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New strategic vision for elephant program

March 28, 2014, 8:31 am
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Posted by: Deborah B. Jensen, President and CEO


Elephants have long played a role in the community and in our hearts. At Woodland Park Zoo, we have cared for elephants since we received our first one in 1921, funded in part by donations from local school children. 

Asian elephant Chai at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

I am pleased to announce that the zoo will commit $1.5 to $3 million to strengthen the Asian elephant program at the zoo, as well as play a key role in multiple elephant conservation arenas.

This pledge follows a six-month, critical and thorough external review of the zoo’s elephant program by the Elephant Task Force—a panel of local community representatives and internationally-distinguished scientists and animal care professionals—and a review of the Task Force’s report by the zoo’s Board of Directors and staff.

The new strategic direction of the zoo’s elephant program endorses many of the options given to the zoo by the Elephant Task Force, plus additional information regarding the zoo’s elephants, elephant conservation and education efforts. Key elements of the program entail:

  • Focusing the zoo’s Elephant Forest exhibit on the highly endangered Asian elephant species and growing the zoo’s program to support and implement the goals of the Species Survival Plan for Asian elephants, which is managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). 
  • Making significant improvements to the Elephant Forest exhibit and facilities
  • Playing an active role in the Wildlife Conservation Society’s international 96 Elephants conservation campaign: securing effective U.S. moratorium laws on ivory sales and bolstering elephant protection with additional advocacy funding; and educating the public about the devastating effects of the ivory trade.
  • Increasing the zoo’s commitment to Asian elephant conservation with our partner organizations in range countries. 
  • Developing enhanced guest experiences and educational programming in the Elephant Forest exhibit, allowing guests to interact with the zoo’s elephants and staff, and learn how they can make an impact in elephant conservation. 
  • Providing leadership to the next phase of AZA elephant welfare research and applied practice.

Getting up close to an elephant is an unforgettable experience at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

Like you, we are also deeply concerned for the future of elephants in the wild. Our vision is that our investment will make an impact on reducing human-elephant conflict in the world, and inspire a growing respect for sharing the planet with these awe-inspiring animals.

Elephant raiding an oil palm plantation in Asia. Photo courtesy of Woodland Park Zoo Partner for Wildlife, Hutan Asian Elephant Conservation Project.

Two female Asian elephants, 47-year-old Bamboo and 35-year-old Chai, and one African elephant, 45-year-old Watoto, currently live at the zoo. As a component of our commitment to growing the Asian elephant program and moving to an all Asian herd, staff will begin formulating a plan to integrate Watoto into a herd at another AZA-accredited institution. AZA recommends that elephants be cared for in single species social groupings. 

African elephant Watoto at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Dennis Conner/Woodland Park Zoo.

With this new strategic direction, staff has initiated the process of identifying Asian elephants that can join Woodland Park Zoo and is optimistic about adding to the herd in the near future. Next steps also include implementing a design process for improvements to the elephant exhibit to build on the physical and behavioral health and social well-being of the animals. 

If you have questions or want to know more about what’s coming next, you may find helpful information including a Question and Answer list at our Elephant News page.

We are extremely grateful for your support and passion for elephants and Woodland Park Zoo. You play an important role in preserving elephants into the future through your ongoing support. Together we are making a better world for wildlife. Thank you.
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Littlest otters get practice time outside

March 31, 2014, 1:15 pm
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Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications
Photos by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo



Guntur, the infamously over-protective otter dad, has finally let the newest pups take their first steps outside!


The four pups—three girls and one boy born in January—have only had a few tiny adventures outdoors so far. Though they step out for only a few minutes at a time, the good news is that dad seems to be getting more comfortable each time.


It helps a lot that the pups’ have a dedicated family that also includes mom and four older brothers to show them the way.


Sometimes that means moving the pups around…


…and sometimes that means letting the pups figure out their own way.


The pups aren’t yet the most coordinated little movers, but they’re quite capable of planting themselves into prime snacking position, which we learned when keepers gave them some grubs outdoors.


Keep in mind if you’re planning a visit that the otters’ time outside is still quite irregular. Though we provide outdoor access, it’s ultimately their choice whether to go out and how long to spend out there. We ask for your patience for a few more weeks as the family gets settled!


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Spring moves planned for snow leopards

April 2, 2014, 8:00 am
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Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications


I watch her watch her “prey.”

A young family walks the length of the snow leopard exhibit, failing to notice the sly cat prowling in the shadows, just a step behind their line of sight. They are about to walk away from the exhibit when the daughter, maybe 6 years old, turns around and finally spots the snow leopard, coiled up tight like a spring. There is just enough time for her to utter “She looks sleepy,” before the feline pounces toward the fence. Safe on the other side of the barrier, the little girl lets out a wild giggle, a sound mixed with surprise, thrill and then a little embarrassment once she realizes she’s clutching her mom.

A young Asha and Shanti on the chase. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

That girl just learned what zoo staff learned long ago—never underestimate Asha and Shanti. Though both snow leopard sisters are blind in one eye, they have developed into playful huntresses. We have watched them overcome their obstacles, and soon, we will watch them become fully independent and move out on their own.

February’s snow was an enriching treat this winter. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

The snow leopard sisters have just wrapped up their pre-shipment veterinary exams, and the countdown to their spring departure begins. Though we do not yet have an official last day, we’re heading into the final weeks for the girls at Woodland Park Zoo before they move on to their new home at Big Bear Alpine Zoo in California. You’ll want to plan a visit soon to say farewell to the tenacious twosome who survived a rocky start and have gone on to amaze and inspire us all.

