Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications, with Sue Andersen, Zookeeper

It seems like every time we do a spider story, someone gets mad at us for having to see these creatures on their screen. But we’re going to help you learn to love spiders, starting with these baby golden orb weavers seen here at just one hour old!

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Spiders are good people. We talked with zookeeper, Sue Andersen, to get the scoop on these amazing critters on the occasion of the third egg case hatching in Bug World in the past two weeks.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Seen here are golden orb weaver spiderlings, fresh out of their egg case. According to Sue, “spiders actually develop from eggs into what is termed post-embryos (affectionately called ‘eggs with legs’ by arachnologists!) within the safety of their egg case. By the time they emerge from their egg case, they are first instar (or stage) as these guys and gals are. At this stage they are looking more like baby spiders. Some species of both true spiders (such as these Nephila inaurata madagascariensis) and primitive spiders (such as tarantulas) molt into second instar before emerging, depending on their species.”

An egg case contains 50-100 spiderlings. Sue tells us, “these spiderlings will continue to clump together until they molt again, then they will disperse, having the ability to each make a perfect orb web of its own.”

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The silk of this species is so strong that it is sometimes used as fishing line by people living in the spider’s native Africa. Members of the genus Nephila are found on several continents, including the beautiful Nephila clavipes found in our southern states.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Like all spiders, the golden orb weaver is a great natural pest control of flies, mosquitos, and agricultural pests. In Bug World, Sue provides care for the spiderlings, feeding them first fruit flies, then houseflies, and eventually crickets. She gives them a fine misting of clean water each day to drink from, which they let drip down their little legs before bringing it up to their mouths.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The golden orb weaver is probably the most memorable display in the Bug World exhibit—it’s the spider that hangs out on its web with no glass between the animal and the visitor. Some of the female spiderlings may go on display as adults, while others will remain behind the scenes in the Bug World lab as part of the breeding colony. Sue’s true love of spiders breaks through as she tells us that still others will move to other accredited conservation zoos to “establish and safeguard their own precious colonies of this amazing, beautiful, and charismatic arachnid.”

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

On this Endangered Species Day, we celebrate nature's latest gift to us—a critically endangered Indochinese box turtle baby, newly hatched before our eyes and thriving.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Our zookeepers put long hours into incubating eggs, maintaining a warm, safe environment for those about to hatch. When they are lucky, they get to see the big payoff happen before their eyes!

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

This month, we were there to greet an Indochinese box turtle as it hatched into the world. Using its egg tooth (the pointy tip you can see best in the photo below), it broke through the shell when it was ready to hatch after 78 days of incubation. At only about an inch and a half in length, the little fella is too small for any of the exhibit spaces we have in the Day Exhibit, so for now, it’s being reared behind the scenes.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Zookeepers are especially excited about this tiny addition, as it marks the first hatching of this critically endangered species at our zoo. And that’s even more important when you realize there are only 19 Indochinese box turtles in North American zoos in total! The hatching marks a triumph for a species struggling to survive in a world where almost 50% of known turtle species are listed as “Threatened.”

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The Indochinese (or flowerback) box turtle is native to China and Vietnam where its populations are plummeting due to over collection as food and as an ingredient for traditional medicine. Turtles have been around for 220 million years and survived the massive extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs. Yet these ancient survivors are now going extinct faster than any other group of terrestrial vertebrates.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

It’s not too late. Every time you visit the zoo, you make it possible for us to support conservation projects in the field, like the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Egyptian Tortoise Conservation Program, or our homegrown Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project, part of the Living Northwest conservation program.

Take Action for Turtles

You can continue the work at home in your own community. Native turtles need clean water, safe places to nest, and a healthy food supply to survive. You can help make these things possible by taking a few simple actions at home:

Clean Gardening
Keep turtles' water clean by reducing or eliminating chemical pesticides from your gardening practices. Pesticides get into water, and once water flows away from your garden, it eventually empties into surrounding water systems, from freshwater ponds to the Puget Sound, bringing contaminants into wildlife habitat.

Habitat Restoration
Make a better home for native wildlife: Join a habitat restoration program in your community, or start in your own backyard by using native plants that nourish and support local wildlife rather than compete with it. Don't miss our Backyard Habitat classes for hands-on lessons you can apply at home or in your community.

What will you pledge to do for turtles?

Posted by: Puget Sound Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers

Photo by Jodi Shaw.

It’s almost time for the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) annual rhino conservation fundraiser, Bowling for Rhinos. But this year, the Puget Sound chapter of AAZK is going to try something a little different.

We’ll be curling for rhinos!

WHEN: Sat., June 7, 4:30 – 9:30 p.m. We will have two shifts for curling; 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (choose one or the other)
WHERE:Granite Curling Club of Seattle, 1440 N 128th Street, Seattle, WA.
COST: $20 just to eat/hang out (party only) and watch the fun or $30 to curl and eat (plus a small online registration fee)

This is your opportunity to demonstrate your support for endangered rhinos and the worldwide effort to conserve endangered species. Please remember that when these animals are gone, it's forever; there is no bringing them back.

You can help the Puget Sound AAZK achieve its goal of raising $13,000 by any one of three ways:
1) Register for curling. As with all of our Bowling for Rhinos fundraisers, participants are asked to raise a minimum of $30 in sponsorship. Prizes will be awarded to the two participants at our event who raise the most in sponsor dollars.

2) Register to come to the party, hang out with us and show your support. This includes access to a taco bar, supplied by Pecado Bueno in Fremont, a raffle and bingo, and a marketplace where we’ll be selling t-shirts, Northwest Cellars Wine, Endangered Species Chocolate, and custom Curling for Rhinos scarves!

3) Can't make it to the event? Find a participant on our PSAAZK webpage and make a donation in their name. Registration and Donations can be made at psaazk.org and at brownpapertickets.com.

