Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Welcome Razi and Mosi! There’s a new chorus of cackling at Woodland Park Zoo as spotted hyenas make their debut! Two males, 3-year-old Razi and 1-year-old Mosi, arrived from Metro Richmond Zoo located in Moseley, Virginia. The new hyenas mark the first time in 25 years for visitors to have a rare opportunity to see and learn about these skilled social hunters that are so often misunderstood. Razi and Mosi can be seen in a habitat adjacent to where the lions live in the African Savanna. The last spotted hyena at the zoo was a geriatric female named Mara who retired in 2001 in an off-view habitat until she passed away at the age of 27. Mosi, who is 1 year old, is recognizable by the notch in his ear. Razi is 3 years old. Bringing hyenas back is part of Woodland Park Zoo’s near-term and future plan to diversify the species of animals at the zoo. “Animals and people are critically interconnected and all...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications The birth watch has officially started for two pregnant western lowland gorillas who are due to give birth five days apart in May. It’s all hands on deck for Woodland Park Zoo’s animal health and gorilla care teams as they gear up for the delivery of two healthy baby gorillas.  Olympia. Photo by Beth Keplinger/Woodland Park Zoo Jamani. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo The expecting gorillas are  Olympia, due May 19, and Jamani, due May 24. The gestation period for gorillas is eight and a half months. The birth watch signals 24-hour monitoring. Overnight, zoo volunteers are observing each gorilla remotely on cams installed in the bedrooms, collecting data such as behavioral changes and sleeping patterns and looking for any telltale signs that might indicate the onset of labor. A gorilla keeper is on call to respond in case either gorilla goes into labor in the middle of the night; during the day, routine care for all the zoo’s...

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo is preparing to say goodbye to three snow leopards born at the zoo in May 2024, as they’ve now matured enough to begin their separate journeys. Lenny, Phyllis and Raya were born under the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan , a cooperative breeding program across accredited zoos to help ensure a healthy, self-sustaining population of the species. The cubs are nearly 2 years old now—an age when they would naturally separate from their mother. They are now able to move to different zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums to continue to be ambassadors for their species by inspiring visitors to take impactful action to help save these beautiful cats in their natural range. A cuddle puddle of siblings  Lenny, Phyllis and Raya back in December 2024.  Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Guests are encouraged to come say their final "furwells" by Apri...

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren For the first time in our 126-year history, critically endangered hooded vultures are calling the zoo home The new hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) are a sub‑Saharan African species. The nearly 1year-old male’s name is Tutaonana (too-tah-oh-NAH-nah), Swahili for "see you later." The female will turn 2 this month and is named Kiara (kee-AH-rah), Swahili for “princess.” Welcome  Tutaonana and Kiara! The pair can be found across from the maned wolves, where they have quickly gotten comfortable in their new home and are enjoying snacking on their favorite treat of raw meatballs. These Old World birds are sure to stun guests with their dark brown plumage and the thin, bare skin on their heads and face that give them their “hooded” appearance. They also sport an impressive wingspan that’s well over 5 feet! The population of hooded vultures has dramatically declined over recent decades, making them one of A...

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher. Communications Editor’s Note: Big shout-outs of gratitude and appreciation to members of Woodland Park Zoo’s extraordinary, expert gorilla care team for answering all our questions, including Stephanie, Judy, Traci, Ashley and Tesh! Jamani and Olympia are both expecting babies in May! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo We recently shared with you that two of Woodland Park Zoo’s gorillas are pregnant and due to give birth five days apart this spring! The pregnant gorillas are Olympia, due May 19, and Jamani, due May 24. The father-to-be for both babies is Nadaya. The gestation period for gorillas is nearly nine months—only about two weeks shy of human gestation. This will be the second offspring for both pregnant gorillas. Before arriving at Woodland Park Zoo in 2022, Olympia, 29, and Jamani, 26, lived together at North Carolina Zoo. Each gave birth to a son just weeks apart in 2012 and successfully raised them together. Flashback: Jamani and Oly...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Beloved red panda, Carson, is exploring his new habitat! The treetops are alive! First, a tree kangaroo, and now a red panda is exploring the soon-to-open Forest Trailhead. The 12,000-square-foot building and 1-acre grounds are dedicated to the global movement for forest conservation and will open to the community on Friday, May 1, 2026. Zoo members will receive early access during member preview days April 28–30, 2026. Carson, an 11-year-old male red panda who boasts an impressive fan base of his own, is the latest mammal to be introduced to the new habitats in Forest Trailhead. In addition to a red panda, the all-new, interactive and multi-sensory exhibit will be home to tree kangaroos, kea—alpine parrots native to New Zealand—and a variety of reptiles, amphibians and fish species. According to Woodland Park Zoo animal keeper Megan Blandford, Carson is adjusting well in Forest Trailhead’s new Glen...