Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications This summer we asked artists of all ages to put their most creative coloring skills to the test with a MyZoo baby tapir coloring contest. With nearly 100 entries, it was reaallllly hard to choose since every single entry was exploding with love for the #SeattleWatermelon and mom, Ulan. However, your Woodland Park Zoo staff have decided and here are the grand prize winners as well as honorable mentions... Grand Prize (Ages 2-6): Troy, age 5 Complete with a rainbow and excellent color choices as well as attention to detail, Troy you captured Sempurna's summertime vibes perfectly! Honorable mention for ages 2-6: Sophie, age 5 Claire, age 6 Vanessa, age 3 Grand Prize (Ages 7-12): Zoe, age 12 We loved the way Zoe treated the lush green background and her detailing in Ulan's eyes is so clever, congrats Zoe! Honorable mention for ages 7-12: Talia, age 7 The little feet! Avery, age 12 Those watermelon colors! Elsa, age 8 "I love you mom,...

Posted by Terra Vleeshouwer-Neumann, Intern, Public Affairs Photos by John Loughlin, Woodland Park Zoo A volunteer leads a guided tour at hippos. Woodland Park Zoo is dedicated to providing experiences that connect everyone to wildlife and conservation. Blind and low vision guests can request a trained sighted guide for their visit.  Here at the Woodland Park Zoo, we want everybody to feel welcome. One way we are working to include more of our community is through a series of Zoo For All events. Our most recent event on July 2, Celebrating All Abilities, was a huge hit. Despite the drizzly weather, the zoo was buzzing with excitement! Service animals are welcome. Woodland Park Zoo is responsible for the health and well-being of all of its animals, including many sensitive species. Therefore, there are additional steps to bringing fully-trained service animals on grounds. Here are all the details for service animals. Visitors learn about the special shoes our giraf...

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Earlier this summer, in celebration of the opening of Assam Rhino Reserve, we asked artists of all ages to show us their vision of a healthy future for greater one-horned rhinos with the Rhino Lookout coloring contest. Over 350 amazing entries rolled in, and we realized that picking the winners would be very tough. Here are the very creative and inspiring winners... Grand Prize:  KIDS AGES 2-7:  Gavin Foglesong (5)  "They are living creatures and they are alive. And you need to save them when they’re in trouble. If you’re there, try to stop the bad guy."  We couldn't agree more, Gavin, and we loved your optimistic pot of gold representing a healthy future for rhinos. Wonderful drawing! Gavin will receive a ZooParent rhino adoption package and certificate for an up-close rhino experience. Grand Prize:  KIDS AGES 8-12:  Ally Munoz (12) "It is important to protect them from poache...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications If you've seen Joel Sartore's images before, you know just how captivating a single photograph can be. Whoa. An endangered Malayan tiger, Panthera tigris jacksoni , at Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. © Photo by Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark Woodland Park Zoo will host the traveling exhibition, “National Geographic Photo Ark,” from April 20 through October 7. The National Geographic Photo Ark is an ambitious project committed to documenting every species in zoos, aquariums and animal rescue centers—inspiring people not just to care, but also to help protect these animals for future generations. Featuring the work of National Geographic photographer and Fellow Joel Sartore, National Geographic is showcasing this important project through multiple platforms. This exhibition is organized by the National Geographic Society and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. A compelling and visually powerful project, the Nationa...

Posted by Ric Brewer, Communications Art and installations at Woodland Park Zoo help us celebrate animals in nature. Animals, of course, are the subject of an overwhelming majority of the sculptures and interpretive elements around the zoo's grounds. We use art to augment our messages of respect, and to convey the awe and wonder we feel in the presence of other species. Tony Angell's "Ravens" in the Northern Trail The art and installations chosen for inclusion here, many of which were part of the city's 1 Percent for Art program, others as pieces donated specifically for exhibits, or part of the interpretive portions of the exhibit, must meet standards of excellence and experiential learning in order to justify their inclusion, further our mission, and call our visitors to action to help preserve the Earth's wildlife and wild places. Rob Evans's tundra mural in the Tundra Center, Northern Trail Interpretive art also serves an important role in sup...

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications For Woodland Park Zoo, 2009 was a year of notable births, conservation milestones, and a few firsts. Here’s my personal pick of the top 9 zoo stories from 2009, in no particular order--some fun, some inspirational, and some just cute. What were your favorite zoo stories this year? 1. Creating Papua New Guinea’s first Conservation Area 2. Penguins take their first swim 3. Snow leopard twins born to first-time mom 4. How do you exercise flamingo chicks? 5. Zoo hatches a cottonball…err, tawny frogmouth chick 6. Endangered Oregon spotted frogs released into the wild 7. Zoo staff and community team up to restore local habitat 8. Introducing the world’s first GPS-enabled zoo iPhone app 9. Animals get their own downtown art show, critics go wild

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Penguins can’t fly, but this one can… And most penguins wear “tuxedos,” but this one sports a robe… Come see dozens of these colorful and inventive penguin artworks unveiled this Friday, when Woodland Park Zoo and The Greenwood Collective launch our community art project— Penguins on the March . Sixty-two artists from across Seattle, ranging in ages 8 to 80, designed and decorated these 22” penguin statues that will migrate across Seattle neighborhoods this summer. But first, they’ll be unveiled at the base of the Space Needle on Friday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to noon, and later that evening at The Greenwood Collective during the Art Walk, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Both events are free to the public, so come on by! Then the penguins will migrate to outdoor locations across Ballard, Fremont, Greenwood and Phinney Ridge throughout the summer, spreading art and wildlife awareness. And brightening your day! Inspired by Woodland Park Zoo’s all new Humbol...

Thank you to all who came out for the opening of Seattle’s first non-human art show ! Hundreds of animal- and art-lovers alike funneled in throughout the evening, taking in the work, chatting with zookeepers about the animal artists, and enjoying the reception provided by PengWine . Here's a proud new owner of artwork by orangutan Towan, standing next to her purchase! Many of the pieces sold quickly—but don’t worry, all of the works will continue to show through March 5 at Art/Not Terminal Gallery in Seattle. It’s FREE to visit, so please stop by. Photos: Ryan Hawk (top), Ric Brewer.