Help strike out extinction at the Puget Sound chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers 2014 Curling for Rhinos fundraiser.

This event is a great opportunity to try curling because Granite Curling Club is a members-only club not normally open to the general public. Don’t worry about whether or not you or others know how to curl, because an hour of instruction on the ice is included as part of the event. Sign up early to secure one of only 80 spots (40 curlers per shift).

Photo by Kerr Bachus.

About the Event

Each year the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) sponsors Bowling for Rhinos, a fundraising bowl-a-thon. Over 60 AAZK chapters participate throughout the U.S. and Canada. Bowling for Rhinos provides zoo keepers of the world an avenue to raise funds and awareness for rhino and habitat conservation.

The beauty of the idea is that these fundraisers are organized by volunteers, who donate their time and organizational skills to help raise money to send directly to the places in need. Since all the people involved are volunteers, 100% of all donations are sent directly to these in situ rhino conservation areas!

Bowling for Rhinos began on a small scale and is now the signature conservation effort of AAZK. Events across North America raise over $300,000 annually. In 1990, AAZK began by supporting the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (formerly Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary) in Kenya and has since expanded the program.

Photo by Elizabeth Gray.

What does Bowling for Rhinos support?

In Kenya, Bowling for Rhinos supports the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy where our donations help protect both black and white rhinos and most of the other species native to East Africa.

In Indonesia, Bowling for Rhinos supports the remaining Javan rhinos at Ujung Kulon National Park, and the Sumatran rhinos in Bukit Barisan Selatan and Way Kambas National Parks through the International Rhino Foundation.

Bowling for Rhinos also supports Action for Cheetahs in Kenya. Cheetahs share much of the same habitat as rhinos and by working to conserve cheetahs we are also saving rhinos and the countless other species that call that habitat home.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, many will kick off the summer season with a camping trip. Before you head out on your adventure, challenge yourself with this bear-smart quiz to see if you are a bear-smart camper.

Whatever your score, you'll see and learn so much more about coexisting with Northwest wildlife when you join us for Bear Affair: Living Northwest Conservation presented by Brown Bear Car Wash on Sat., June 7.

Grizzly bears Keema and Denali will show us what happens when you do not take safety precautions in your backyard or when hiking or camping in bear country. Zookeepers and conservation experts will be on hand to give you safety tips. Plus we'll spotlight the incredible native wildlife all around us, from bears to butterflies, and share ways you can join our Living Northwest program to conserve Washington's wildlife.

So tell us: how did you score?

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

What will you spot on the Savanna Cam today? Streaming live from Woodland Park Zoo’s award-winning African Savanna exhibit, our newest cam looks north over the exhibit plains from the African school house. Here you'll find the zoo’s giraffe, oryx, zebra, gazelle and ostrich, a mixed community of species that are naturally found together in the dry grasslands of Africa.

The camera runs 24/7 and the best viewing is from dawn 'til dusk. In this video clip, you'll get a little preview of what you'll see on the cam. Tune into the Savanna Cam live stream for a real-time look at the savanna.

VIDEO: Giraffe checks out the new Savanna Cam.
When watching, look for highlights on the savanna including:

Giraffe calf Misawa

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

Though he towers over the grazers around him, nearly one-year-old giraffe calf Misawa is notably smaller than his mother Olivia and aunt Tufani. Look for the giraffes to be stretching tall to browse from tree-top feeders throughout the exhibit. On days of inclement weather, the giraffes can more likely be found in their heated barn, better viewed through the Giraffe Barn Cam.

Feeding behaviors

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

It’s three square meals a day for us, but for the grazers of the African Savanna, they are surrounded by an all-day buffet. Look for the zebra, oryx and gazelle to be grazing from the grasses throughout the day. As each prefers something a little different—taller grass for some, shoots and short grass for others—they can share their meals without competition.

The mix of species out on the savanna hints at the incredible biodiversity of African wildlife. With support from visitors and members like you, Woodland Park Zoo collaborates with a variety of conservation organizations that share one mission: to protect the endangered native species of Africa and preserve their habitats.

Woodland Park Zoo works with the Tarangire Elephant Project and other collaborators for African wildlife conservation. Photo by Mustafa Hassanali/Tarangire Elephant Project.

From saving the tiny Egyptian tortoise to the enormous African elephant, catch up with the conservation collaborators we work with through the zoo's Partners for Wildlife and Wildlife Survival Fund programs.

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications

Calling all junior conservation researchers!

Junior Rangers check camera traps with Paso Pacifico in the Nicaraguan rain forest. Part of their data will help researchers to better understand carnivores such as jaguars and ocelots. Photo courtesy of Paso Pacifico.

What is it like to be a conservation researcher in the field? A big part of studying the behavior of animals is being very patient and waiting a long time (sometimes hours, sometimes days!) for animals to make a move. Researchers chart the behaviors they observe to gather enough data for their scientific investigations.

Field researchers use ethograms to document animal behavior. An ethogram is a chart which displays a list of possible behaviors as well as a timeline. Using an ethogram, researchers can quickly document the minute-by-minute actions and behaviors of an observation subject. Researchers also rely on sketching and drawing, or photography to supplement their notes.

Practicing backyard animal observations is a great way to introduce your kiddos to conservation science. This activity promotes critical thinking, math, curiosity, creativity and most of all, patience!

We want to see your kids’ animal behavior research! (And we have a pretty awesome incentive.)

Enter for a chance to win the grand prize: an overnight zoo campout experience for your kid and their favorite adult on August 1, 2014. Two lucky runners up will receive a zoo animal plush.

All kids ages 2-12 years old are encouraged to enter and parents are encouraged to assist in research and provide expedition snacks and supervision.

