Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications Happy birthday—or hatch day—to this special emu! Windana turned 30 years old on March 22, which makes him one of the oldest known emus in all of the accredited zoos in North America! Emus have an average life expectancy of around 10 years in the wild and around 20 years in human care—so Windana’s age is a testament to the amazing care he receives, day in and day out, from our animal keepers and veterinary staff. Windana is a sweetheart of an emu with a permanent case of bedhead. Photo: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Emus are large flightless birds native to Australia. They’re the second largest living birds on the planet next to the ostriches of Africa and, as adults, can easily grow 5 to 6 feet tall. Windana, whose name comes from an Aboriginal word referencing a “crossroads” or a “turning point”, has lived at Woodland Park Zoo for almost his whole life. He arrived here in 1992, along with a female emu around the same age named Kowia. Both o...

Posted by Lauren Carroll-Bolger, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo March 3 is United Nations (UN) World Wildlife Day focused on “Recovering Key Species for Ecosystem Restoration.” The zoo joins the UN in highlighting the status of critically endangered species, like Kitoko and the western lowland gorilla, and promoting sustainable use of habitats to ensure the planet’s ecosystem can thrive. We are also celebrating the 2nd birthday of western lowland gorilla, Kitoko.  Since March 4, 2020, bright-eyed and curious Kitoko has melted hearts and grown from a small baby in the arms of his mother Uzumma to a 30-pound, adventurous climber leaping off the ledges of anything he can climb. He has become the class clown of the gorilla bunch and revels in rambunctious play sessions with his 1-year-old half-sister, Zuna, and 6-year-old family member, Yola. “Kitoko doesn’t mind being out of Uzumma’s sight if that means he can play with Zuna and Yola,” said Martin R...