Asha and Shanti at 3 months old. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Born May 2, 2012, Asha and Shanti were celebrated with an outpouring of joy from the community—the announcement of their birth remains our most read blog post of all time. It only took a few weeks, however, for the challenges to emerge, first with the loss of their brother and littermate, and then with a diagnosis of a relatively rare congenital eye anomaly. The girls both exhibited multiple ocular coloboma in which the eye stops growing before it is fully developed. This left the girls each with functional vision only in their left eye, and ultimately each had their right eye removed to prevent infection and future complications.

But has that stopped them from growing up into active, spirited leopards? Not a chance!

Thanks to the extraordinary care provided by the zoo’s keeper and veterinary staff, volunteer veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Tom Sullivan with the Animal Eye Clinic Seattle, and, of course, experienced snow leopard momma, Helen, Asha and Shanti have thrived here at Woodland Park Zoo. As the girls are maturing and have grown independent of their mother, it is now time to find them a new home.

Working with the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative effort to manage species populations across conservation zoos, we found a new home that will fit Asha and Shanti’s unique needs. At Big Bear Alpine Zoo, which is known for its wildlife rehabilitation program, Asha and Shanti will be able to remain together and continue to receive specialized medical care.

The cubs’ father, Tom, will also move this spring. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

More changes are in store, as the girls’ father, Tom, will be heading to Oklahoma City Zoo in the coming weeks, another move recommended by the SSP to keep the genetic diversity of the snow leopard population always moving and mixing. Remaining here will be Helen, the cubs’ mother, who will receive a new mate through the SSP with the hope that they will breed in the near future. Helen has raised two sets of babies already and has proven capable of nurturing cubs through even the toughest obstacles. 

Helen will remain at Woodland Park Zoo and will be matched with a new mate through the Species Survival Plan. Photo by Tiana Klineburger/Woodland Park Zoo.

Endangered and elusive in the wild, snow leopards are hard to track and harder to study. Working with the Snow Leopard Trust, a Woodland Park Zoo Partner for Wildlife, we have seen breakthroughs in research methodologies in the snow leopards’ native Central Asia, where techniques like motion-sensor cameras and radio collars are shedding new light on the range, behavior and health of snow leopard populations. As we learn more about the health of these animals thanks to research and care in zoo settings, we can apply these two tracks of knowledge to better understand, and ultimately, better protect these disappearing predators.
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Seniors go in like a lion!

April 3, 2014, 9:54 am
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Posted by: Jessie Maxwell, Education


For the young and young at heart—a zoo is truly a place for everyone to discover wildlife and to be inspired to learn, care and act. It comes as no surprise to people that we offer programs for children here in the zoo’s Education Department, but less known are the programs we offer for senior citizens. Through our Senior Classes, senior citizens have the opportunity to learn more about the zoo and the animals that call it home, as well as get some unique opportunities.

“I really enjoyed the class [and] loved being with people of my same age group.” – Sandy Bell

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The most recent Senior Class, “In Like a Lion,” gave the seniors a chance to see our resident lions up close and learn how zookeepers provide enrichment for the animals’ development and well-being. Many animals at the zoo receive enrichment, and the class attendees began the class by watching the lions devour a treat.

Photo by class attendee, Karen Haimes.

Back in the classroom, the seniors tried their hands at making piñata boxes for the zookeepers to use for the next scheduled enrichment.  It was a chance to really dig in and make something special for the animals, and the seniors made the most out of the opportunity!

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

There is a lot that goes into the making of enrichment items: materials have to be safe and approved by the zookeepers and animal curators, and have to be the proper size not only to fit the treat inside, but also to be safe for the animals. After learning about what we use and why, the attendees worked in groups to create what they thought a lion might enjoy ripping apart! Keep your eyes peeled for some of these masterpieces next time you’re visiting the lion exhibit!

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Senior classes are offered monthly with a different theme each class. Check out our website for upcoming senior program opportunities!

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

People aged 55 and up can also participate in our long-running Senior Zoo Walkers program. Since 1990, Senior Zoo Walkers has offered an opportunity to be active and walk in a safe area as well as enjoy animals. Seniors taking part in this program arrive before the zoo opens, participate in a quick warm up outside zoo gates and stroll around zoo grounds once the zoo opens.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

“I have been coming here for forty years and all I can say is that you have just gotten better and better...for the animals and for the people that visit them.” – Sandy Bell

Join us and be a life-long learner at Woodland Park Zoo!
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You created more wonder and more wild. Thank you!

April 4, 2014, 8:00 am
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Posted by: Dr. Deborah B. Jensen, President and CEO


WPZ President Jensen.
Photo by Matt Hagen.
Because of your support and the generosity of nearly 16,000 individuals, I’m thrilled to share the news that we exceeded our $80 million More Wonder More Wild campaign goal by raising more than $83.5 million! If this isn't enough to celebrate, in 2013 we also set an all-time record for zoo visitor attendance!

During the eight-year campaign, our community experienced the deepest recession since the Great Depression. But world events continued to illustrate the urgent need to save our planet’s wildlife and habitats, to create a future in which animals and people can co-exist and thrive together. So, with passion and commitment, we continued to tell our story. Our animals continued to provide the wonder and joy that we all experience when we visit the zoo. And you continued to show your generous support!

This member-submitted photo iconically conveys the wonder and wild donors sought to create through Woodland Park Zoo’s campaign. New, sustainably designed Humboldt penguin exhibit, 2009. (Photo: Jennifer Svane)

Many of you made gifts beyond your annual membership fees to support a program or initiative that especially touched your heart. Some of you helped improve the quality of animal care and nutrition at the zoo, and expanded the ways visitors can get up-close experiences with animals and keepers.