How to enter

Enter the contest by downloading the ethogram template and printing it out.
Bring the template with you to the zoo, on your next hike or even in your own backyard.
Follow the directions on the template to complete the 3-minute ethogram and animal behavior notes. Then draw (or tape a photo) of your animal on the back of the same page.
When you are finished, mail your template to the zoo:

MyZoo Kids c/o Pisto, Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th Street, Seattle, WA 98103 or drop off at any zoo membership office by June 30, 2014.

See complete rules and guidelines. Entries are due by Friday, June 30, 2014.

These kiddos are checking in on remote cameras which they have helped set up in hopes of catching a glimpse of either a jaguar or an ocelot. Photo courtesy of Paso Pacifico.

Field researchers check a camera trap on the savanna. Photo courtesy of Tarangire Elephant Project.

For young children: Assist younger children by asking questions like “What is the animal doing now?” Help them fill out the ethogram chart and then let them get creative with the drawing portion of the contest.

Hey parents! Help your kids by using a stopwatch or timer to track each stage of the chart. Give kids a “ready, set, go…” to prompt their observations.

Materials you will need

Printed Animal Observations Contest template
A good spot to sit and observe your animal
Pencil
Small camera or drawing pad
Stopwatch/cell phone with timer function
Envelope and stamp to mail in your entry

Good luck to our junior researchers out there!

Setting up field observations with the help of a video camera. Photo courtesy of Mbeli Bai Gorilla Project.

Thomas Breuer prepares for a field expedition on the bank of the Sangha River. Photo courtesy of Mbeli Bai Gorilla Project.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications with Laura McComesky, Zookeeper

Lion-tailed macaque, Sita, gets up close to her keeper’s camera. Photo by Andy Antilla/Woodland Park Zoo.

Monkey see, monkey do—and it's all thanks to cataract surgery that has successfully restored vision and quality of life to 29-year-old lion-tailed macaque, Sita (SEE-tah).

Going blind wasn't easy for Sita. In February, keepers first noticed in one of Sita’s eyes the tell-tale cloudiness characteristic of a cataract. Soon it was both eyes. The cataracts came on fast and worsened quickly, giving Sita very little time to adjust to this drastic change.

Sita’s left pupil was the first to appear cloudy in February 2014. Photo by Andy Antilla/Woodland Park Zoo.

As her eyesight disappeared, Sita struggled to do everyday tasks. Woodland Park Zoo’s lion-tailed macaque exhibit reflects the endangered species’ Indian forest habitat, with complex, arboreal pathways that suddenly became too challenging for Sita to navigate. At that point, she was moved behind the scenes where she could receive more close attention from her keepers.

Sita on exhibit. Photo courtesy of Harold Fox.

But even there she struggled. Sita's keepers would settle in next to the mesh divider to offer her a meal, and then wait patiently for 20, sometimes 30 minutes while she slowly, cautiously made her way over. Not only had she lost her sight, but the experience also rocked her confidence. It was clear that the cataracts were affecting her quality of life as much as her vision.

Thankfully, there was hope. Our animal health team consulted with veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Tom Sullivan at the Animal Eye Clinic of Seattle, and together determined that Sita was a good candidate for cataract surgery.

What exactly is a cataract? It’s a clouding of the lens—the part of the eye that focuses light—not uncommon in old age as proteins in the eye clump together. Cataract surgery is the removal of the clouded lens, which is sometimes followed by the installation of an artificial lens.

Cross-sectional view of right human eye. Courtesy of National Institutes of Health.

You've undoubtedly heard of this condition before as it occurs in humans and across the animal kingdom. In fact, just a few weeks ago, the zoo partnered with Dr. Sullivan to remove a cataract from a peregrine falcon's eye.

These kinds of health issues that are ubiquitous across the animal kingdom—cataracts, cancer, heart disease—will be the topic of the Zoobiquity conference at the University of Washington and Woodland Park Zoo this fall. We’re seeking to bring together human and animal health professionals to share knowledge and experiences. Sita's story is exactly the kind of case study that can unite doctors across the fields.

Sita at the animal hospital for her procedure. Photo by Andy Antilla/Woodland Park Zoo.

It took only a few minutes per eye to complete Sita’s procedure inside the zoo’s animal hospital. After Sita was anesthetized under the care of our veterinary team, Dr. Sullivan carefully removed the opaque lens from each eye using gentle suction.

A close up of Sita’s eyes. Photo by Andy Antilla/Woodland Park Zoo.

Once Sita awoke from sedation, zookeepers transferred her back to a holding area in the exhibit for further recovery.

It didn’t take long before our hopes were affirmed—the monkey started to show signs of seeing once again! Since she no longer has eye lenses, Sita’s vision is not focused. But it still has made a notable difference in her ability to detect her surroundings and interact with others.

To help Sita through her recovery, the keepers kept her behind the scenes with them for a few days while she finished up her post-surgery medication. We knew Sita was back to her old self when she was savvy enough to realize we were trying to sneak meds in her food. Turns out if you slip the medication into cookie mix, even tough-willed Sita can't resist.

Sita on exhibit. Photo courtesy of Harold Fox.

Sita has since returned back on exhibit and for the first time in months is able to navigate around on her own. She shares the exhibit with two males and one other female, Brie. Brie is a livewire compared to Sita, the laid back one. The two are figuring out their relationship all over again as Sita bounces back from her ordeal. She was once much more confident, but losing her sight for a time and going through recovery has made her more timid and tentative. Keepers expect her confidence will return as she readjusts to her sighted life.

For Sita, things are looking good.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

Porcupine baby, Marty, and her stick. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

When you’re a porcupine baby, if you've got a stick, you've got a party.

VIDEO: Baby porcupine chews on sticks. Produced by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Look for our 8-week-old female porcupette, Marty, on exhibit in the Northern Trail. You'll see her there with mom, Molly. The two are doing well!

