Woodland Park Zoo Blog

 Posted by Gigi Allianic/ Woodland Park Zoo Melati, photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo is mourning the loss of Melati, a female orangutan who passed away while recovering from a surgical procedure. The surgery was performed to remove possibly cancerous growths of the uterus and left ovary as a life-saving measure and to alleviate pain and discomfort associated with her significant reproductive disease.  The 193-pound orangutan would have turned 50 on December 27 and was the oldest orangutan living at the zoo. The median life expectancy for orangutans is 28 years; in zoos, orangutans are now living in to their 40s and 50s because of the evolving field of zoo medicine, which includes geriatric care. “Losing our animals is very difficult, they are family to us. Melati lived at Woodland Park Zoo for nearly five decades and was a role model mother to her two offspring who continue to thrive here,” said Martin Ramirez, mammal curator at Woodland Park Zoo. “Mel

Get your gifting on with wildlife in mind! Looking for that perfect thing for the animal lover, tree-hugger, or wildlife warrior in your life? Here are our top 10 gift ideas for all the sugarplums on your list.  1. A gift that lasts all year long Give the gift that keeps on giving with unlimited admission and fantastic benefits! Buy a membership for family or friends (or yourself!) and save $15 with promo code GIFT2021 (now through December 31). zoo.org/membership 2. A cuddly gift with conservation benefits Give the gift of a ZooParent adoption  to help fund the care of all the amazing animals at Woodland Park Zoo and make a difference for wildlife! Our $69 seasonal snow leopard special includes a plush toy, an adoption certificate, color photo, fun fact sheet, and more!  zoo.org/zooparent/special 3. The perfect present for every budget Did you know that more than 2 billion plastic cards end up in landfills each year? Opt for sustainable and help prevent plastic waste, buy a Woodland