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African porcupines (and porcupettes) are keeping zoo busy

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Woodland Park Zoo Hello, prickly friends! Bristles aside, zoo-goers can encounter from a safe distance a “prickle” of African crested porcupines at Woodland Park Zoo in the African Savanna’s former hippo habitat. A group of porcupines is known as a prickle! The porcupines were seized as part of a suspected neglect case in Oregon and are receiving housing and care at Woodland Park Zoo while that case is ongoing. While being housed at the zoo since the end of May, the prickle has multiplied with the birth of a pair of porcupettes (baby porcupines) born on July 24. These prickly cuties were seized as part of a suspected neglect case and are receiving housing and dedicated care at Woodland Park Zoo while that case is ongoing. “While performing a morning routine for the porcupines, including checking on, feeding and cleaning the den, a member of the animal care team came upon the two baby porcupines, known as porcupet...
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A first for Woodland Park Zoo: The Goliath beetles are HERE!

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher These Goliath beetles are ... well ... Goliath! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo They’re big! They’re super cool! They’re the current rockstars of Bug World—the BEETLES! Goliath beetles ( Goliathus goliatus ) are among the largest and heaviest of all insects with some mature males measuring in at more than 4 inches long! These gentle giants (males can be aggressive towards rival male beetles but are generally harmless to humans) are native to central and west Africa. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo These beetles spend much of their short lives as a larva then a pupa before finally emerging as adults with the entire life cycle lasting up to a year or so.  Dedicated Bug World keeper, Maria, gently holds the Goliath beetle larva —and YES, it is bigger than her finger! Photo: Courtesy of Maria Buckner/Woodland Park Zoo Check our the hand-sized clay/sand pupal structure from which an adult Goliath beetle will emerge!  Photo: C...
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Let’s Hang Out! New Sloth Arrives at Woodland Park Zoo's Tropical Rain Forest Aviary

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Hello, Fezzik! We're already in love with this Hoffmann's two-toed sloth. Some news to keep you on your toes! For the first time in five years, a new sloth is calling Woodland Park Zoo home. The sloth, named Fezzik after a character in The Princess Bride, is 10 years old and recently arrived from Milwaukee County Zoo. Fezzik is a Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth—Choloepus hoffmanni—they are solitary, tree-dwelling mammals named for their two long, curved claws on each of their front feet. These slow-moving nocturnal creatures spend the majority of their time hanging upside down in forest canopies where fruit, leaves and flowers are plentiful for munching. From every angle, Fezzik is perfection! Sloths, all of which are found in Central and South America, generally have very gentle dispositions and Fezzik is no exception! “We’re thrilled to bring a sloth species back to the zoo and Fezzik is busy l...
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On World Nature Conservation Day we celebrate a very rare sighting—an endangered red fox in the North Cascades!

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications A remote camera station in the North Cascades spots a visitor: a rare red fox! A carnivore in the North Cascades has lived up to its reputation—crafty as a fox. During a recent visit to a high-elevation camera station (~6,500 feet) in the North Cascades, Woodland Park Zoo field biologists discovered photos of a red fox that stopped by in early March. Given the station’s remote mountainous location, scientists are hopeful that this rare visitor was a native Cascade red fox ( Vulpes vulpes cascadensis ), a subspecies of red fox that is currently listed as Endangered in Washington state. Because Cascade red foxes are not visually distinctive from non-native red foxes, genetic information is required to determine if a fox is a Cascade red fox. The field biologists, Robert Long, PhD, and Paula MacKay, deployed the cameras last summer as part of their leadership role with the Cascades Carnivore Monitoring Program , a highly collaborative, long-term mon...
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Zoo welcomes new male Malayan tapir: Pleased to meet you, Tuah!

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Welcome, Tuah! We're already smitten with you! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Last month Woodland Park Zoo heralded the arrival of a new female Malayan tapir, Binti. Now, her future companion, a male named Tuah, has completed the cross-country trek from Minnesota and is settling into his new digs at the zoo. Tuah, whose name means “good fortune or luck” in Malay, will turn 5 on August 8. The new tapir moved from Minnesota Zoo under a breeding recommendation by the Malayan Tapir Species Survival Plan. Species Survival Plans are cooperative breeding programs across accredited zoos to help ensure healthy, genetically diverse populations of select species or subspecies. Tapirs are among the most primitive large mammals in the world, changing little in appearance for millions of years. These prehistoric-looking animals are long and similar to the weight of a light horse and look like a massive pig with a long snout. Because they h...
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A new tapir has joined Woodland Park Zoo’s family—meet Binti!

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Hello, Binti! There’s a new tapir in town at Woodland Park Zoo! Meet Binti, a female Malayan tapir. Binti, which means “daughter of” in Malay, will celebrate her 2nd birthday in July. Binti arrived from Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin, Texas under the Malayan Tapir Species Survival Plan and will be paired with a male tapir scheduled to arrive in July. Species Survival Plans are cooperative breeding programs across accredited zoos to help ensure healthy, genetically diverse populations of select species or subspecies. “We’re getting to know Binti and she’s getting to know her care team. She’s curious and very friendly as she gets to know you. She likes her snacks, particularly willow browse, and being scratched,” said Erin Sullivan, an animal curator at Woodland Park Zoo. “During food preparation, she squeals and whistles loudly to let us know she’s ready for her breakfast. We are very happy she is here!”...
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Llamas and Porcupines Welcomed to Woodland Park Zoo after being seized by Oregon officials in suspected animal neglect case

Posted by Farrah Paul, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo has welcomed a trio of llamas and six African crested porcupines. The animals were seized as part of a suspected neglect case in Oregon and are receiving housing and care at Woodland Park Zoo while that case is ongoing. As is standard with any new animals arriving at the zoo, the llamas and porcupines are under veterinary observation and quarantine. The three llamas are spending time quarantining together in a grassy yard near the Wildlife Theater. Guests may catch a glimpse from the Main Loop Path! The six African crested porcupines are quarantining together in an off-view area. It has yet to be determined if or when they will be moved into a publicly-visible habitat. Two Woodland Park Zoo Animal Care team staff made two trips to Oregon to pick up the llamas and porcupines. They also assisted Oregon officials in safely catching and loading additional animals destined for other ca...
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