Posted by: Gigi Allianic, Communications

The chick was photographed here at 8 days old. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

For the first time at Woodland Park Zoo, an Edwards’s pheasant has hatched—a bird that is believed to be extinct in the wild!

The Edwards’s pheasant is not exactly common in zoos either. Only 15 individuals live in seven zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. We have been providing a home for a pair since 2012.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

You can see the 6-year-old mother and 1-year-old father in our Conservation Aviary located in the Temperate Forest zone. The little chick, now just under 2 weeks old, is being hand-reared by zookeepers behind the scenes to help ensure it gains weight as expected of a growing chick and hits all of its important developmental milestones. With such a significant hatching of such a rare species, we’re taking extra precautions to ensure its health and survival.

A close up of the chick's feathers. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

In the near future, the chick will be moved to another zoo to help bolster the population of the species.

The Edwards’s pheasant is native to rain forest habitat in central Vietnam. It is critically endangered and has not been seen by conservationists since around 2000, and none were found during an intensive search for the species in 2011. The pheasant lost ground in the wild due to rampant deforestation from commercial logging and agriculture coupled with hunting.

We do not yet know the sex of the chick. If it is male, it will grow blue-black feathers, and if it is female, it will be a brown color. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

An international studbook on the Edwards’s pheasant is being maintained to document the genetic and demographic history of each individual animal in zoos to help ensure a genetically healthy population. Further, conservation plans are underway to help address habitat fragmentation and establish effective habitat protection in the species’ range. To continue this work in the field, Woodland Park Zoo partners with a variety of conservation organizations to help protect endangered and threatened species in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

Posted by: Caileigh Robertson, Communications

Moving a giraffe is one tall order, but zookeepers at Woodland Park Zoo know just how to handle it. On May 30, we welcomed nearly 2-year-old Dave the giraffe to our herd, all the way from Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo.

Dave steps out of the trailer and into his new home at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

Dave made the 2,000-mile trek from the Chicago area in an extra tall trailer, offering greater neck and leg room for the long haul. The heightened trailer is equipped with slip-proof flooring and lots of bedding for resting. At his young age, Dave is not quite full grown, reaching just under 11 feet tall. His smaller stature made for a more comfortable move. To ensure a smooth transition from Brookfield Zoo, we worked together to find experienced drivers who specialize in large animal transportation for zoos nationwide.

The extra tall trailer provided stretching room for the young giraffe. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

Dave’s road trip was complete with a seamless arrival at Woodland Park Zoo, where he was greeted at the giraffe barn by curious onlookers including the three members of his new herd—Olivia, Tufani and Misawa.

The other giraffes watched Dave's arrival. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

In this video, you’ll see the unloading process from Dave’s arrival. Keepers helped guide the truck to the Giraffe Barn. The trailer door opened and out stepped Dave. Just as planned, he headed down the outdoor hallway right into the indoor barn where his keepers can now keep an eye on him during the standard 30-day quarantine for all newly arrived animals. Look for adult females Olivia and Tufani taking notice of the handsome new guy in the video—and our little calf, Misawa, barely batting an eye at Dave’s smooth entrance!

VIDEO: How a giraffe goes to the zoo. Produced by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Dave will be off-view during this initial quarantine period. While visitors can’t see him just yet, the other giraffes have visual contact with him and they are all showing quite a bit of interest in each other.

To help transition his diet, Dave arrived with his own pack of food and feeders from Chicago. He'll eventually be moved over to Woodland Park Zoo's giraffe diet as he adjusts. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

Introductions to the herd and other savanna animals will slowly take place upon completion of Dave’s quarantine exams. When he’s ready to debut out on the savanna, we’ll be sure to let you all know!

Though our behind-the-scenes Giraffe Barn Cam is currently down during this time of transition in the barn, you can tune into our new, outdoor Savanna Cam to see Olivia, Tufani, Misawa and the other savanna residents out on the exhibit plains.

In their native habitat, giraffe and wildlife species that share the east African plains are facing extreme habitat loss and destruction, primarily from human-animal conflicts. In partner with the Tarangire Elephant Project, Woodland Park Zoo supports a protected area for giraffe, elephants and various vulnerable species to provide a healthy environment for wildlife. The east Africa conservation area is patrolled by 33 anti-poaching game scouts surrounding Tarangire National Park.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

The fishmongers toss salmon in front of the grizzly exhibit. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The scene: Pike Place Fish Market fishmongers gather in front of Woodland Park Zoo’s famous brown bear exhibit, as grizzly brothers Keema and Denali go into overdrive sniffing out the scent of salmon in the air.

The bears catch the scent. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

This moment feels so perfectly Seattle.

Bear. Woodland Park Zoo. Salmon. Pike Place Fish Market. So Seattle. Photo by John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo.

Then the toss begins.

Tossing a "stunt" salmon. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

If you've seen the famous fish tossing at Pike Place Fish Market, you’ll know the rush of excitement that runs through the crowd as the fishmongers toss what they call a “stunt fish” back and forth. You hold your breath each time to see if they’ll catch it. Unless you’re a grizzly bear. In that case, you’re probably hoping they cut it out and just send that salmon flying your way.

There's the pitch! Photo by Stan Milkowski/Woodland Park Zoo.

But don’t worry, Keema and Denali. The salmon is on its way!

Success! Photo by John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo.

Today’s fish toss was held for press to help get the word out about this Saturday’s Bear Affair: Living Northwest Conservation presented by Brown Bear Car Wash. Bear Affair activities focus on bears, wolves, raptors and other Pacific Northwest wildlife. A highlight will be the grizzlies ransacking a mock backyard wedding reception set up in their exhibit as well as a camp site.

The bears will crash a mock backyard wedding set up in their exhibit during Bear Affair this Sat., June 7. Photo by Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo.