With upgraded medical equipment and training, and new enrichment and behavioral husbandry programs, the zoo is advancing the science of animal care and health, thanks to generous supporters. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)
A new centralized commissary enables animal diets to be more scientifically managed and efficiently delivered. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)
Many new animal feeding experiences allow visitors to get closer than ever to the wonders of wildlife. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)

Some of you helped us build a strong early learning program and engage more underserved youth in science and environmental learning opportunities.

Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ
Generous supporters have helped grow the zoo’s early learning, elementary, middle school and high school programs, along with a new master’s program offered with Miami University, reaching more underserved communities and sparking learning adventures across the lifespan. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)

Others of you helped build wonderful new exhibit experiences: Zoomazium; the Historic Carousel; flamingos and meerkats; the award-winning Humboldt penguin exhibit and West Entrance; and the Asian Tropical Forest Initiative featuring the Bamboo Forest Reserve exhibit.

The first zoo project in the nation to earn Gold LEED certification, Zoomazium is a nature-inspired indoor play space designed for kids 8 years and younger, featuring whole-bodied learning, imaginative play, and integration with existing zoo programs. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)
The sustainably designed Humboldt penguin exhibit earned the zoo its fifth exhibit achievement award. Not only does the closed-loop system save millions of gallons of water a year, the experience transports zoo visitors to the rocky coastal peninsula of Punta San Juan, home to the largest breeding population of Humboldt penguins in Peru. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)
The zoo’s Historic Carousel was already 100 years old when installed in 2007. Since 2011, a solar array allows for renewable energy to power the carousel’s 100,000 rides a year and show our community how viable solar is in the Pacific Northwest. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)
Coming in May 2015: New endangered Malayan tiger and sloth bear exhibit complex will immerse you in the sights, sounds and smells of a tropical Asian forest teeming with life. Phase One opened in May 2013 thanks to your generosity. (Artist rendering:  Mir)

And many of you helped us foster innovative wildlife conservation projects in the Pacific Northwest and in faraway places such as Tanzania, Borneo, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

In 2009, WPZ announced creation of Papua New Guinea’s first officially decreed Conservation Area—88,000 acres of pristine forest, assisted by the zoo’s Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program and supporters like you. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)
The newly relaunched Living Northwest program includes (clockwise from top left): Raptor Ecology of the Shrub Steppe, Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project, Western Wildlife Outreach, Northwest Amphibian Recovery Project, and Butterflies of the Northwest.
Woodland Park Zoo and Panthera’s new tiger conservation project supports research, technology and anti-poaching rangers to protect key habitats endangered tigers use to hunt and breed in the Taman Negara region of Peninsular Malaysia. (Credit: Ruben Clements/Rimba)

The breadth of your giving has truly humbled us. Gifts large and small represent the community’s love for Woodland Park Zoo, and our shared goal to transform it into a modern wonder of excellent animal care, science learning, wildlife conservation and sustainability. From the nearly 800 people who participated in our Give Ten for Tigers social media campaign, to dozens of families embracing their ability to make leadership and legacy gifts, many of them remembering us in their wills. Local and national corporations also made major contributions, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in matching gifts.

During the campaign, many children began their philanthropic journeys by donating proceeds from bake sales or lemonade stands, and requesting donations to the zoo in lieu of birthday gifts. Since 2007, 13-year-old Maille Martin has frequently donated her charity allowance to the zoo, eventually convincing younger brother Griffin to join in. Since three years of age, another budding philanthropist, Lucas Engles-Klann, has held animal-themed auctions for the last five years, cumulatively donating nearly $12,000. When he was 10 years old in 2008, avid penguin enthusiast Harrison Grad made the first youth gift to support penguin care for the new exhibit. After learning about endangered species in school, for his seventh birthday Teddy Hanlon requested gifts in the form of donations to support our red pandas. Many youth filled up Tiger Banks and came to the zoo to present their checks in person.

Downloadable Tiger Banks are still available! Children can earn a Young Philanthropist Recognition Certificate with our roaring thanks. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)

The groundswell of private support has engendered in our board and staff a sense of humility and increased responsibility to our donors and our community: to fulfill our mission through naturalistic exhibits, engaging guest experiences, science education, and community-based conservation programs in our region and abroad; sustainability throughout the zoo; and  for transparency in all we do.

Every day our planet illustrates the challenges of creating a sustainable future for people and wildlife. That’s why we are committed to showcasing positive solutions, such as the award-winning Humboldt penguin exhibit, built as part of this campaign, which already has saved more than 15 million gallons of water compared to the old, 1950s-era exhibit. Another is our new collaboration with Panthera to protect endangered tigers in Peninsular Malaysia whose successes will be featured in our new Asian Tropical Forest exhibit, which also incorporates principles of sustainable design. You see, each time you visit the zoo, we’re creating more wonder and saving more wild – together.

We look forward to celebrating the campaign’s success when we open the Asian Tropical Forest exhibit and welcome tigers back to Seattle in May 2015. Meanwhile, please accept my profound gratitude for your support during the campaign. As I’ve shown, it has already made a tremendous difference to our mission on and beyond our 92 acres.

Thank you.

Supporters enabled the birth and care of more than 1400 animals at Woodland Park Zoo during the More Wonder More Wild campaign. (Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ)
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Thank you Woodland Park Zoo Volunteers!

