet) What do you see at the zoo? (worksheet) Glossary

Time: One hour for pre-readers. Two hours for readers to complete all art and writing activities Grade Level: Elementary School School Subject: Language Arts (storytelling, writing), Visual Arts (drawing, collaging), Science (identifying different species)

Objectives:

Students will:

• Learn about zoo animals and how they are different from pets.
• Learn about Megan Coyle and her animal collages.
• Compare zoo habitats to habitats in the wild.
• Make an animal collage and write a story about visiting the zoo.
• Magazines/construction paper/tissue paper
• Acid-free glue sticks

This lesson would work great before or after a field trip to the zoo.

For pre-readers:

• Tell students they will learn more about the different animals that live at the zoo. They will study Megan Coyle’s animal collages that were inspired by the zoo. Students will also make their own animal collage and write a story about what they see at the zoo. What animals would they visit? Which animals do they like? Which ones do they like the least?
• Review the background on the zoo. Discuss the different types of animals that live in the zoo and why we visit them there. Talk about how zoo animals are different than house pets.
• Read the brief biography of Megan Coyle to familiarize students with the artist. Tell pre-readers about Megan and how most of her animal collages were inspired by trips to the zoo.
• Have students look at Megan Coyle’s animal collages . Which ones are zoo animals? Which ones are pets? What do her collages have in common? What colors does she use? What types of animals does she collage? What animal would you collage?
• Print out the story template and have students write a short story or dictate their story to you. Have them imagine that they’re at the zoo. What animals do they see? What are they doing?
• Review the Make a Collage of your Favorite Animal instructions. Pass out materials for making collages. Tell students to make a collage of their favorite animal and create a habitat for that animal.

For readers:

• Have students begin the online lesson activities: Background on the Zoo , Zoo Animal Collages , Animal Habitats in the Wild vs. the Zoo , and read the artist biography . Have the class review the different types of zoo animals and discuss how they are different from household pets. Talk about the animals in Coyle’s collages – do you see certain animals more than others in her work? What colors does she use? What are the animals doing?
• Talk about how students will make a collage of their favorite animal. Review Megan Coyle’s collage technique .
• Review different animal habitats. Explain to students that they’ll pick a habitat that they’ll make for their animal collages. Do they want their animals in a natural habitat or man-made one?
• Print out the Make a Collage of your Favorite Animal instructions and review them with the class. Pass out materials to make collages.
• Print out the story template . Review the instructions with the class and have students write a story inspired by the zoo.

Assessment:

• Did the student show a good understanding of the different types of animals at the zoo?
• Did the student complete an animal collage? Did the student make a habitat for the animal illustration?
• For the story, did the student use his or her imagination? Did the student mention specific animals and sights found at the zoo?

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Sketching at the Zoo

Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures (1949–60) documentary series, as featured in Gallery 8, educated a generation of viewers on the unique mannerisms of different animals and the wonders of our natural world. In the spirit of the True-Life Adventures — and in celebration of both the museum’s 10th Anniversary and the 90th Anniversary of the San Francisco Zoo—our two institutions have partnered for a unique experience. In this workshop, learn about the natural world and its inhabitants as you practice drawing zoo animals from live reference. Study the proportion, movement, texture, and gesture-drawing techniques used to gain a sense of an animal’s anatomy while breathing life into your sketches.

Please note: This workshop will take place at the San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Blvd & Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132.

Program ticket includes general admission to the Zoo, but does not include cost of parking. Members must show proof of valid membership upon entry to this event. Tickets can be purchased on the San Francisco Zoo's website .

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In 1999, Disney’s Tarzan® made an indelible impact in the world of cinema. Over the years, the iconic treehouse has been reimagined and revisited in...

Studio Series | Animate Swinging on a Vine (Adult Session)

Swing by and join us for this fun Studio Series as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Disney’s Tarzan® (1999)! Venture into the jungle to uncover...

SOLD OUT Studio Series | Animate Swinging on a Vine (Youth Session)

Sold out virtual workshop | the art of drawing cats & dogs with elsa chang.

In celebration of our current special exhibition, Disney Cats & Dogs, we are featuring artists who bring our favorite feline and canine friends to...

In-Person Workshop | Collaging Characters with Deanna Marsigliese

In this workshop, Pixar Art Director Deanna Marsigliese will explore the fundamentals of conceptual character design through collage. Students will be...

In-Person Workshop | Book Illustration with Heidi Moreno

Cats and dogs have not only graced televisions and theaters for years but have also been staple characters within children’s books. In this workshop...

alissa duke

Watercolour pencil artist.

Hints and tips for sketching at the zoo

This blog includes hints and tips from my own experience of sketching at Melbourne Zoo. It has some very different experiences from other on-location urban and nature sketching situations. I hope that this assists anyone who would like to join me one day to sketch at the zoo. I plan on visiting often over Spring/ Summer. send me a message if you want me to let you know when I am going.\

As I read over this, it seems a bit negative, but I am hopeful it is just a reality check.

There is so much joy in observing animals as you sketch and making that connection and understanding of their bodies and behaviours.

