The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is cutting prices on many of its behind-the-scenes tours through Dec. 31, offering 40% off for visitors who book Monday through Thursday.

The weekday discount, which started Sept. 8, applies to several small-group experiences at the Powell Road attraction, according to the Zoo's tours directory. Not every tour qualifies. The Zoo advises checking each listing and the checkout screen before booking.

1808 Delaware reported on the promotion and noted that the word "many" in the Zoo's offer deserves attention. Eligible dates and final prices vary by experience.

Three experiences offer behind-the-scenes access for families.

Manatee Conservation Center Tour. This one-hour tour takes guests behind the scenes at the rehabilitation center, where staff care for manatees, pelicans, rays and a resident sea turtle. Guests do not interact with the manatees directly. The tour costs $109 per person before any discount, is open to ages 10 and older, and runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 1:30 p.m. through Jan. 3. The weekday discount is confirmed on the tour's listing page. The tour includes stairs and wet floors and is not listed as ADA accessible.

Animal Wellness Experience. A one-hour visit to the Animal Health Center, where an education team member explains how the conservation medicine and animal care teams collaborate. The tour includes an animal training demonstration, though the species varies. It costs $99 per person, is open to ages 10 and older, and is scheduled daily at 11 a.m. through Nov. 18, then at 3 p.m. from Nov. 19 through Jan. 3. The weekday discount is confirmed on its listing page.

Baby Elephant Experience. The priciest option at $249 per person, this 45-minute program lets guests observe how the care team trains one elephant calf and its mother. The Zoo rotates between a male calf with his mother, Phoebe, and a female calf with her mother, Sunny. Guests cannot choose which pair they see, and personal photography is not allowed. The experience is restricted to ages 12 and older and runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 10:30 a.m. through Nov. 18, then at 1:30 p.m. from Nov. 19 through Jan. 3. One caveat: the Baby Elephant Experience listing does not advertise the 40% weekday discount, so families should verify pricing at checkout.

Groups are small. The Baby Elephant and Manatee tours cap at four guests per session. The Animal Wellness Experience allows up to six.

Zoo admission is required and is not included in any tour price. Reservations must be made at least two days in advance, cancellations within 48 hours are not refundable, and minors must be accompanied by a paying adult.

The Zoo's fall and winter blog post, published Oct. 8, also lists a Behind-the-Scenes Giraffe Feeding, Elephant Bath Experience and Wild Encounters Experience among additional options. Seasonal add-ons tied to Wildlights, which opens Nov. 20 and runs through Jan. 3, include a VIP Tour and a Reindeer Experience.

The weekday tour discount ends Dec. 31. During Wildlights, the Zoo opens at noon and closes at 9 p.m. Sunday–Thursday or 10 p.m. Friday–Saturday; the light display begins at 5 p.m.