April 9, 2014, 3:08 pm
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Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, communications
Photos by: Dennis Dow


It is National Volunteer Week and we would like to thank our talented volunteers who are an essential part of making Woodland Park Zoo a joy to visit and a phenomenal place to work. Our 750 volunteers and their devotion to our animals and passion for our mission are an incredible presence at the zoo. With their in-depth knowledge of every corner of the zoo it’s hard to imagine operating without them. Whether it’s assisting keepers with cleaning (scooping poop), speaking with children in Zoomazium (giggle fest), pruning roses with the horticulture staff (wear your gloves!), educating and assisting our guests (kids and big kids at heart!), doing office work (keeping us in check), helping with diet prep (chopping carrots like a top chef) or providing event support (musical chairs), their enthusiasm and passion for this institution keeps us all inspired.

As ambassadors for Woodland Park Zoo, each and every volunteer is put through a rigorous training program to familiarize them with every aspect of the zoo and help promote our mission of saving wildlife and habitat. While training does not include a 3-shovel Zoo Doo race across the North Meadow, the lost engagement ring scavenger hunt, or a timed identification quiz on our 300+ species… we have no doubt they could pull it off.

Thank you Woodland Park Zoo volunteers! You are all amazing and we are grateful for your superb service and unending dedication to our animals and guests.  




For more information zoo volunteer opportunities, visit www.zoo.org/volunteer. 

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Birthday bears to get a snowy present

April 10, 2014, 10:18 am
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Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications


Winter is coming.

The bears will enjoy a snowy birthday treat on April 15. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

In celebration of grizzly brothers Keema and Denali's 20th birthday, our friends at Crystal Mountain will deliver snow fresh from the Cascades to the birthday bears on April 15.

If you can’t join us in person, check out the Bear Cam at 10:00 a.m. that day to watch the scene streaming live.

The bears slept through their actual birthday back on January 15 of this year. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Keema and Denali turned 20 back in January of this year, but bears being bears, they slept right through the milestone, all cozy in their winter slumber. 

As the boys enjoy their belated birthday present, zoo staff will be on hand to share fascinating facts about the grizzlies, the natural history of bears, and how the zoo plays an important role in helping to conserve bears and other apex predators in the state.

Approximately 25,000-30,000 black bears exist in Washington and biologists believe there may be as few as 10 individual grizzly bears in the North Cascades and 50-70 in the Selkirk Ecosystem of northeast Washington. 

Thanks to Crystal Mountain Resort for making this awesome birthday party possible!
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Grizzlies have a birthday blast

April 15, 2014, 2:46 pm
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Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications


What did you do for your 20th birthday?

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Today, grizzly brothers Keema and Denali celebrated two decades by diving face-first into piles of snow courtesy of Crystal Mountain Resort. Hidden inside the snow were special birthday treats, from meaty knuckle bones and fish, to peanut butter and marshmallow fluff.

Video: Grizzly bear snow battle. Produced by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Though the bears technically turned 20 back in January, they slept right through their big day as bears tend to do during their winter slumber. So we held off on their birthday surprise until today.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

This morning, our friends from Crystal Mountain trucked in piles of snow fresh from the Cascades and loaded it into the exhibit. Keepers and volunteers lovingly tucked Keema and Denali’s favorite treats into the snow. Between the smell of the food and the feel of the soft snow, the bears were in for a treat!

There are a few tried and true methods for enjoying a snowy birthday:

Photo by John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo.

Make a snow angel.

Photo by John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo.

Use your snout and claws to dig in. When delicacy doesn’t get the job done, SMASH!

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

This is your pile. You must protect it.

Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

Sharing is caring, but everyone has limits.

Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

Feel the tickle of the cold snow on your nose and tongue.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Invite a friend. The river otters got their own little pile of snow to play with.

Your next chance to see the bears tear into special treats is Bear Affair: Living Northwest Conservation presented by Brown Bear Car Wash, coming up on June 7. Throughout that day we’ll set up scenes for the bears to smash through—from a backyard wedding to a hiker’s camp—while showing you what steps you can take next time to bear-proof your yard or campsite and coexist safely!
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Penguins and Senior Zoo Walkers welcome Mayor Murray to the zoo

April 17, 2014, 3:14 pm
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Posted by: Laura Lockard, Public Affairs


A suited Mayor Murray greets a tuxedoed penguin. Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

We had a very special guest at the zoo this morning, our very own Mayor of Seattle, Ed Murray!

Senior Zoo Walkers enjoy a Q&A with Mayor Murray at the zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

As they wrapped up this morning’s stroll around zoo grounds, the Senior Zoo Walkers—who participate in a joint Seattle parks and zoo senior health program—were joined by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray for conversation and a cup of coffee. After a welcome by zoo President and CEO, Deborah Jensen, Mayor Murray addressed several of the walkers’ questions and concerns about our city, including traffic and bicycle safety, and funding for the city’s parks and the zoo.

Coffee and conversation at the zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

The Mayor acknowledged that many necessary infrastructure projects at the zoo, local parks and community centers have gone unfunded and incomplete. He expressed his support for a park district and funding package to support these major maintenance requirements, which are currently under review by the city council.

After speaking to the walkers, the Mayor had the rare chance to meet the zoo’s newest addition, a Humboldt penguin chick. Who can resist a four-day-old penguin chick? Certainly not Mayor Murray!

The Mayor feels the downy feather coating of a newly hatched chick. Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

The rest of the colony then waddled up to greet the Mayor with open flippers!

Black and white dress code, tie optional. Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

Zookeeper John Samaras provided an up-close briefing on these endangered species among the rookery. The Mayor then had some grueling penguin feeding training, a task our penguins were glad to participate in. Looks like he’s the right man for the job!