First up – the cost is $42 for a day’s visit. That can be an expensive day. But for $126 you can get a membership, which allows you to visit for a year and you can go for just a few hours a couple of times and get your money’s worth quickly. I get very tired of sketching for a whole day. I so have learned to arrive at 9 am, when they open, and leaving after lunch is usually enough for me, by about 2 pm. I also have plans to just drop in for an hour or two, as it is so close to the city and the tram is to the door. As I write this in September 2022 you need to book online for the day you want to visit, unless you are a zoo member.

Plan in advance

I usually bring my own lunch, instead of queuing at the food stations. Also, rehydrate and bring water. Sketching at the zoo involves a lot of sitting and standing, and a bit of walking ( we did 8000 steps in 3 hours).

Don’t bring too much gear – just the basics. You have to carry it all and need to get comfortable with what you can do in the space and time you have and the opportunities offered. I usually sketch with watercolour pencil in a 13 x 19 cm Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook. But on my Zoo visits, I take a larger old record book. It is my Zoo book. I use my watercolour pencils but don’t add water to the page. It is thinner paper and I just don’t have time. I use the pencils as I love to draw and I know the colours to pull out of my sketchwrap quickly.

Dress for the weather and season. The zoo is mostly outside and what you do may be dependent on the weather… or whether you decide to go at all.

Look at the map – on their website, in advance, and then you can collect one at the zoo. There are sometimes closed paths and you can’t always get to where you want to go. There are a LOT of animals. If you look at the map and website and choose some areas in advance.

sketching animals – the reality

Remember you are here as a sketcher and not a visitor trying to see everything in one day. You won’t see them all.

You have to be flexible – go with the flow of what is available to sketch. Don’t expect to sketch a specific animal. Some exhibits are closed.

Animals move! Some animals are out of view or walk away as soon as you start sketching them, and don’t come back.

The lines below are monkeys. I gave up. They never returned to the same spot. At these times, I just stood back and enjoyed.

These may be koalas and a wombat.

Other animals return to the same position such as elephants, zebras, and giraffes feeding and there may be a few of them so you can use another in the same stance,

Sometimes it is better to sketch the more obscure animals and not the “go to” ones that everyone wants to see. ie tigers, lions, elephants, ones. Visit the Tapir or the tortoise.

Animals have strange body shapes. They are often not what you think they are or the image you have in your mind. Observing this is part of the joy of sketching and also the knowledge you gain by returning to sketch the animals again on return visits.

I have sketched elephants for many years, and I still have to stop and observe how the lip connects to the trunk and body.

or you just get to draw what is offered…

Other People

The zoo is a popular place! But it is a large area with the animals spread out in different areas. Be prepared for the crowds. There are lots of families with strollers on public holidays and weekends, and school holidays are also silly. The perfect time would be a weekday. But then there are the school groups to contend with. AND 9am -10am is the quietest visitor time of the day. In general, people usually don’t stay long observing animals. But they are continuously coming and going. They can crowd you out in their enthusiasm to see the animals and get up close to the glass or viewing area, and completely ignore the concept of personal space. On the other hand, one will be interested in what you are doing.

Note: inside spaces are usually crowded.

As a sketcher

Manage your own expectations of what you can achieve and don’t be disappointed. A scribble on the page is enough. You may have a lot of unfinished lines. It is hard to sketch with other sketchers, as everyone will have different interests and time that they are prepared to wait to sketch a specific animal. It is probably better to have meeting times and places to catch up before heading off again.

I hope that my experiences prepare you for a future zoo visit as a sketcher. Please let me know any hints and tips you have.

Happy Zoo Sketching !

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3 thoughts on “ hints and tips for sketching at the zoo ”.

Nice giraffe sketch – my favorite animal. One time I did a drawing class in the zoo. The tutor wanted to start us off with an easier subject – the slow moving tortoise. Unfortunately on that day, the tortoise was quite active, and even at its slow pace, the minutest move changed the shadows and therefore the patterns on the shell. But it was still fun. Be prepared for the uninhibited comments of children – they will tell you exactly what they think of your artwork! I have found that children are much better behaved in school groups than with their parents. A weekday is by far the better option. But not during school holidays!

All very helpful suggestions Alissa and not negative at all, just realistic. Our recent experience sketching cattle and horses just confirms all that you have said. Even though those animals were in smaller yards and completely visible still didn’t mean they were easy to draw. Indeed I much preferred my pages of small snippets of the position of the animal rather than trying to capture the whole.

Very helpful tips! I love sketching at the zoo, and my experiences are much the same as yours. The important thing is to lower expectations about making complete and perfect sketches and just enjoy the “life drawing” aspect of gestures. I like to start several gestures, and as the animal returns to a previous gesture, I return to that sketch. Eventually, one of them ends up more finished than the others, and I like the dynamic nature of the whole page with varying degrees of completion.

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12 Zoo animal craft ideas to do after a visit to the zoo

Spring Break and summer are always fun breaks in the year, but having the kids bored at home can be also very stressful. Here are a few zoo animal craft ideas to keep them entertained.

