Animal Encounters in Pennsylvania: What You Notice When You Meet Wildlife Up Close

At Wild World of Animals, we’ve been working with and caring for wild animals for more than 30 years. In that time, we’ve watched a lot of people meet an animal up close for the first time.

One thing we’ve noticed is that people don’t always remember what you might expect.

Of course, they take pictures. If you’ve wanted to meet a sloth for years, you’re probably going to want a picture with one.

But once people spend a little time around the animals, they start noticing other things.

Someone wants to know what a capybara’s fur feels like. A child starts watching the way a kangaroo moves. Someone else can’t believe how different it feels to be near a tiger after only seeing them in pictures or from a distance.

It’s the kind of stuff you don’t really think about until the animal is right there in front of you.

Spend Some Time With a Sloth

Everybody knows sloths move slowly. That’s usually one of the first things people know about them.

But sit near one for a while and you’ll probably start paying attention to other things.

You’ll notice the claws. You’ll watch how it moves and grips. You may start wondering how sloths spend so much time hanging upside down or what they actually eat.

During our Sloth Encounter, guests have about 30 minutes to spend with a sloth. You can hold one on your lap, pet it and take pictures while learning more about its behavior, diet and natural habitat.

It’s not a rushed walk past an enclosure. You actually have some time to watch the animal and ask questions.

And people usually have plenty once they’re there.

Capybaras Tend to Surprise People

We don’t have to introduce too many people to capybaras anymore.

They’ve become pretty popular online, and a lot of our visitors already know what a capybara is before they get here.

Still, seeing one on your phone and sitting beside one aren’t quite the same thing.

During our Capybara Encounter, guests can pet, scratch, feed and take pictures with a capybara.

One of the things people notice right away is their fur. It doesn’t necessarily feel the way you’d expect. Then you start watching how they eat and what they’re paying attention to.

The encounter lasts about 30 minutes, so you have some time to enjoy being around the animal instead of spending the whole visit trying to get a picture.

Come for the Kangaroo and You Might Find Another Favorite

The Kangaroo Encounter is a little different because the kangaroo isn’t necessarily the only animal you’ll meet.

Guests may also get to spend time with a muntjac deer, Patagonian cavy and a large African tortoise.

We’ve seen people come in excited about the kangaroo and become just as interested in an animal they’d barely heard of before.

That’s especially fun with kids.

They may know exactly what a kangaroo is, but then they’re standing next to a Patagonian cavy wondering what in the world they’re looking at.

Sometimes that’s how people end up learning the most while they’re here.

Seeing a Tiger on a Screen Isn’t Quite the Same

Most people have seen plenty of tigers.

Just usually not from very close.

You know they’re big. You know they’re powerful. But being nearby gives you a much better idea of their actual size and how they move.

Our Tiger & Big Cat Encounter gives guests an opportunity to safely experience some incredible animals with our handlers.

Depending on the animals involved, you may see tigers, lions, wolves, spotted hyenas, black bears or black leopards. There are also opportunities to feed certain animals using tongs while following the instructions of our handlers.

Sometimes it’s the little things that catch your attention.

Maybe it’s the size of a tiger’s paws. Maybe it’s watching how quickly an animal notices that food is coming. Or maybe it’s simply realizing how different everything looks when you’re standing there instead of watching it on a screen.

You Don’t Need to Know Anything About the Animals Before You Come

We get plenty of animal lovers at Wild World of Animals, but you don’t need to know a bunch of wildlife facts before booking an encounter.

If something catches your attention, ask us about it.

Wonder why a sloth is doing something?

Ask.

Never heard of a muntjac deer before today?

Ask about it.

Curious about what a capybara eats or something you notice during a big cat encounter?

Ask away.

After more than 30 years of working with wild animals, we’ve answered a lot of questions. We still enjoy hearing new ones.

Put the Phone Down for a Few Minutes

We understand wanting pictures. You’re meeting an animal you may have wanted to see for years, so take some.

But put the phone down for a little while, too.

Watch what the animal is doing. See how it moves. Pay attention when food comes out. Listen to what the handlers are telling you.

You might notice something you’d never thought about before.

You can look through the pictures as many times as you want when you get home.

What you remember most might be something that never made it into a picture at all.

If you’ve been looking for animal encounters in Pennsylvania or near Pittsburgh, Wild World of Animals offers Sloth, Capybara, Kangaroo, and Tiger & Big Cat Encounters at our facility in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania.

Reservations are required for animal encounters.

Wild World of Animals
295 School Road
Bentleyville, PA 15314
724-239-5511

Visit www.wildworldofanimals.org to learn more about our animal encounters and plan your visit.