Even the heron is impressed with the Mayor’s penguin feeding skills. Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

Thanks for stopping by #SeaMayor Murray—we hope you don’t smell too much like herring!
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ZooTunes returns: See concerts, save animals

April 21, 2014, 8:14 am
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Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications



Another season of BECU ZooTunes presented by Carter Subaru summer concerts is heating up with this year’s blazing lineup:

June 18 — Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood
June 22 — Mavis Staples / Marc Cohn
July 2 — Gregg Allman
July 6 — Carolina Chocolate Drops / The Del McCoury Band
July 30 — Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band with special guests Lake Street Dive
July 31 — Lucinda Williams
August 6 — Taj Mahal Trio / John Hiatt & The Combo
August 10 — Robert Cray Band / Shemekia Copeland
August 17 — Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue / Galactic
August 20 & 21 — Pink Martini featuring China Forbes and Storm Large
August 24 — Ziggy Marley

Join us on the North Meadow for great music all summer long. When you see concerts, you save animals by supporting Woodland Park Zoo’s mission!

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Fri., April 25 at 8:00 a.m. Current zoo members enjoy a special presale on Wed., Apr. 23—look for an email in your inbox that day for the exclusive ticket purchase link.
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Take a green tour in honor of Earth Day

April 22, 2014, 11:43 am
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Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications


When you love wildlife, every day is Earth Day.

An Asian small-clawed otter pup. Photo by Stan Milkowski/Woodland Park Zoo.

Get into the green spirit on your next visit to the zoo: use our free mobile app to take the GPS-guided Green Zoo Tour. Discover the sometimes hidden ways we save water and energy and creatively reduce waste. Then get tips for how to do the same at home.


On the tour, you'll visit LEED-certified buildings, see solar panels at work, discover the difference trees make, and find out what we do with all that animal poop.

Together we can reduce our impact on the planet we share with wildlife and with future generations.
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Welcome, Xerxes!

April 23, 2014, 1:19 pm
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Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications


We have a new king on the savanna! Welcome our new male South African lion, Xerxes, to Woodland Park Zoo’s lion exhibit.

The handsome new king on the savanna. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Xerxes is 6.5 years old and was born on November 6, 2007 at Oklahoma City Zoo. He lived at El Paso Zoo from January 2010 until he came to Seattle in March 2014. He has been behind the scenes in standard quarantine for newly arrived animals, where he received health checkups and an assessment from our animal health staff before being introduced to the exhibit.

This week he began his first ventures into the main outdoor lion yard. We watched from the lion viewing shelter as he gingerly entered the outdoor space and began to explore. Keepers say he is a very calm lion, and they expect him to settle into his new environment without any trouble. Xerxes is very striking, with his dark-tipped mane and regal expression!

Xerxes is also exceptionally vocal.  He roars like other lions do, but he also does a lot of low grumbles, high pitched moans, and a chuffing sound similar to a tiger.  He is very talkative with his keepers and Adia, our female lion.

Stepping out. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Xerxes is being introduced to the exhibit on his own so he can feel out his new turf, but soon he will join female Adia. Keepers say the two have shown very positive signs for a smooth introduction such as vocalizing to each other while in their behind-the-scenes dens. After their introductions are complete, you will be able to see this new pair hanging out together. We have high hopes that this pair might rear a litter of lion cubs, especially since as of yet, Xerxes is not represented in the gene pool for the lion Species Survival Plan conservation breeding program. Adia gave birth to four lion cubs in November 2012. 

Keepers take turns keeping an eye on the new lion, making sure he is able to successfully navigate his new home. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Xerxes will be on exhibit daily from 9:00 a.m. to noon. If everything goes according to schedule, introductions with Adia will begin the week of May 5th. 

You may be distracted by that glorious mane, but check out Xerxes’ tail! The lion tail is the only one in the cat family with a tassel at the tip. The tassel conceals a spine, or tail bones fused together. It’s not clear what the purpose of this spike on the tail is used for, but we think it looks pretty awesome. Lions use their tails for balance, and especially for signaling to cubs and even other lions during a hunt. 

Pulling the tassle of hair away from the tip of Xerxes’ tail during an animal health exam. You can see the spiky end that is usually hidden! Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

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Porcupine baby will make you squee

April 25, 2014, 9:36 am
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Posted by: Gigi Allianic with Rebecca Whitham, Communications


She’s got quills, they’re multiplying.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The littlest new addition to Woodland Park Zoo is a female North American porcupine, born April 4 in our Northern Trail exhibit.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo

Porcupine babies, known as porcupettes (seriously), are born with a soft coat of quills that begins to harden within hours of birth. This immediately protects them from predators...and thick gloves immediately protect us from them!

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo

Our porcupette was born to Molly and Oliver, both 3-year-old residents of Northern Trail. This is their second offspring. The baby has access all day and night to the porcupine exhibit, but for now prefers to spend most of her time exploring in a den behind the scenes.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo

She grooms herself a lot and is experimenting with different solid foods, like this specially prepared biscuit designed for leafeaters that looks enormous in her tiny hands.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo

Zoo guests will begin seeing her more frequently on exhibit as she becomes more active and curious. Porcupettes become active quickly and, as natural tree dwellers, their climbing instincts take hold within weeks of delivery. Climbing makes foraging easier on the young, a skill set they exercise early in their development as they wean themselves from mom and transition to an herbivorous diet of leaves, twigs and bark.
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Chasing Summer and Insects: Barn Swallows Return

April 28, 2014, 12:01 pm
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Posted by: Karen Stevenson, Woodland Park Zoo Volunteer; additional contributions by Gretchen Albrecht, Zookeeper and Anna Martin, WPZ Volunteer



Photo by Gretchen Albrecht/WPZ.
Just a few weeks back, the memo came through. It read only, “They’re back!”