Last weekend we needed an adventure and decided to go and visit the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach Florida. We decided to take our friend’s daughters and they had a blast! It was a really fun day and the girls and I came back inspired to do some crafts.

If you are in the area, I definitely recommend you to visit the zoo this spring break!

Did you know you can take a selfie with a Koala? check out our review: Koala Experience at the Palm Beach Zoo

. . . . Scroll all the way to the bottom and read a little about our experience at the zoo. . . .

12 zoo animal craft ideas to do after visiting the Zoo

I have shared before how important it is for children to learn through play, and it is equally important for us as parents to take daily experiences and turn them into learning experiences. So take the kids to the zoo and enhance their learning!

For me, art is one of my favorite things to do so it would make sense to translate our learning experiences into art and search some crafts to enhance our day at the zoo.

Sofie is 10, Bella is 8, and Manny is 13 months, so we have a mix of activities here where there is something for everyone.

Animal Sensory Bin

This activity is ideal for younger toddlers like Manny who is 12 months. It will allow him to experiment with textures and learn the animal names by associating what he saw at the zoo and his toys .

zebra in Slime

Who doesn’t like slime this days? it’s meant for the smaller toddlers but I have seen that even the big kids enjoy getting messy with this one.

For older toddlers and kids, hands-on crafts that use glue, paint and googley -eyes are ideal to enhance their zoo visit.

Doily Lion Kids Craft

Paper Bag Koala Craft for Kids

I don’t know why they are so cute! At the Palm Beach zoo they have a Koala experience where you can get up close and even take a selfie!

Paper Plate Peacock

Easy Paper Plate Flamingo Craft for Kids

Can you do the flaming stand? the girls had a lot of fun trying to stand like one. one leg up and hold your balance!

zoo animal craft ideas are a great way to enhance your zoo visit HappinessYpunto

Colorful and Fun Twirling Parrot Craft

Paper Plate Monkey

Adorable Sloth

There’s something about sloths that are so cute! We saw them hanging out sleeping on trees, relaxing. It was the cutest thing ever!

The cutest Hedgehog

Have you ever seen a real hedgehog before? I think we did at the Palm Beach Zoo.

Otter Paper Craft

Fork Craft – Panda Bear

visit my Pinterest board for more zoo animal craft ideas

Our Visit to the Palm Beach Zoo

The Palm Beach Zoo is a non-profit organization and has more than 550 animals, many of them endangered. It is a smaller zoo than the Miami Zoo and I loved it for that. With little ones, it is hard for them to walk large distances and this zoo is perfect.

It has a lot of animals in short walking distance to keep the kids engaged and entertain.

They have a colorful map with 4 sections. These sections all have the same entry and exit point and meet in the middle where there is a Play Fountain & Nature Play Pavilion area. The girls didn’t have a bathing suit so we just let them run across trying to not get wet. They were successful! and I was happy!

The zoo has a Koala experience where you can go in and experience these animals up close, smell the eucalyptus and even take a selfie. We didn’t get to do that this time but hoping later in the summer we can visit the zoo again and try it.

Our favorite part was to see the Otters, they were playing around and splashing. It was so entertaining and fun to watch!

There is a food court has good food with a covered area to eat. They have kids chairs and was very clean. I tried the veggie burger and was very impressed by the flavor. It was quite delicious! now I wish I would’ve taken a photos of it.

The zoo is stroller friendly but Manny was so excited he wanted to walk around and get closer to the animals. He absolutely loved it.

We tried every kid station they had around to make the stroll even more interesting. The girls tried to jump really high, take photos at their photo points and took turns with the camera to take photos of the animals.

Overall, we enjoyed it. We recommend it and we hope to visit it again.

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Zoo Parents Program

Adopt a red kangaroo to honor your favorite mom

A 'joey'-ful gift for Mother's Day!

Adopting a red kangaroo is a special way to honor your favorite mom — and the red kangaroos in the Zoo’s care — for Mother’s Day. Proceeds go toward the animals’ care and feeding for a whole year. Hop to it and order your adoption package today!

Adopt an Animal

Become a Zoo Parent at the Saint Louis Zoo. When you adopt an animal, your donation goes toward the animals' care and daily feeding. For a few dollars, you can pick up the tab for an elephant's 100-pounds-a-day hay habit or keep a sea lion swimming pretty with 25 pounds of fish a day.

There are three ways to purchase an adoption package as a gift or for yourself:

• Visit a Welcome Desk at the North or South Entrance
• Click the link below to order online
• Call the Membership Office at (314) 646-4771, option 2

Shipping Information: Each adoption is lovingly and personally packed. Please allow 14 to 21 business days for shipping.

** Prices include shipping and handling for locations within the contiguous United States.

Adoption with a Plus(h)!

The following animal adoption packages include a plush toy or other special promotional item (while supplies last):

Ring-tailed Lemur

Coquerel's Sifaka

Zoo parents adoption packages make one-of-a-kind gifts that keep on giving.

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When you become a Saint Louis Zoo Parent, your adoption contribution entitles you to added benefits.

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From addax to zebu, every animal at the Saint Louis Zoo is available for adoption at many different donation levels.

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