Zoo staff and conservation experts will be on hand to share safety tips, and information on what these animals need to survive in the wild, how to help keep these animals safe from humans and what humans can do to peacefully co-exist. Conservation and community partners include Western Wildlife Outreach, Vital Ground, Wolf Haven, and National Parks Conservation Association. Karelian bear dogs return to demonstrate how the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife partner dogs play an essential role in training nuisance bears and cougars to avoid human contact. Boy Scout Troop 638 shares safety camping tips, and kids can make a butterfly garden marker and take home sunflower seeds for planting.

Original photo by Mat Hayward/WPZ; modified.

If you want to test your bear-smarts before heading to Bear Affair, take the quiz to find out if you’re a Bear-Smart Camper. Then pick up wildlife safety tips at the event, or tune into the bear demonstrations on the live streaming Bear Cam.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

When otters play tug-of-war, we all win. Photo by Stan Milkowski/Woodland Park Zoo.

In just one year’s time, our four little Asian small-clawed otter boys, Chancellor, Maxwell, Sherman and Thomas, went from being babies to being big brothers! The pups, named for the Seattle Seahawks Legion of Boom, were born June 11 last year, just in time for Father’s Day. Today we celebrate their first birthday with a look back at what they’ve learned and experienced in their first year.

They learned that fish is delicious…

Soooooo good! This photo was taken in August 2013 when the pups were two months old. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

…that the Seahawks rule…

These champion otters were named for the champion Seahawks' Legion of Boom. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

…that Dad can’t help but be overprotective sometimes…

When the pups were first learning to swim outdoors, dad had a habit of not letting them go! Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

…and that they’re not the babies anymore! But there's much they can teach the newest little ones...

Video: Otter pup swim practice.

A family of Asian small-clawed otters is called a lodge, and in one year’s time, our lodge is getting pretty full! We've gone from two to 10, with the four brothers born last year and four more pups born this January. The family eats, sleeps and plays together, with the older boys helping out mom and dad by looking out for the littlest pups.

The lodge. Photo by Stan Milkowski/Woodland Park Zoo.

You can look out for these guys, too! Become a ZooParent and adopt an otter today. Not only will your gift help care for the otters and other animals at the zoo, but $5 will go directly to the zoo’s field conservation efforts that make our world a more wild place to live.

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications

Last year, Day Exhibit keeper Alyssa Borek took this footage of a black breasted leaf turtle tasting a hibiscus flower. It was pretty adorable. More recently, keeper Peter Miller captured this video of a very acrobatic black-breasted leaf turtle dining on an elusive meal worm. Go get ‘em!

In the wild, black-breasted leaf turtles eat various invertebrates, such as insects, worms, and grubs. They also eat decaying fruit found on the forest floor and venture into streams to collect insect larvae. At the zoo, the turtles dine primarily on insects with occasional fruits, vegetables and sometimes flowers. The black-breasted leaf turtle is one of the smallest in the world, at about five inches long. They have a unique and beautiful shell with rough edges which resemble a leaf.

Black-breasted leaf turtle are in danger, and you can help! They are listed as endangered due to habitat destruction and over collection. They are also used in traditional Chinese medicine, and are most often sold as pets, both in Asia and here in the United States.

You can take action to help these special turtles by…

Pledging never to purchase black-breasted leaf turtles which have been collected from the wild. Most specimens found in pet stores today are still imported directly from the wild, although there are some farms where the turtles are bred in captivity. However, even these farms are not good news for the little turtles, as many have to endure poor conditions where they are subjected to illness and parasites before arriving in the U.S.
Supporting conservation projects in Asia, such as our Wildlife Survival Fund project, Turtle Survival Alliance, where these turtles are naturally occurring. Protecting their home is the best way to keep their populations healthy.
There is quite a high demand for these turtles in the Asian food markets, be on the lookout for these products and do not take part in buying or selling items which demand using these delicate critters for consumption or medicinal purposes.
Save the date for August 9, Asian Wildlife Conservation Day at Woodland Park Zoo to learn more about how you can help.

Baby black-breasted leaf turtle, photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

They might not be able to say “thank you”, but your conservation actions will help to protect these tiny turtles and their future.

Posted by: Caileigh Robertson, Communications

The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program - Papua New Guinea (TKCP-PNG)—Woodland Park Zoo’s partner non-governmental organization—was recently awarded the United Nations Equator Prize 2014. This highly-esteemed award honors TKCP-PNG’s initiatives in advancing local innovative solutions for people, nature and resilient communities.

We’re very proud of TKCP-PNG’s commitment to creating a sustainable landscape to support the animals, habitat, and indigenous communities of Papua New Guinea’s YUS Conservation Area.

Tree kangaroo joey peers out from Mom's pouch. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Last year, Woodland Park Zoo’s flagship conservation program, TKCP, proudly established TKCP-PNG to manage TKCP’s YUS Conservation Area, a 180,000-acre area voluntarily pledged by local landowners to help protect the wildlife native to PNG’s Huon Peninsula. The YUS region (encompassing the Yopno-Uruwa-Som watershed) is home to more than 12,000 people across 52 villages, as well as many endemic and endangered fauna and flora—including the endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroo, the signature species at the heart of TKCP.

The Equator Prize 2014 recognizes the great impact TKCP-PNG has made to the YUS community through the YUS Conservation Area, the first of its kind in PNG. The Conservation Area has become a model of locally-owned protected forests that not only conserve wildlife but also focus on community health, education and livelihood. Since the YUS Conservation Area’s establishment in 2009, Woodland Park Zoo’s TKCP and TKCP-PNG have made significant improvements to the YUS community, empowering local residents to self-sufficiently manage the community’s environmental and natural resources. TKCP-PNG ensures that the indigenous landowners and communities drive the efforts of land management and play a leading role in planning, monitoring and managing the land use of the YUS region.

The luscious YUS landscape in Papua New Guinea. Photo by Ryan Hawk/ Woodland Park Zoo.