“They” are barn swallows, Hirundo rustica, and we’re celebrating their return. Here in the Pacific Northwest, barn swallows are harbingers of spring’s longer, warmer days. Warmer days awaken long-dormant insects, and barn swallows—like most little insectivores—follow their food (mostly flies and mosquitos, but also beetles, bees, wasps and so on). They summer here, then when “summer” moves south, they do too, following available food all the way to northeastern South America and the Caribbean basin.

Barn swallows are comfortable in our big cities, small towns, neighborhoods and farms. While other swallow species prefer to nest in natural structures hidden from view, such as cliffs or tree cavities, barn swallows build mud nests out in the open so we can see the entire nesting cycle. Any straight-edged overhang will do: it might be tucked under a bridge strut, a porch, a roof overhang or a barn rafter. (Hence their clever common name.) They nest under piers, on boats, and at Woodland Park Zoo, especially in the Family Farm’s cow barn and at the Raptor Center. Once they’re settled into a nest, if all goes well, they’ll likely come back year after year, raising one or two broods before chasing summer south at the first signs of fall. They usually leave by late September.

Photo by Gretchen Albrecht/WPZ.

We love barn swallows. With dark purple backs, almost golden breasts and deep forks in their tails, they’re beautiful. They sing a soft, twittering warble. They swoop and soar. And they eat bugs, thousands of them. More importantly, barn swallows are an environmental indicator species (consider them cousins to the canary in the coalmine). Barn swallows give us clues to the overall health of the environment as food and weather influence their migrations and populations. 

Close-up look at a geolocator on a barn swallow. Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

We are at the far northern reach of the barn swallows’ natural range and because populations shrink from the edges, we’re in perfect position to collect data on changes—and we’re beginning to see them. Fewer swallows nested on zoo grounds last summer than the year before and if you look back just a few years, you can track a gradual decline in active nests. We don’t yet know if the barn swallow populations are in decline, if the birds are simply nesting elsewhere in the vicinity, or if their range is moving south, but we’re eager to learn more. 

Four years ago, raptor keeper Gretchen Albrecht and docent Anna Martin, who have been monitoring WPZ’s barn swallows for years, began working with researchers to track the migration of our summer barn swallows. The Migratory Barn Swallow Tracking Project, part of the zoo’s Living Northwest conservation program, tracks the birds by putting identification bands and tiny geolocators on the swallows that nest at the zoo. When the birds return the next season, the team removes the geolocators and analyzes the data, which tells the story of the birds’ migration. 

Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

With that data foundation, researchers overlay weather and agricultural details (especially related to pesticide use) and begin to put together an understanding of the factors influencing the changes in our local barn swallow populations. The project continues today, and for the foreseeable future too. The memo, “they’re back” was great news.

So if the swallows have returned to their nests at the zoo, we hope that they’ll soon be settling elsewhere in the region. If you see a mud nest in your carport or barn, please don’t take it down. It may be a new home for a barn swallow family. (If the idea of barn swallow poop bothers you, place newspapers or cardboard beneath the nest and popular perching spots to help keep things tidy.) 

There are other things you can do too:
  • Avoid pesticides and let the birds help control insects naturally
  • Join a citizen science project to help clean up a park or waterway to provide habitat for birds.
  • Donate to a conservation project that helps protect local wildlife or vote for the Living Northwest projects at the zoo’s Quarters for Conservation kiosk next time you visit the zoo. (Be sure to ask for a token at the gate.)
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Once a cheetah, always a cheetah

April 29, 2014, 9:55 am
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Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications


It’s almost time to meet a cheetah! The newest animals to join the Woodland Park Zoo family will debut in a temporary exhibit May 1, with zoo members getting a special sneak preview on April 30. The celebration continues with an official grand opening presented by Chevron on May 3.

Missy the cheetah, photographed at Wildlife Safari in Oregon. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

How did the zoo’s new, temporary cheetah exhibit come about? It all started with a call from the Species Survival Plan, a conservation breeding program across accredited zoos. They enlisted our assistance to care for a pair of 14-year-old, female cheetahs for six to 18 months. The pair, Liz and Missy, has come to us from Oregon’s Wildlife Safari. By providing a temporary home for the girls, we are able to help the conservation breeding program by creating additional space for the next generation of offspring produced at Wildlife Safari. Between the two of them, Liz and Missy have reared 15 cubs of their own throughout their lifetimes!

Liz the cheetah, photographed at Wildlife Safari in Oregon. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo,

Though we have no shortage of freckled felines—Woodland Park Zoo is also home to jaguars, ocelots and snow leopards—you can easily spot the difference when it comes to cheetahs. That’s because these cats are built for speed.

Cheetahs can run in short bursts of up to 65 mph. Even when they are resting (and let’s face it, they are cats, so that’s pretty often), look for signs of the adaptations that make their speed possible like…

Keep an eye on the cheetah's back when it's on the move. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

…A flexible spine that coils like a spring and launches their body like a catapult…

Cheetahs are slender and narrow with large chests. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

…A large chest built for lungs and a heart to match that make high speeds possible…

Take a look at their specialized claws. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

…and blunt claws that act like track spikes and textured pads that act like tire treads.

Then there are those spots meant to camouflage them as they slink along savanna grasses, stalking prey before bursting into high speed (though hiding behind a rock gets the job done too).

