Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren Kitoko in January, 2026. Photo by Beth Keplinger/Woodland Park Zoo Be sure to swing by Woodland Park Zoo and share good vibes and feels with 6-year-old Kitoko (ki-TOE-koh), a male western lowland gorilla, as he gets ready to embark on a new chapter of his life by moving to a new home. The last day to see Kitoko and show him some love will be Monday, August 31. Kitoko, whose name means beautiful or handsome in the African languages, Lingala (lin-gah-lah)/Kikongo (key-KON-goh), has reached the subadult stage of a gorilla when males naturally leave their natal group (birth family) or are driven out to form bachelor groups with other young adult males. This "bachelor stage" of life can last several years while they learn from each other how to navigate gorilla society before eventually maturing into a silverback (adult male) who may be able to lead his own group of females and start a family.  April 2022, Kit...

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo is excited to announce a new one-month program inviting the public to nominate deserving community members, friends and family for free general admission zoo tickets. The zoo wants to be a place for all people and recognizes that financial, cultural or ability barriers can sometimes make access to the zoo a challenge. This month, community members are invited to help expand access to Woodland Park Zoo by nominating an individual or family who could benefit from a free, joyful and uplifting zoo experience as part of the All for Access nomination program. The All for Access nomination program is one of several ways community members can participate in Woodland Park Zoo's All for Animals campaign. The campaign celebrates the many ways people can support wildlife, conservation, and meaningful connections with nature while helping ensure the zoo remains welcoming and accessible to ...

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Welcome, Jessie! We're excited to hang with you! Woodland Park Zoo is excited to announce the arrival of Jessie, a female Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, who is joining Fezzik, the male sloth who arrived last year. Jessie, 26, was born September 10, 1999, at Philadelphia Zoo and has had three offspring. Her arrival marks an exciting new chapter for the zoo and gives guests another opportunity to connect with this elusive tree-dwelling species. Jessie, who is 26 years old, recently arrived from Philadelphia Zoo. Jessie and Fezzik,11, are Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths— Choloepus hoffmanni —a species known for its slow-moving, upside-down lifestyle in the forest canopy. Named for the two long, curved claws on each front foot, these nocturnal mammals spend much of their time resting, climbing and browsing on leaves, fruit and flowers. Sloths are found in Central and South America and are generally known fo...