In recent years, TKCP-PNG and Woodland Park Zoo established a partnership with Caffé Vita, a Seattle-based coffee roaster, to bring alternative revenue to the YUS landowners and their communities. Through a direct trade agreement, YUS farmers have exported nearly 8 tons of coffee over three years to generate profits that benefit 11 local villages. The funds are reinvested in the community through education, health and development projects. As a result, farmers are providing their families and neighbors with necessary schooling, health education and a reliable income. TKCP Director and Senior Conservation Scientist Dr. Lisa Dabek is returning to PNG this fall with a team of Pacific Northwest doctors to develop health trainings, lead midwife workshops, and promote family health and nutrition in the remote YUS region.

Dr. Lisa Dabek will represent TKCP-PNG during the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit and the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in New York in September 2014. Please join us in congratulating TKCP-PNG on their achievements and positive impacts toward community-based conservation.

Matschie’s tree kangaroo in Papua New Guinea. Photo by Bruce Beehler/Conservation International.

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications, with Katie Ahl, Giraffe Keeper

Photos by Stan Milkowski

Giraffe soak up the sun on the savanna at Woodland Park Zoo.

World Giraffe Day, June 21, is just around the corner and we are excited to proclaim our love for giraffe alongside Giraffe Conservation Foundation’s(GCF) inaugural event for this amazing species. GCF would like to highlight the tallest and longest-necked animal on the longest day (or night, depending on which hemisphere you live in) of the year! By raising awareness and looking at the challenges giraffes face in the wild, we can all help secure the future for these amazing creatures.

Let’s celebrate these graceful, gorgeous animals with a closer look at our own herd at Woodland Park Zoo. Giraffe keeper Katie Ahl gives us the lowdown (err, the high up?) on our four tallest residents.

WPZ: Katie, how long have you been working with giraffe and what is your favorite part?

Katie: I've been at Woodland Park Zoo for five years, and have worked in the giraffe barn for three of those years. I am always in awe of their size, spirit and silence. (They can make noise but they usually don’t.) There’s nothing I don’t love about giraffe, but they can be stubborn. They sometimes decide they don’t want to cross to the open savanna exhibit, from their barn area, and they can stand around for 30 minutes… I really have to dig deep on my patience!

Tufani gets low for a grassy snack.

Tufani: female, born July 8, 2008. Sister to Olivia, aunt to Misawa.

Tufani has darker brown spots, bald ossicones and is excessively drooly. Her favorite snack is omolene (a sweet grain). Katie tells us that she is very good at eating the entirety of the browse at the giraffe feed, but that she can get quite impatient while waiting for her treats. She is bold with people, unless that person is a kid in full zebra face paint, in which case she might not cross their path!

Princess Olivia

Olivia: female, born February 27, 2007. Sister to Tufani, mother to Misawa.

Olivia is lighter in color than Tufani, has smooth symmetrical ossicones and a cool “princess-crown” spot on the lower right side of her neck. She is particularly skilled at flinging water when she drinks as well as ignoring her keeper, Katie, and doing whatever she pleases. Olivia does not like being touched, but can be persuaded with her favorite snack, a rye crisp cracker.

Katie tells a funny story about a zoo visitor. Once a lady came to the zoo and said she could communicate with the animals. We asked her what Olivia was thinking/saying. The woman replied, “A lot of mumbling, the only word I could make out was ‘heavy’”. We thanked her and then had a good laugh about it later. Olivia was very pregnant at the time (with future Misawa) and it seemed fitting.

Young Misawa scouting out the savanna.

Misawa: male, born August 6, 2013. Son to Olivia, nephew to Tufani.

Misawa is the youngest member of the herd. You can spot him easily because he is still much smaller than the other giraffe and very playful. His face is also quite white. His favorite food, just like aunt Tufani, is omolene. A few months shy of a year old, Katie says Misawa is really good at “looking adorable when running around the savanna!” but he is bad at staying out of trouble!

Katie’s favorite Misawa story:Misawa once decided to get a feed bucket stuck on his head for a couple of minutes. It was pretty funny to look at. I wasn't sure how I was going to help him, but then he just tilted his head and it came right off. He was very calm about the whole thing, but I was pretty worried!

Our newest giraffe, Dave! This photo was taken by Jim Schulz/Chicago Zoological Society.

Dave, male, born November 12, 2012. Newest member of the herd!

Dave has a dark brown head, and is covered in thin white lines with solid brown patches. Keepers tell us he has a super long tongue, which he uses to grab his favorite treat, leaf-eater biscuits. Since coming to Woodland Park Zoo, he has been very good at training and working with his new keepers. Katie says to watch out for his long legs: at Brookfield Zoo, from where he came, he jumped over a small fence and walked through a door to get back inside his barn, defying his keepers and giving them a little challenge!

Tufani with her long-legged nephew, Misawa.

So which giraffe is your favorite?

We think they are all pretty great! In their native habitat, giraffe and wildlife species that share the east African plains are facing extreme habitat loss and destruction, primarily from human-animal conflicts. With fewer than 80,000 giraffe remaining in the wild, you can help support conservation efforts by:

Visiting Woodland Park Zoo which supports the Tarangire Elephant Project, a protected area for giraffe, elephants and various vulnerable species to provide a healthy environment for wildlife.
Give them a shout. Share this post and get your friends to show their love for giraffe!

And don’t forget to watch the Giraffe Barn Cam (Dave Cam)! Our newest giraffe is in quarantine at the giraffe barn. We’ll be sure to announce when he’s ready to debut on the savanna,but for now you can sneak a peek at what he is up to at the barn: zoo.org/giraffecam

Posted by: Caileigh Robertson with Rebecca Whitham, Communications

Sloth bear mom Tasha and 18-month-old cubs Randhir and Kushali will make their final appearance July 6 before construction begins to rebuild their home.