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Yes, the fastest land mammal on the planet is a thing of beauty. But if we want to save this vulnerable species, it’s time to think fast. Through activities, chats and interpretive signage at the temporary cheetah exhibit, you’ll learn how zoos, conservationists and communities are working together to save this species through research, breeding and field work. Examining these themes for cheetahs inspired us to make over the entire corridor where their exhibit is located, now called the Wildlife Survival Zone. The newly reinterpreted Wildlife Survival Zone will examine what it takes in zoos and in the wild to save other threatened species like the red panda, cranes and western pond turtles. Look for the Wildlife Survival Zone in the southwest corner of the zoo. We’ll see you out there!
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Eager froglets hatched ready for leaping!

April 30, 2014, 8:00 am
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Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications


Baby Solomon Island leaf frogs. Photo by Alyssa Borek/Woodland Park Zoo.

Solomon Island leaf frogs, Ceratobatrachus guentheri, also known as triangle frogs, are a very special type of amphibian because they go through their tadpole stage inside the egg, hatching as completely formed froglets. The juvenile frogs emerge from their eggs as fully developed frogs in a process called direct development. Instead of spending their first days as a tadpole, or polliwog, these frogs are hatched ready to leap! The tiny frogs grow very quickly, starting at only an eighth of an inch when they emerge. They eat very small insects until they are large enough to transition to an adult diet of arthropods and larger insects, and even smaller reptiles and amphibians.

The little froglets practice ambushing tiny insects, a behavior they will use later to pounce on any prey that happens to wander through their territory. It’s amazing to see these tiny creatures emerge from an egg and almost immediately become self-sufficient hunters. 

A pointy-nosed Solomon Island leaf frog on a mossy bed. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

In 1991, Woodland Park Zoo won a prestigious Edward H. Bean Award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for our Solomon Island leaf frog propagation program. The award recognizes a significant captive propagation effort that enhances conservation of the species. At the time, Woodland Park Zoo was one of the first facilities to breed a viable offspring of this species and was very successful with many births in 1989-1997. 

It wasn't until just recently that this species was brought back to the zoo in September of last year. The zoo now has 6 adults and 7 babies. The photo below, taken by Day Exhibit keeper Alyssa Borek, shows just how tiny these frogs appear! 

These babies were born at the zoo in early February. Photo by Alyssa Borek/Woodland Park Zoo.

The frogs are found on their native Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea’s Buka Island and Bougainville Island, in a variety of habitats from dense rain forest to coconut plantations. They bury their eggs among the leaf-littered floor of the rain forest, often in the crook of tree roots or rotten stumps. The pea-sized eggs hatch in about one month, with the tiniest froglets appearing at a whopping 0.6 cm long.

These frogs are polymorphic, meaning there are many variations in color, from golden earthy browns to bright green. They also have special camouflage in the way they are shaped, with a triangle face that appears much like a leaf on the forest floor. 

The juvenile frogs are a light green right now, but their coloration may change as they mature. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

If you were walking through the rain forest at night, you would hear these frogs much sooner than you would see them. The frogs have a very unique call, a sharp barking noise that is often mistaken for a small dog. The barking begins when the sun goes down and the frogs begin to sing.

Adult Solomon Island leaf frogs chill out together in their leafy exhibit. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

The Solomon Island leaf frogs at the zoo can be found in the Day Exhibit, kept in a mossy, warm (78°F) and humid (80%) environment. Because the frogs are nocturnal their environment is kept dimly lit, which also mimics the shadowy rain forest floor. The exhibit has special hiding places for the frogs, so you have to look closely to spot them. They eat insects, mealworms and sometimes a special treat— earthworms. 

This frog blends in with its leaf nest, perhaps protecting a clutch of eggs. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

Next time you are in the Day Exhibit, be sure to check out these amazing amphibians!
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Sky-High Enrichment for Giraffe Family

May 2, 2014, 12:16 pm
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Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications


Giraffe calf Misawa browsing. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

Giraffes are the tallest browsers in the world, reaching up to the tip-top of acacia trees on the African savanna. The acacia leaves themselves are packed with water, so the giraffes can go a long time without drinking. In the wild, giraffes spend most of their day nibbling on these leaves, a slow process because they can only grab a few leaves in each bite. They can eat up to 75 pounds of leaves in a single day. That is a lot of browsing! At the zoo, keepers provide our giraffes with special, sky-high enrichment in their indoor barn to encourage their browsing instinct. We stopped by the giraffe barn on a soggy spring day to check out some of their indoor activities.

Our video host, Jordan Veasley, spoke with keeper Katie Ahl about the importance of recreating the wild browsing experience. In the video below you can see Katie and Jordan prepare bucket enrichment for the giraffes. Then Katie asks Jordan to participate in a high-level zookeeper activity, which Katie calls “being the tree.”



If you look closely you can see the sticky saliva that assists the giraffes in coating any thorns they might swallow, allowing them to digest the prickles without injuring their gut. Their tongues are extremely dexterous, able to reach the most elusive leaf. You can see they are a dark color too, helping protect the tongue from harsh sunlight; after all it is exposed for a majority of the day.

Our three giraffes, including baby Misawa, spend some of their time indoors when it is very rainy. The majority of their time is spent outdoors on the savanna with zebra, ostrich, gazelle and oryx. 

Giraffes at Woodland Park Zoo dine on acacia leaves, hay, carrots, lettuce and special biscuits. Want to make a people version of giraffe enrichment? Try this giraffe-inspired summer salad recipe!

