
Help celebrate Raja the elephant's 30th birthday with the Saint Louis Zoo! The elephant care team will be sure the birthday boy and the rest of the elephant family enjoy some extra special enrichment in honor of the day.
Due to the cold temperatures and unfavorable weather conditions predicted for Tuesday, Dec. 27, Raja (pronounced RAH zhä), the Saint Louis Zoo’s bull Asian elephant, will not be making an appearance for his 30th birthday celebration on Tuesday. Because the Saint Louis Zoo is dedicated to caring for animals, Raja and the other elephants will be in their indoor climate-controlled barn.
Zoo guests may still sign a super-sized birthday card for Raja and learn more about the elephants and elephant conservation through activities and biofacts from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Living World at the Zoo’s North Entrance.
Birthday cupcakes and hot chocolate will be available for purchase at Lakeside Cafe.
Born on Dec. 27, 1992, Raja was the first Asian elephant born at the Zoo. He is the father of three female calves at the Zoo — Maliha, 16, Jade, 15, and Priya, 9. The Zoo’s three-generation Asian elephant family is thriving under the excellent care provided by a highly-trained professional animal care team.
Learn more at: stlzoo.org/raga
Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym. Reservations are not necessary.
Catch a movie or two at the Saint Louis Science Center's OMNIMAX Theater, where films are shown featuring the IMAX with Laser. This state-of-the-art theater provides the sharpest images, unmatched sound quality and 40% greater color range than traditional theaters. The five-story, 80-foot-diameter dome will fill your entire field of vision providing a truly immersive experience.
Stop in and have some fun in the indoor pool at the Lodge of Des Peres with your little one at this drop-in swim time for kids up to age 6. No pre-registration is needed; Water Waddlers is open to residents and non-residents of Des Peres.
See the amazing sea lions at the Saint Louis Zoo perform for the crowd and cheer them on from the bleachers as the popular Sea Lion Spring Training Shows return. You'll see these beautiful animals perform flipper walks, ball balancing, Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, lots of splashing and even more surprises!
Bring your little ones to Toddler Tinker Time at The Magic House for special experiences designed for preschoolers. Families will enjoy hands-on activities and private playtime in select exhibit areas like Wonder Works, the STEAM Center, and Xavier Riddle. Recommended for ages 1 to 5.