Not so fast! You won’t want to visit Stone Zoo without taking a moment to slow down and hang out with the Zoo’s African spurred tortoises. Stone Zoo is now offering a new, up-close and personal feeding experience with its three shelled superstars as part of new Tortoise Encounter & Feeding. Learn all about tortoises while you feed them some tasty, fresh produce and snap some great photos while you do it!

The animals' feeding times take place daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 and must be reserved online in advance, in addition to purchasing general Zoo admission. Sessions run for approximately 30 minutes, and are weather permitting (in the case of rain, tickets may be refunded or exchanged for a different day).

To access the tortoise exhibit, guests are asked to meet a staff member at the Zoo entrance prior to their reserved time. Six guests can be accommodated per group, while only two people will be permitted in the feeding area at a time to allow for social distancing. The Zoo will divide the 30-minute session between pairs of two. Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Closed-toe shoes are recommended.

Safety protocols must be followed while within the Zoo, including the use of a face covering for anyone above the age of two. View Stone Zoo’s FAQ page for full details.