Prices to Take a Jump at Zoo, Animal Park

Hoping to offset increased operating costs, officials of the Zoological Society of San Diego voted Tuesday to increase adult admission prices 55 cents for the San Diego Zoo and $1 for the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Society directors also decided to increase by 25 cents the zoo bus tours and Wild Animal Park monorail tours, officials said.

The price increases account for $1.5 million of a $52-million budget that anticipates increased utility bills, insurance premiums and wages for employees at both attractions, officials said.

The price increases, with the budget, will become effective Jan. 1. Adult tickets to the zoo will rise from $5.95 to $6.50; adult tickets for the Wild Animal Park will go from $6.95 to $7.95; motorized tours at both will be raised from $2.25 to $2.50.

The cost of a society membership will be unchanged next year, officials said.