The cubs turned 1 last December and celebrated with piñatas. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The exhibit makeover will mark the second and final phase of our new Bamboo Forest Reserve exhibit, and it’s all possible because of your support! Thanks to you, we opened phase one of the exhibit in 2013, which features Asian small-clawed otters, a tropical aviary and a nature play area. Over the next year, we’ll complete construction for the final phase, which will bring new homes for the sloth bears and mark the return of tigers to Woodland Park Zoo in May 2015!

Remember when the cubs were this small? Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Our three sloth bears will live in an off-view exhibit during the construction, so plan a visit soon to see them!

About the exhibit
Woodland Park Zoo first broke ground in September 2012 for phase one of the $15 million Bamboo Forest Reserve exhibit complex. Designed with Bainbridge Island-based design team Studio Hanson/Roberts, the new spacious, naturalistic exhibit complex will transform and enhance the exhibit experience for the zoo’s animals, visitors and staff, and will reduce resource consumption with sustainable design strategies. The multimillion-dollar exhibit project is the final and most ambitious initiative of the zoo’s $80 million More Wonder More Wild Campaign.

Rendering of the new sloth bear exhibit design, opening in May 2015. Credit: MIR.

When the new exhibit opens in 2015, visitors will see, hear and smell the lively sloth bears as they interact with enrichment opportunities to retrieve food hidden in digging pits, slurp grubs out of logs in their ravine landscape, and put their vacuum-like eating style to work at a keeper-assisted feeding demonstration. The state-of-the-art exhibit complex will empower and inspire visitors with up-close animal encounters, hands-on learning, and links to meaningful conservation actions visitors can take to build a better future for wildlife.

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

About sloth bears
Sloth bears, an endangered species, are native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, where fewer than 10,000 remain in the wild. Their survival is challenged by poaching for pet trade, declining populations, deforestation, and the bear parts trade for use in traditional Asian medicines. Woodland Park Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for the sloth bears, a cooperative breeding and conservation program designed to maintain genetic diversity in North American zoo populations, and conduct research and field programs to better understand and protect the species in the wild.

Posted by: Kerston Swartz, Public Affairs

Woodland Park Zoo, the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) and Seattle City Light are partnering on Community Solar on Phinney Ridge, a new community solar project going live summer 2014. The project will produce approximately 75 kilowatts of energy from solar panels installed on building roofs at the zoo and PNA, making it the largest community solar project in Washington state.

The Rain Forest Food Pavilion will soon be decked out with solar panels. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Enrollment has just begun for City Light customers to participate in Community Solar on Phinney Ridge. You can purchase energy from the solar-modules, and then receive annual credits for the amount of energy generated by your units. Customer investment will end in July 2020 when ownership of the solar panels is transferred to the zoo and PNA.

A rendering of the zoo's commissary with a solar panel installation.

As part of the Community Solar project, new solar panels will be installed on the roofs of the zoo’s Rain Forest Food Pavilion and the Commissary building, generating about 16kW and 44kW of solar power, respectively.

The zoo's Historic Carousel hosts solar panels on the pavilion roof. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Solar energy isn’t new for the zoo—in 2011, solar panels were installed on our Historic Carousel, providing enough renewable energy to power the carousel all year long. That’s 100,000 rides worth of power! Even our parking meters feature small solar panels.

This community project marks an exciting next step towards the zoo’s sustainability goal to reduce carbon use by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020. What makes it extra special is that you get to join us in it! Together with our community, this project brings us closer to meeting our ambitious yet attainable, mission-driven goal for a more sustainable future.

To learn more about the project, browse our FAQ or visit Seattle City Light’s Community Solar webpage.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor

Like these?

Blooming plants at Woodland Park Zoo. Photos by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo and Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo.

Then we need these:

Photos from top, clockwise: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo; Flickr user jeffreyww under Creative Commons License; Flickr user leshoward under Creative Commons License.

At Woodland Park Zoo, we’re abuzz, aflutter and atwitter about the big news coming from the White House: the announcement of a new federal strategy for protecting pollinators.

With a focus on honeybees and other essential pollinators like native butterflies, birds and bats, the strategy establishes a task force and goals for population restoration, habitat protection and public education to stem the losses from this blooming crisis.

The White House makes a case for the economic importance of pollinators, which “contribute substantially to the economy of the United States and are vital to keeping fruit, nuts, and vegetables in our diets.” The memo continues:

Honey bee pollination alone adds more than $15 billion in value to agricultural crops each year in the United States. Over the past few decades, there has been a significant loss of pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies, from the environment. The problem is serious and requires immediate attention to ensure the sustainability of our food production systems, avoid additional economic impact on the agricultural sector, and protect the health of the environment.

Let’s talk the birds and the bees of pollination. During pollination, pollen from the stamen (male part of the flower) is moved to the stigma (female part), fertilizing it. This is what leads to the creation of fruits and seeds. Wind moves pollen around and is responsible for some of that fertilization. But, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 75% of all flowering plants are pollinated by bees, butterflies and other animals.

Lose the pollinators, lose the plants. Lose the plants, lose the plant eaters. Lose the plant eaters, lose the meat eaters. It brings a whole new meaning to that old standby sci-fi trope that one seemingly small change can set off a series of unintended consequences—the butterfly effect. It’s all about the connections!

A Northwest native, the Oregon silverspot butterfly. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

In the field, Woodland Park Zoo works to restore pollinator populations through our Living Northwest conservation program. Thanks to your support, we’re able to work on projects like Butterflies of the Northwest, through which we’re helping to repopulate endangered Oregon silverspot butterflies on the Oregon coast by hatching eggs here at the zoo and releasing them as caterpillars into the wild.

Conservation efforts in the field and this new governmental commitment to action are the sprout of change, but we need your help to make it grow.

Share this article with one of these badges to let your friends know which action you’ll commit to taking for pollinators:

I will go native for pollinators.

