Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications At last count, more than 260 babies were born at Woodland Park Zoo in 2013, and hey, there’s still a few hours left in the year! We may have had our hands full of cubs, chicks, pups and kits, but the year was also marked by many other new additions: from a new exhibit that transformed the oldest part of the zoo, to new conservation programs that fight for a future for wildlife. Let’s take a look at the Top 13 zoo stories of 2013 that made us smile, made us care, and made us act to make a difference: 13.  Living with bears Bears want cake. Photo: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Picnics aren't just for Yogi Bear—here in the Pacific Northwest, you may truly encounter a bear while hiking, picnicking or camping in the great outdoors, and sometimes even in your own backyard. What do you when a bear crashes your barbecue? Better yet, how can you make sure the bear never gets invited in the first place? With the help of destructi...

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Photo by Instagram user coachcarr For zoo members who are truly kids at heart, we have the best WildLights deal yet! From Dec. 31 – Jan. 4, adult zoo members will be admitted to WildLights presented by KeyBank at the kids’ price, just $6.50 per person. (Offer only available for at-gate purchase with member ID; not available online.) See why WildLights brings out the kid in all of us! Photo by Instagram user guerralandia This kid-at-heart discount is offered just in time to celebrate Zoo Year’s Eve  at WildLights. On Dec. 31, join Radio Disney Seattle at WildLights for entertainment, games, crafts, prizes, music, and a fun way to ring in the Zoo Year with the whole family. We’ll celebrate the new year at 7:00 p.m. so even the youngest among us has a chance to join in! PLUS: the first 200 kids through the door get a free party hat.

Posted by: Deborah Jensen, President and CEO The holidays are a time to reflect on the wonders the year has brought us. All of us thank you for your generosity which has made Woodland Park Zoo's mission possible. Your support is the gift that keeps on giving, generation after generation. VIDEO: Happy holidays from Woodland Park Zoo We wish you the best for 2014, and hope you enjoy this short video highlighting some of the wonders you've helped us achieve. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo Share the joy of the season with your loved ones— send a free Woodland Park Zoo holiday e-card . Browse the designs to get started on your paper-free cards.

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Happy Birthday, Randhir and Kushali! Our twin sloth bear cubs, born a year ago December 18 th , celebrated their 1 st birthday with shiny piñatas! Sloth bear cubs reach for their birthday piñatas! Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.  Sloth bear birthday enrichment! Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Keepers filled three piñatas (including one for the cubs’ mom, Tasha) with meal worms and dried tropical fruits such as papayas and mangos. The piñatas were hung from the logs in the sloth bear exhibit just high enough that the bears had to resort to some pretty acrobatic moves to reach them. There was a lot of excitement, including a boxing match between one cub and a stubborn green piñata. After the cubs and mom knocked their piñatas to the ground, they were quick to tear open their presents and snuffle up their birthday treats!    Staring longingly at a piñata is not always a bad tactic. Photo by Rya...

Posted by: Caileigh Robertson, Communications ‘Twas a celebration of winter, and all through the zoo every creature was stirring (especially the ‘roos)! Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Giant light bulbs were strung above the gray wolves with care, in hopes that treats would fall for all four wolves to share. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo In the Bamboo Forest Reserve, a small-clawed otter climbed upstream. Awaiting it at the top was a giant fir tree! Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo And Priscilla, the anoa, was given a tasty green wreath, which she nibbled on—so gently—with her two front teeth. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo When in Jaguar Cove arose a bright, white treat, disguised as a snowman, three hungry jaguars dug into juicy meat! Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Don’t worry, zoo fans. You haven’t missed out! We have more ...

Posted by: Jenny Mears, Education Woodland Park Zoo is proud to announce the graduation of its first cohort of Advanced Inquiry Program Master's students! Offered in partnership with Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, the Advanced Inquiry Program is a ground-breaking graduate degree focused on inquiry-driven learning as a powerful agent for social change, public engagement and ecological stewardship. These graduates' journey began two-and-a-half years ago, in graduate courses at the zoo along with web-based courses that connected them with a broad network of educators and community leaders from around the world.  Photo: John E. Hollingsworth. While these students may have decided to join the AIP to further their own education (or just because they wanted to hang out with animals at the zoo), ultimately, they empowered their audiences and their communities in the process, and are now making positive change in the world together. Collectively, these graduate students f...

Posted by: Caileigh Robertson, Communications The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation’s Science and Technology Program has awarded Woodland Park Zoo a generous two-year grant—a portion of which will help fund wolverine monitoring research in the North Cascades—as a part of the expansion of the zoo’s Living Northwest field conservation program. Woodland Park Zoo’s Living Northwest program uses hidden cameras that are triggered by the presence of animals to monitor wolverine and other carnivore activity in the North Cascades. Photo: Woodland Park Zoo. With the $240,000 grant, Woodland Park Zoo will continue to build the Living Northwest conservation program, which leverages zoo-based resources to carry out Pacific Northwest wildlife projects focusing on endangered species recovery, conservation science and community-based education. “Woodland Park Zoo conducts leading conservation research in our region,” said Susan M. Coliton, Vice President of The Paul G. Allen Family Founda...

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Whether it's your first time or a return to an annual tradition, a visit to WildLights presented by KeyBank this year will bring more lights, more animals and more fun to your holidays! You might say there are 575,000 sparkling reasons to come to WildLights, but what other activities can you look forward to during your visit? Here are the top 10 experiences you can't miss at WildLights this year! 1. See the all new and classic light displays Photo: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. Approximately 575,000 energy-efficient LED lights recreate wild animals and wild places in two and three dimensions along the zoo’s pathways and North Meadow. An animated display of nature’s wonder is woven into the zoo’s famous greenery inspired by exotic destinations from across the globe. Last year’s favorite displays, Northern Lights, The Water Hole and Jungle Lights, are joined this year by all new displays: Monkey Business, Glow-rilla...

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications You spend all that time decorating the tree, and then a grizzly comes along and gobbles it up. Photo: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. Well, hopefully not at your house, but that’s exactly what happens at Woodland Park Zoo’s Winter Celebration , Dec. 14-16 and Dec. 21-23. Break out of hibernation and join us for some holiday-themed treats for the animals. They'll much on decorated wreaths and evergreen trees, and tear into gift wrapped boxes filled with favorite foods. Greet your loved ones with a snowy otter, one of several free e-card designs. Photo: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. 'Tis the season for sharing, so invite a friend to join you  by  sending a free Woodland Park Zoo holiday e-card! Browse from several designs and get started on making your tree-free card  today.