The Night of the Cats

In September, Fridays and Saturdays 2., 3., 9. and 10.9.2022, Korkeasaari Zoo is open 10 am – 11 pm, when the big cats are most active. Last entrance is at 9 pm. Separate tickets are sold to the event. Korkeasaari Zoo donates part of every ticket to conservation!

Amur tiger and leopard conservation

Amur leopards and Amur tigers native to southeast Russia and northeast China are in danger of extinction. We rejoice that the numbers of Amur leopards are finally increasing, there is still hope! Currently there are about 100 Amur leopards in the wild, and the numbers have doubled during this decade. The Amur tiger population is five times stronger, as there are over 500 Amur tigers in the wild. The role of conservation is important for the survival of these species.

WildCats Conservation Alliance is a network of communities that actively participate in big cat conservation. Amur leopards and tigers are protected by monitoring conservation areas to prevent poaching and forest fires and by educating local people about the importance of conservation. The Amur leopard re-introduction will be a big project in the coming years.

Korkeasaari Zoo began supporting the Amur conservation project over 20 years ago, and today we are one of the biggest donors in the world. Last year we raised 36 000 euros to help these endangered cats in their native environment.

Tickets

Korkeasaari Zoo donates two euros per Night of the Cats visitor to the conservation of Amur big cats! You can also enter with an annual card. During the event days, you can only enter the zoo with an Night of the Cats event ticket purchased for that day, or with our annual card. A limited number of pre tickets are sold on the zoo’s online shop for each event day. The sale of pre tickets ends on the day of the event at 10 o’clock. A limited number of tickets will also be sold on the day of the event at the Korkeasaari ticket office.

* Additional information
Student tickets are sold to full-time students who can present a valid student card with a photo. Of international cards, only an ISIC student card is accepted.
Senior citizen tickets and annual cards are sold to over 65-year-olds who can present an ID document as well as to persons with full pension pursuant to Kela.

Evening programme for bigger cats

CAT VALLEY, 5 pm – 9 pm
See the cats from eye to eye! There will be talks, feedings and professional interviews at the Cat Valley throughout the evening. Cat Valley will be one-way only during the evening, entrance is from the asiatic lion’s side of the valley.

ANIMAL FEEDINGS, 5 pm – 9 pm
Talks and animal feedings around the zoo. Tropical houses will be closed at 9 pm and other animal houses at 6 pm.

TANSSIVAT VEDET, 8:30 pm – 11 pm
Performance combining sea water, lights and music celebrating the year of the tiger! Showtime is every 15 minutes.

RUFFLE ARMY, 4 pm – 7 pm & 8 pm – 11 pm
Ruffle Army will make glitter tattoos nearby the Korkeasaari harbour from 4 pm to 7 pm. Ruffle Army’s giant soap bubbles will light up your evening around the island later on.

WHEEL OF FORTUNE BY FAZER, 5 pm – 8 pm
Spin the wheel of fortune nearby the bear castle and win sweet prices! All proceeds will be directed to the Amur cats conservation.

AMUR CANDLES
As many candles will be lit as there are wild amur leopards.

ELOSSA 510
The Old Bear Castle will showcase a light installation in celebration of the amur tiger.

CAT ENRICHEMENTS, 5 pm – 8 pm
Get familiar with cat enrichements used at Korkeasaari Zoo! Animal keeper will also give a talk about training cats at 6:15 pm.

Day programme for smaller cats

WALK THROUGHS AND ANIMAL FEEDINGS, 11 am – 5 pm
Talks and animal feedings around the zoo. You can also visit the red wallaby and pygmy goat enclosures!

CHALLENGE TRACK BY SUPERPARK, Fri 5 pm – 7 pm / Sat 12 pm – 7 pm
Jump like a wallaby and balance yourself like a snow leopard.

FACE PAINTING, Sat 12 pm – 4 pm
Transform yourself into a cat!

Food and drink

Remember to also feed yourself! Restaurants and street food stalls are open throughout the day. You can also use the zoo’s grills to barbecue your food.

BISTRO BRON, Fri 1 pm – 9 pm / Sat 10 am – 9 pm
Bostro Bron is located next to the ticket office. You will find both cafeteria products as well as warm artisan sandwiches.

CAFÉ & BAR VISPILÄ, 8 pm – 11 pm
Drinks from cat cocoa to sparkling wine. Small snacks are also sold on the Vispilä ferry at Korkeasaari harbour.

RESTAURANT PUKKI, 11 am – 10:30 pm
Restaurant Pukki will serve street food and cafeteria products. Last food orders will be taken at 10 pm.
Night of the Cats offer: two pastries and a quarter bottle of sparkling wine for 20 €!

PUKKI’S KIOSK & STREET FOOD, 4 pm – 11 pm
The kiosks in the middle of the island serve hamburgers and fries, pancakes, fried sausages and vendace as well as drinks and ice cream.

RESTAURANT KARHU, 10 am – 10 pm
Restaurant Karhu will serve hamburgers, meatballs and salads. Last food orders to the kitchen at 9:30 pm.
We will direct 1€ from every sold veggie hamburger to the conservation of the Amur cats!

KARHU’S KIOSK & STREET FOOD, 4 pm – 10 pm
From the kiosk in front of the Bear Castle you can buy hot dogs & meat pasties, ice cream, hamburgers, nachos, pancakes, fries, sausages and vendace.

JUNGLE JUICE BAR, 11 am – 9 pm
Tasty smoothies at the Bear Castle! We will direct 1€ from each sold Lion King smoothie to the conservation of the Amur cats!

KIOSK & STREET FOOD NEAR THE OTTER, 4 pm – 10 pm
Pizza, waffles, fries, coffee and ice cream.

ICE CREAM TRUCK NEAR THE TIGERS, 4 pm – 10 pm

Zoo Shop

The Zoo shop near the harbour is open from 10 am to 11 pm during every event day. The pop-up shop is open on Fridays from 2 pm to 11 pm and on Saturdays the whole day. Products that support the Amur big cats conservation are also sold during the events.

Arriving

You can plan your way to the zoo here.

Etiquette for the evenings

The safety of our customers is our top priority, but we will also need your help to make the visit pleasant for everyone. Please, take note of the following instructions.

One way path in Cat Valley
Cat Valley has one way traffic throughout the night to keep the area spacious for everyone to watch animals. Start your Cat Valley stroll from the lions’ side of the valley. The access to the area might be restricted if needed.

Evening time
After 20:00 only the lit routes marked on the map are available. Some of the species will retire already earlier. It is not allowed to disturb the animals with flash lights or by knocking on their glasses, or otherwise. The zoo closes at 23:00, but the last entry is at 21:00.