Native pollinators need native plants to thrive. Commit to planting native plants in your backyard or community. Attend a Backyard Habitat class at the zoo or visit our backyard demonstration garden in the Family Farm exhibit to pick up tips. If you live in the King County area, you can look up native plants with this handy tool.

I will keep my dirt clean for pollinators.

Reduce your use of pesticides in the garden to protect the health of native pollinators attracted to your flowers. Using native plants or compost like Woodland Park Zoo’s popular Zoo Doo will help your garden flourish, and can thus reduce the need for chemical pest control, which can unintentionally kill important pollinators.

I will raise a glass for pollinators.

A portion of the purchase of each bottle of Pelican Pub & Brewery’s award-winning Silverspot IPA supports the Oregon silverspot butterfly restoration project. Look for the brew at retailers across the Seattle area.

(Badge photos from top: Mat Hayward/WPZ, Ryan Hawk/WPZ, Ryan Hawk/WPZ)

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications

It’s summer time! The season for lounging in the sand, soaking up the sun and shaking your rattler! Our beautiful female Aruba rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus unicolor, is doing just that at the Day Exhibit.

An Aruba's sunset-colored coil. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/WPZ.

These peach and rose colored rattlesnakes don’t just shake it for anybody though; this rare rattler is only found on one small Caribbean island, Aruba. Because the species has such a small range, it is nearly extinct in the wild.

The snakes are critically endangered primarily because of habitat loss as well as persecution, especially due to tourism and urban sprawl. These snakes live in vulnerable habitat in a tiny area. Fortunately, the government and people of Aruba understand the importance and value of their own special kind of rattlesnake, and have set aside a large portion of the interior of their island as protected habitat for this rattlesnake and other wildlife.

Our pretty snake warms herself by basking under a heat lamp. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/WPZ.

The snake on exhibit here is a 20-year old female. Previously, we housed two females who gave birth to 40 babies, as part of the Species Survival Plan's goal of maintaining a self-sustaining zoo population. Two dozen zoos are involved in the cooperative Species Survival Program, which has successfully increased the zoo population of this species.

In the wild, you’ll find this snake in the thorn scrub, a dry, subtropical desert landscape on the southeast part of Aruba. The Aruba rattlesnake doesn’t normally hang out on the beach itself, but it will stretch out on the warm desert sand. Arubas can be as long as 37 inches and as large as 3 pounds, although the females tend to be a bit smaller.

The scales of an Aruba match its desert habitat. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/WPZ.

Aruba rattlesnakes eats rodents, birds and lizards in the wild, but here at Woodland Park Zoo our Aruba dines on mice.

You can help protect rattlesnakes from Aruba to Washington state by giving them your respect. While these venomous snakes can be dangerous, they rarely strike without being provoked. If you hear a rattle or spot a snake sunning itself the best thing to do is slowly turn around and walk away.

If you are heading into the Day Exhibit, stop by and check out this beautiful viper. She is most active in the morning, but she is just as pretty when she is sleeping!

Did you know that the genus for rattlesnake, the Greek wordCrotalus, refers to a castanet? A castanet is a small percussion instrument made of a pair of concave shells which are snapped together in one hand, in other words, a rattle! Photo by Kirsten Pisto/WPZ.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

There are 96 words in this paragraph.Each one represents an African elephant killed today for its ivory. It’s a grim figure, but there’s hope. Thanks to your support, rangers are on the ground deterring poachers and protecting populations. Now the work must continue at home with you. We need state by state ivory moratoria to close the legal loopholes that conceal black market ivory in the U.S. Take the pledge to let the elected leaders of Washington state know we will not stand for being a loophole. Join the herd to make your voice heard.

Take the Pledge
To stop the killing of elephants, we must stop the ivory trade. To stop the trade, we must end the demand. I pledge never to buy, sell or trade ivory, and I support a moratorium on ivory products in Washington state.

Why does my signature matter?

The United States has one of the largest markets for ivory in the world with legal markets providing a front for illegal sales. Recently, the Obama Administration announced its intention to ban commercial trade of ivory within the U.S. —an important step toward elephant protection. However, federal law can't stop ivory sales that stay within state borders. Closing all existing loopholes by enacting moratoria at both the state and federal level is essential. That's why we need all states to implement their own moratoria. In June, New York State Legislature passed landmark legislation that will end the sale and purchase of elephant ivory and rhino horn at the state level. Now Washington leaders need to hear from you that state-level action here is crucial to stopping this illegal trade and saving elephants in the wild.

Your pledge tells state leaders that we will not stand for being a loophole. We stand for elephants.

Help us reach our goal of getting 960 pledges by August 12, 2014—World Elephant Day. Take the pledge and share with your friends.

Original photos by Julie Larsen Maher/Wildlife Conservation Society, modified by Rebecca Whitham/Woodland Park Zoo.

The amazing spider, man

Box turtle hatching caught on camera

Take Action for Turtles

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About the Event

What does Bowling for Rhinos support?

Take the quiz: Are you bear-smart?

Watch zebra and giraffe on new Savanna Cam

Giraffe calf Misawa

Feeding behaviors

MyZoo Kids: Animal Observations Contest

How to enter

Restoring Sight for Sita

New porcupine baby video: the perfect TGIF treat

Rare pheasant hatches

Dave the giraffe arrives at Woodland Park Zoo

Salmon toss kicks off this weekend’s Bear Affair

Otter brothers turn 1

Black-breasted leaf turtle flips for its meal!

TKCP-PNG receives United Nations Equator Prize 2014

Who’s Your Favorite Giraffe at the Zoo?

Last chance to see sloth bears before exhibit makeover

Take part in Washington’s largest Community Solar project

Protecting pollinators: the butterfly effect

Arubas shake it up for the summer

Action Alert: Take the 96 Elephants pledge