Despite a hard winter, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore will open for the season Saturday at 10 a.m.
A Grand Opening Weekend celebration is planned for Saturday and Sunday with admission rates reduced to $5 per person. Children under 2 are always free.
“This has been a pretty tough winter for all of us in Maryland,” said Don Hutchinson, president/CEO of the zoo. “The zoo suffered a great deal of damage, but I am proud of the great work our staff did during the storms and the work they are now doing  to clean up the campus and ready the grounds for visitors.”
Some exhibits such as the Marsh Aviary and the African Aviary will remain closed until further notice because of damage suffered during the snow storms, according to Hutchinson. And on some days, certain animals may not be on exhibit due to the conditions of their yards, he said. In many cases mud caused by melting snow can be dangerous to certain species such as giraffes, he explained.
New this year will be the zoo’s latest train, the Jones Falls Zephyr, which will open later in the spring and chug along a wooded section of the zoo.
Admission for the 2010 season for adults will be $14 during the week and when purchased on line and $16 on weekends; seniors, $12 during the week and online and $13 on weekends; children 2-11, $10 during the week and online and $11 on weekends. For details visit www.marylandzoo.org.

Photo courtesy of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.