Giraffe Summer Salad

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups of kale and butter lettuce (chopped or shredded)
  • ½ cup shredded carrots
  • ¼ cup raisins 
  • ¼ cup pistachio nuts (crushed or whole)
  • Handful of your favorite veggies such as cucumber or red bell peppers, sliced thinly 
  • 2 cups black-eyed peas (cooked)

For the dressing:

  • ¼ teaspoon minced ginger
  • ¼ cup minced onions
  • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 1 serrano pepper (chopped in tiny bits)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
  • Pinch of sea salt

Stir together dressing ingredients, be sure to crush the cilantro and pepper (using a mortar and pestle if you have one). Toss the mix over the salad. For a real giraffe enrichment experience, you can place the salad in a tree, but we recommend finding a sunny picnic spot instead. Enjoy!
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24th Annual Mom & Me

May 7, 2014, 11:58 am
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Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications


Celebrate moms of all species with us at the 24th annual Mom & Me presented by Verity Credit Union, Sat., May 10, 2014, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.


Moms get half off admission during the event and families can look for fun activities throughout the day, including live performances on the North Meadow, keeper talks focused on wildlife moms, and a scavenger hunt that could win you a flight tour for two from Kenmore Air!

Ready to round up the family and plan an outing? Send a free Mother's Day e-card to make your plans. Here's just a little taste of the e-card designs you can choose from:




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Pouch checks reveal incredible first stages of a joey’s life

May 9, 2014, 8:00 am
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Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications


This is a tale of two joeys:

A 7-month-old wallaby who is just emerging from its mother’s pouch…

Wallaby joey peeks out of the pouch. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

…and a nearly 4-month-old wallaroo who is giving us a whole new perspective on what goes on inside the pouch.

What we've seen will amaze you. 


Let’s take a closer look at the developmental stages of the two joeys. 

Wallaby Joey Emerges

A hand, an ear, a nose—for the last few months, we have kept a close eye out for any sign of the latest wallaby joey emerging from its mother’s pouch. Born the size of a lima bean back in October, our newest wallaby joey has finally begun to peek out!

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

You can see it still has quite a bit of developing left to do. Soon the joey will grow in a furry coat and spend more time peeking out. As we head into summer, we’ll see the baby eventually begin to take little trips outside of mom’s pouch, returning for feedings. 

Inside the Pouch of a Wallaroo

Here’s where things get awesome. Another joey—a wallaroo born in January—isn’t quite at the same developmental level as the emerging wallaby joey. The wallaroo joey is still tucked away securely in mom’s pouch. But our dedicated zookeepers have been doing pouch checks during the joey’s first few weeks to keep an eye on its development and to document the little-seen earliest stages of a joey’s life. 


It all starts with trust. Keepers have been working with wallaroo mom, Tullah, to get her comfortable with up-close, hands-on care. This means that when it’s time for medical exams or special care, Tullah is already at ease in the presence of her keepers. Without this early training, the pouch checks would never have been possible.  

Zookeeper Wendy Gardner began the pouch checks when the joey was just under 2 weeks old, and has continued to do them about once a week throughout its development. The system is simple, but has yielded amazing results.

Step One: Yam Time
Wendy and her fellow keeper, Allison Barr, head into the wallaroo’s indoor den and offer Tullah a favorite treat—yam. Even this step took some experimenting to get right. Yams cut too small made Tullah more likely to hunch over while eating. A lengthy slice encourages her to sit up while munching, putting her in the perfect position for a pouch check.


Step Two: Opening the pouch
Wearing a headlamp for illumination, Wendy gently touches around the pouch and then eases it open slowly to get a look inside. The headgear sheds light on what’s happening inside the dark, warm and humid pouch environment.


Step Three: Observe and Document
While Wendy holds the pouch slightly open, Allison snaps photographs and the two observe the joey’s latest developments. They are looking to see that it is growing steadily, and also tracking what has changed. For example, fingers that were a fleshy blob at first started to become distinct digits in later weeks, and by day 55, keepers could see little nails forming on the fingers. 


Shedding new light on these earliest stages of development will ultimately help scientists better understand a species that is so unlike our own when it comes to infant development. Wendy and Allison hope to eventually document and share their findings with others to increase the body of knowledge out there and help shape best practices when it comes to the care of these fascinating animals.
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A bow of gratitude to zoo and parks supporters

May 12, 2014, 10:05 am
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Posted by: Laura Lockard, Public Affairs


After many weeks of deliberation and receiving public comments and testimony, Seattle City Council voted unanimously to place a Seattle Park District on the August 5th ballot. Your calls, emails and testimonies made this happen—and for this we offer a deep bow of thanks.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

What a park district means for Seattle

In August, Seattleites will have the opportunity to vote YES to fund critical maintenance projects for Seattle’s parks and the zoo, including structural seismic and building upgrades to our exhibits, and infrastructure improvements that will move us closer to our sustainability goals. If voters approve this measure, the major backlog of maintenance, upkeep and operations of the 6,000 acres of city parklands, including the zoo, would no longer be neglected due to budget cuts and competition with the city’s other important services. A Seattle Park District would create a dedicated funding source for the zoo and parks for generations to come.

What’s next

As a zoo and parks visitor, you might be interested in learning how a park district works. Want to do more? Consider throwing a block party, talking to your friends and neighbors about the vote or volunteering. Stay on top of the latest news by signing up for ZooAction alerts.

How to launch a summer of hard work? With a party, of course! We hope you will join us at the campaign kick-off celebration on May 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Yesler Community Center. Click here to RSVP.

Once again, thank you for all of your support. Together, we will keep the zoo and our parks the true gems of Seattle!
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