Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Watch out, Seattle: Cupid’s been hitting the mark on Phinney Ridge for over 100 years! This Valentine’s Day we've got the smitten kittens and the lovey dovies to inspire you... Affectional bonding between animals is also known as pair bonding. Sociobiology circles use this term to differentiate from “love,” a very human term. Pair bonding is a strong affinity between animals that are lifelong mates, temporary partners or can just refer to strong teamwork. Animals have their own unique ways to bond and show affection. Here is a look at some of the animal bonding pairs at the zoo and a thing or two you can learn from these animal sweethearts: African dwarf crocodiles: Keep smiling This toothy pair has been together since 1973! What’s the secret to their lasting relationship? Lots of crocodile smiles; sharing snacks (mice, rats, chicks and quail); and a love language all their own.  The male lets out a really low growl, typ

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo With the help of zoo fans, proud papa Xerxes chose Gandia and Mandla as names to complement Tandie, the first name chosen by community members in an online poll. Here comes trouble! Tandie, Gandia and Mandla get a snarl of approval from dad Xerxes. Tandie : meaning fire Gandia : meaning clever Mandla : meaning power/strength Naming lion triplets is not an easy task, so we asked you to help parents Adia and Xerxes with the decision. First, 10 names were selected by the zoo’s lion keepers and derived from languages that reflect parts of the South African lion’s native range. Then, during the zoo’s two-week online naming poll, voters chose their top preferences. On Tuesday we revealed the name with the most votes, Tandie (meaning “fire”). Mom Adia and dad Xerxes weighed in today to choose from runners up Gandia, Mandla and Pule.  Xerxes scopes out the goods... Keepers used this o

We are just slightly excited about Sunday. Watch the lion triplets go into true Beast Mode with their Seahawks footballs. The cubs got us all pumped for the Seahawks Super Bowl Repeat! The boys, along with mom Adia and dad Xerxes, were given the footballs as enrichment while the young cats explored their exhibit. Go Hawks!

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, communications Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo The Seahawks 12s are getting wild! Animals across the zoo showed up to the pregame today. Penguins, lion cubs, lemurs, grizzly bears, wolves and even a few tropical frogs joined the roster. We’re cheering on the Hawks as they advance to the NFC Championship. Special Seahawks enrichment treats from their keepers coaches motivated these athletes to execute those football moves! As the Hawks keep winning, you keep saving—starting Jan. 16, take $3 off zoo admission every day when you sport your Seahawks gear as long as the Seahawks play. Let’s take a look at the best plays of the day… We started off with a three-cub drill to evaluate the agility, quickness and movement of the youngest lionbacks. They showed great promise with their ball handling skills and lightning-fast pass rushes. Let’s just say Earl Thomas would be mighty proud of these cublets. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Par

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Fantasizing about hibernating during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? Many of us wish we could find a cozy den, curl up and peace out until spring, but there are ways to cope! Here are a few insider tips from the residents of the Northern Trail, our winter experts. Wolves on the Northern Trail. Photo by Kirsten Pisto, Woodland Park Zoo. Slip and slide North American river otters know that saving precious energy during cold spells in not only smart, it can be a lot of fun! These playful winter experts use ice to slide to wherever they need to go. They might look like they are just having a blast, but they are conserving calories while they’re at it. We highly recommend sledding, but we aren’t sure it will save energy, so bring a snack if you plan to replicate this adaptation. North American river otters. Photo by Ryan Hawk, Woodland Park Zoo. Feet first You aren’t going to get very far if you are stuck in the

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications We’ve got a new arrival to the Temperate Forest… he’s got a fiery red coat and his name is Yukiko!  As part of Woodland Park Zoo’s preventive care program, our veterinary team performed a full physical examination of Yukiko including his weight, blood work and radiographs. “We are pleased overall with his weight and blood work and he appears to be in good shape,” said Dr. Darin Collins, director of Woodland Park Zoo’s Animal Health Programs.  Photo by Ryan Hawk, Woodland Park Zoo. Yukiko during his preventative exam. Photo by Ryan Hawk, Woodland Park Zoo. Dr. Darin Collins checks out Yukiko's teeth and gums. Photo by Ryan Hawk, Woodland Park Zoo. The 9-year-old panda arrived under the Red Panda Species Survival Plan conservation breeding program from Red River Zoo in Fargo, N.D. Yukiko will be paired up with our female, 7-year-old Stellar, in the hopes that they hit it off. The breeding season for red pandas occurs fro

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications We have some sad news to share: Our long-time resident Simon the siamang was humanely euthanized yesterday, Monday, Dec. 15, after showing signs of declining health related to long-term chronic illness. Simon was 34 years old. Simon, photo by Dennis Dow, Woodland Park Zoo. Mammal curator Martin Ramirez remembers our operatic little dude. “Simon was a favorite of zoo guests and staff for the interest he showed in anyone who came to visit him. To the delight of our visitors, Simon would often leap from a branch in the back of his exhibit to the window sill to be closer to them.  His routine early morning calls were as much a part of the zoo opening as the daily PA announcement. His hoots could be heard across the zoo, even as he began to have trouble with the high notes.  He will be missed even by those who only knew him by his voice.” Simon was hand raised until he moved to Woodland Park Zoo at 2 years old in 1982. He really enjoye

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Attention TGIFers: Here is your update on the most adorable trio in Seattle. Our wriggly little lion cubs aced their 6-week exams this morning. Zoo veterinarians gave the energetic cublets a clean bill of health and good marks on their growth milestones. The routine wellness exam included blood draws, vaccinations, weigh-ins and an overall health assessment for the three boys. The cubs were a bit suspicious of the stethoscope, but all in all they were very calm during their exam. Photo by Ryan Hawk, Woodland Park Zoo. Throughout the exam the cubs were pretty quiet with a few occasional little growls. Their keepers were by their side at all times to reassure them. Photo by Ryan Hawk, Woodland Park Zoo. The cubs currently weigh between 15 and 17 pounds, which means they are getting plenty of mom’s milk and are growing quickly. The smallest cub is also the feistiest, just in case you were curious.  “We’re very pleased to rep

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos by: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Thanksgiving is a time for tradition—too much turkey, small talk with long-lost relatives, football jitters and holiday traffic jams—but we’re here to help you break convention and show your wild side. Take a cue from the animals and enjoy Thanksgiving like a beast! 1. Forage together In the wild, meerkats take turns foraging for small lizards, insects, birds and fruit while one or two of them act as a sentry and keep a lookout for predators. At the zoo, our meerkat mob dines on a variety of kibble, vegetables, crickets, mealworms, mice, fish and a carnivore meat diet. Tip from the meerkats: Holiday grocery shopping can be grueling, but not when you’ve got accomplices! Plan to visit the market with your own mob (a few close friends or family members). Divide your list and conquer the masses together. Then celebrate with a cricket pie. Hey, it’s protein! 2. Hoard your cache