Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Woodland Park Zoo Hello, prickly friends! Bristles aside, zoo-goers can encounter from a safe distance a “prickle” of African crested porcupines at Woodland Park Zoo in the African Savanna’s former hippo habitat. A group of porcupines is known as a prickle! The porcupines were seized as part of a suspected neglect case in Oregon and are receiving housing and care at Woodland Park Zoo while that case is ongoing. While being housed at the zoo since the end of May, the prickle has multiplied with the birth of a pair of porcupettes (baby porcupines) born on July 24. These prickly cuties were seized as part of a suspected neglect case and are receiving housing and dedicated care at Woodland Park Zoo while that case is ongoing. “While performing a morning routine for the porcupines, including checking on, feeding and cleaning the den, a member of the animal care team came upon the two baby porcupines, known as porcupet...

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher These Goliath beetles are ... well ... Goliath! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo They’re big! They’re super cool! They’re the current rockstars of Bug World—the BEETLES! Goliath beetles ( Goliathus goliatus ) are among the largest and heaviest of all insects with some mature males measuring in at more than 4 inches long! These gentle giants (males can be aggressive towards rival male beetles but are generally harmless to humans) are native to central and west Africa. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo These beetles spend much of their short lives as a larva then a pupa before finally emerging as adults with the entire life cycle lasting up to a year or so.  Dedicated Bug World keeper, Maria, gently holds the Goliath beetle larva —and YES, it is bigger than her finger! Photo: Courtesy of Maria Buckner/Woodland Park Zoo Check our the hand-sized clay/sand pupal structure from which an adult Goliath beetle will emerge!  Photo: C...

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Hello, Fezzik! We're already in love with this Hoffmann's two-toed sloth. Some news to keep you on your toes! For the first time in five years, a new sloth is calling Woodland Park Zoo home. The sloth, named Fezzik after a character in The Princess Bride, is 10 years old and recently arrived from Milwaukee County Zoo. Fezzik is a Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth—Choloepus hoffmanni—they are solitary, tree-dwelling mammals named for their two long, curved claws on each of their front feet. These slow-moving nocturnal creatures spend the majority of their time hanging upside down in forest canopies where fruit, leaves and flowers are plentiful for munching. From every angle, Fezzik is perfection! Sloths, all of which are found in Central and South America, generally have very gentle dispositions and Fezzik is no exception! “We’re thrilled to bring a sloth species back to the zoo and Fezzik is busy l...