Woodland Park Zoo Blog

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Asian and Oceania forest exhibit will showcase new reptiles and amphibians: Adaptations Building closed until September 2024

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Rhinoceros ratsnake by Cezary Borysiuk via Flickr. New species of snakes, lizards, amphibians and other reptiles will make Woodland Park Zoo their new home in fall 2024. The zoo’s Adaptations Building is currently closed until a major refresh is made to bring in and share these new animals with zoo guests. The Adaptations Building will be transformed into a new Indo-Pacific Islands forest and will showcase endangered and threatened species that range from the forest floors to the verdant treetops of Southeast Asia and Oceania. In addition, the new gallery of exhibits will offer a more complete story about the biodiversity in Southeast Asia’s and Oceania’s tropical conservation hotspots. The exhibit will feature a diversity of species including Asian box turtle and rhinoceros ratsnake. The new reptile and amphibian exhibit will take visitors through the diverse habitats of Southeast Asia and the

Finni and Soya— Matschie’s tree kangaroo joeys receive names

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Hello Finni! Photo by Craig Newberry/Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo is excited to announce the names of our newest endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroo joeys! The female joey is named Finni, and the male will be known as Soya—both were named by good friends of the zoo, Patti Savoy, and Linda and Harmut Peters. Soya, photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo The name Finni was inspired by the Finisterre Mountain range in the YUS Conservation Area in Papua New Guinea. Soya was named to honor a ranger who passed away this year and worked with the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program. Female tree kangaroos Elanna, 15, and Omari, 14, gave birth to the joeys in August 2022—the zoo’s male tree kangaroo Rocket, 9, fathered both. Finni, photo by Craig Newberry/Woodland Park Zoo The personalities of the joeys are beginning to shine through, and both are very unique! Soya, born to Omari, is cautious but curious. He likes to hang out close to h

Saving a species extinct in the wild. Meet our "excellent" Socorro doves, Bill and Ted!

Posted by Kayla Hanada, Animal Keeper with Elizabeth Bacher, Communications The Socorro dove is extinct in the wild. Photo: Annie Kwan/Woodland Park Zoo Hello! My name is Kayla and I am an animal keeper at Woodland Park Zoo working primarily in our bird areas. If you’ve visited recently and walked through the dome in the Tropical Rainforest building, you’ve likely seen (or heard) two of our newest residents—Socorro doves! These special birds—named Bill and Ted—came to us from the San Diego Zoo a few months ago and they have quite the personalities. They’ve warmed up to their new home fairly quickly and I often hear them cooing in the trees. I’ve even seen them landing on the railings of the dome’s elevated walkway, not too far away from guests. These are both behaviors that show us they’re feeling comfortable here. The best time for you to spot them might be when we change their food bowls out, which is first thing in the morning right around the time we open at 9:30 and again later in

Meet our Curious, Charismatic and Clever Keas!

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications Photo: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Keas are native to the forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand, making them the world’s only Alpine parrots. Keas are known for their intelligence, curiosity, mischief and loud, squealing vocalizations! As a matter of fact, their name is believed to come from the Māori people, mimicking the sounds of the birds’ vocalizations—and if you’ve heard it before you’ll recognize that almost ear-splitting “KEEEEE-AAAAHHHH” call! Keas are very hardy birds, well adapted to a cold alpine climate. They are mostly olive-green in color with bright orange feathers on the undersides of their wings and they have a long, narrow, curved, gray beak—great for manipulating things, digging through bark and plucking insects out of crevasses. Woodland Park Zoo is currently home to four of these feisty birds: males Squint, Mahoihoi and Jean Luc and female Teptep. Keas are mostly olive-green with bright orange

Goodbye to our amazing tapir Bintang, celebration of his life

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Woodland Park Zoo had to make the difficult decision this week of euthanizing its only male Malayan tapir, Bintang, due to age-related decline. Male tapirs have a life expectancy of 19 years in zoos. At 23 years old, Bintang was geriatric. Bintang in 2016, Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Bintang in 2014, Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo According to Dr. Misty Garcia, associate veterinarian at Woodland Park Zoo, Bintang had been under treatment for decreased mobility due to age-related arthritis since 2016. “Bintang was on a prescribed program of treatments which included laser therapy, massage therapy, pain medications and joint supplements. Over the last three months, the geriatric tapir experienced an overall decline in condition including decreased mobility and significant weight loss,” said Garcia. “The zoo’s animal care team had been monitoring him closely with daily observations of his health and quality of life. We had to make

Agave Alert: Rare flower about to bloom at Woodland Park Zoo!

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo An agave ovatifolia prepares to bloom near Woodland Park Zoo's Penguin Habitat. Woodland Park Zoo is bursting with excitement over a rare bloom getting ready to take place. The plant under the spotlight is an agave ovatifolia —or whale’s tongue agave—that typically grows in Mexico and has big, grayish-blue leaves with spiky edges. Whale’s tongue agave take about 10 years to mature, and their blooms can reach from 12 to 15 feet tall creating a dazzling display. The agave blooming at the zoo can be found on the southern end of the penguin habitat where guests can get an up-close look at the towering stalk, estimated to be 10 to 12 feet tall. Agave plants thrive in arid and semiarid environments similar to the desert environments Humboldt penguins are home to in Peru and Chile. The agave blooming at the southern end of the penguin habitat is estimated to be 10 to 12 feet tall. This type of agave i