How to Draw Zoo Animals: 56 Step-by-Step Drawing Tutorials

Ring-tailed lemurs are adorable primates. They have spots on their faces, around their nose and large eyes, and stripes or rings encircling their tails.

No zoo is complete without an elegant peacock. This large bird has intricate designs on its feathers, but here the characteristic eyespots are simplified to lines and circles.

Rhinos are one of Africa's "Big Five" wild animals. Their most outstanding characteristic is the horn or horns on the animal's nose.

Chameleons are unique lizards. They have large, scaly eyes, grasping feet, and a prehensile tail. Draw him quickly before he disappears!

Snow leopards are big cats that live in an unexpected environment. Their rosette spots and coloration help them blend in with the snowy mountains and forests.

Cheetahs are known for their speed, but you can take your time with this drawing. The cheetah's small spots and stripes help it blend in with the savannah grasses.

This cobra is ready to strike! You can tell because it is "standing," it has its hood open, and you can see its long, sharp fangs.

Coyotes look a lot like wolves and dogs. These wild dogs are smaller than wolves, but they have a similar body shape, large ears, long snouts, and a bushy tail.

The elephant is one of the world's most iconic animals. You can explore all its unique features as you complete this drawing - its large ears, long trunk, pointed tusks, and hair-tipped tail.

Gorillas are the largest of the great apes. They have muscular arms that they support their weight on when they walk. They also have large, pronounced foreheads.

Invite this friendly bear to live in your zoo! Notice how many short, curved lines that meet at jagged points give his body a hairy texture.

This wolf's body language is striking and intimidating. Notice its large feet, tall shoulders, and long, bushy tail.

Jaguars are one of the big cats of the Americas. They have large rosettes with spots in the center, and the tips of their tails are marked as if dipped in ink.

This lion is striking a majestic pose, like Mufasa or Simba from Disney's The Lion King. Lions are unique cats because of the males' flowing manes.

Parrots' bodies, wings, and tails are much like those of other birds. The big difference is in the beak. Notice the large, curved triangle shape of this parrot's beak.

Buffalos are a type of wild cattle native to North America. Their distinctive features are their tall shoulders, rounded and bearded heads, and the shaggy fur on the front halves of their bodies.

Giraffes have one of the most interesting body designs in the animal kingdom. They have long legs and long necks that make them 15 feet tall. They have hornlike structures on their heads and spotted coats.

Is this an alligator or a crocodile? You may not be able to tell unless you draw him with his mouth closed or on the move. You can see more alligator teeth through clenched jaws, and crocodiles stand up taller than their cousins.

Elk are large deer native to North America and Eurasia. They have beefier, more muscular bodies than white-tailed deer, pictured below. They also have larger antlers.

Different types of lizards live all over the world. This lizard drawing has a standard body shape. It could be a skink or a monitor lizard - the choice is yours.

Pandas are instantly recognizable because of their white faces, ringed eyes, and black ears. This one is holding its favorite food - bamboo, the largest species of grass in the world.

Flamingoes have long legs for wading in the water. They also have a long, snakelike neck and a long curved beak that they use for fishing.

Otters are small aquatic mammals that love to play. Draw this one in your zoo, and give it a pool of water to swim in.

Does your zoo have an aquarium? Add a school of fish like this one. This nondescript fish could be embellished to represent many different species.

Draw this snake in your zoo's reptile house. Its blotchy pattern could represent many different species, from boa constrictors to adders. Watch out for the "S" curve of its neck - this snake is ready to strike!

G'day, mate! Add a kangaroo encounter to your zoo. As an added challenge, can you draw a small baby roo looking out of its mother's pouch?

Sloths are easy to sketch in the wild because they are so slow-moving. This one is even easier. It won't move a muscle as you draw it hanging from the tree.

Koalas are another tree-dwelling favorite. This one has its large face, with its round ears and oval-shaped nose, turned to you as it clings to a branch.

Like the animals above, porcupines also climb trees. You won't want this one in your petting zoo, though. On its back are sharp quills that it uses to protect itself.

Turtles are identified by their strong shells, from which their heads and legs emerge. Did you know? Sea turtles are the only turtles that can't completely hide inside their shells.

Create a majestic North American or European forest park and add this regal dear to it. This deer is a male, called a buck, made evident by its large antlers.

Arctic foxes look a lot like other foxes in summer. In winter, however, their fur becomes bright white. Capture this one's portrait before it disappears into the snow!

Get hands-on by adding pony rides to your zoo. Draw several of these small, sturdy horses. You can draw different coat patterns on each one.

Who-hoo is sitting in that tree? Draw this cute owl with scalloped feathers and a geometric head and body.

Toucans have huge beaks in comparison to their heads and bodies. This bird will add a touch of the tropics to your zoo. You can draw the toucan!

Bearded dragons are common sights in reptile houses, and some people even keep them as pets. Pet special attention to the curved lines that meet at jagged points along the belly and chin. These scales are the namesake "beard."

Make room for a chilly little penguin exhibit in your zoo. Most penguin species have simple patterns of black and white feathers. Draw more than one, as penguins like to live in groups!

Red pandas live in the same regions of Asia as the giant panda above. Can you see similarities between this medium-sized mammal and the ring-tailed lemur you drew earlier?

Place the bobcat in the North American section of your zoo. This big cat has small camouflage spots and is about the size of a large dog.

Iguanas are tropical lizards. This variety has spiky scales and stripes on its back and a flap of skin along its neck. In tropical regions, wild iguanas might roam around your zoo!

Llamas are a favorite feature of petting zoos. They and their similar cousins, the alpacas, have soft fur. Watch out, though - they spit when they get annoyed!

Place this lion in your zoo or use it as a logo for your sign out front. The lion is the king of beasts, so it makes sense for him to be the zoo's mascot.

Give this bear some chilly frozen water with ice floating in it! Polar bears may have the same body shape as other bears you've drawn, but they require cool weather to thrive.

Add another member to your bear pit. This large bear could be a grizzly or a polar bear. It all depends on how you color your finished drawing.

Herds of zebras often roam with ostrich and antelope in the zoo savannah. These wild horses are a favorite because of their bold striped coats.

Let a peaceful pond afloat with graceful swans be the centerpiece of your zoo. Draw several, as these large water birds often travel in flocks.

The tiger is one of the most popular exhibits at every zoo. This striped large cat is the largest of the world's felines.

Hippos love to play in the water and spend time on land. Draw several hippos, and give them a watering hole.

Some zoos offer camel rides to guests. This is a dromedary camel. Its hump is singular, like the letter "D." Camels with two humps are called Bactrian, and their profile looks like the letter "B."

Who is laughing? It might be a hyena. Sometimes these doglike mammals are called laughing hyenas because of the sound they make. Draw more than one, because these predators hunt and scavenge in groups.

Moose are the largest species of deer in the world. They can be identified by their sloped backs, huge, thick antlers, and the "beard" beneath their chins.

This camel is a dromedary camel because it only has one hump. It is easy to remember because its body is shaped roughly like a capital “D.”

This cartoon vixen is feeling foxy. The jagged points of the curved lines give the cute creature a furry appearance.

Add some tropical flair to your sketchbook with this pink flamingo. Its neck and legs are unbelievably long.

Did you know? Zebra’s stripes help them blend in with one another when they travel as a herd. You can draw a whole herd of these fascinating animals.

We’re not cheatin’ ya, this cheetah is adorable! It is a cheetah cub with a large head and wide eyes.