Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by: Jim Watson, Raptor Ecology of the Shrub Steppe , a Woodland Park Zoo Living Northwest conservation project Golden eagle nestling prior to the Carlton Complex Fire in 2014. Photo by Scott Fitkin/Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Resilience” is a big word, but an important one, when referencing wild animals and their ability to traverse adverse circumstances. In 2014, eastern Washington was ravaged by several major forest fires lasting several weeks and eventually converging in what was termed the Carlton Complex Fire. The complex overlaid the area where 17 golden eagle nesting territories are located, including at least two territories where we had just deployed satellite transmitters on nestling eagles prior to the fire. Pre-fire golden eagle nesting habitat. Photo by Jim Watson/Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. As I anxiously monitored movements of the young birds remotely, via satellite, I was disappointed when both signals went off

Posted by: Gigi Allianic, Communications Yesterday we said goodbye to Pokey and Lambchop. At 30 years old, the two were among the oldest black-and-white colobus monkeys in North America. Lifetime companions, Pokey and Lambchop produced four offspring and eventually grew old together. After a period of age-related physical decline, the elderly pair was humanely euthanized. Lambchop was born at Woodland Park Zoo and Pokey lived at the zoo for 24 years. Colobus monkeys can live up to 33 years in zoos and up to 20 in the wild. Two females and a male colobus remain at the zoo in the award-winning Tropical Rain Forest exhibit. As part of the zoo’s exemplary quality care program, the colobus monkeys were under a prescribed program to help manage their geriatric infirmities. “We medically managed their osteoarthritis with daily medications to help maintain their comfort and mobility, and provided nutrient-supplements for overall health,” said Dr. Kelly Helmick, associate v

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor Bears, we dedicate this week to you! Photo by John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo. It’s Bear Awareness Week in Washington, proclaimed by Governor Jay Inslee, and it’s all leading up to Bear Affair: Living Northwest Conservation Day presented by Brown Bear Car Wash, Sat., June 6. At Bear Affair, grizzly bear brothers Keema and Denali will demonstrate exactly what happens in your backyard or campsite when a picnic isn’t stored properly—and you’ll get tips on how to bear-proof your next outdoor adventure! Photo by Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo. Bear Affair puts the spotlight on bears, wolves, raptors and other Pacific Northwest wildlife—the focus of Woodland Park Zoo's Living Northwest conservation program  and the personalities behind our newest quiz: Which Northwest Animal Are You? Practice carnivore awareness by learning what these animals need to survive in the wild, how to help keep them safe and what humans can do to peacef

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor Since the passing of our gorilla grand matriarch , Nina, last week, we’ve heard from so many of you who remember her sweet presence—whether it was from one memorable visit that stuck with you or a lifetime of visits that added up to a special place in your heart for the notable dame. Nina, photo by Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo. We want you to know that those visits truly matter. Not just for the time you spend building a powerful connection with nature, but for the positive impact you make—perhaps without even realizing it—for wildlife across the world. That’s because every visit to Woodland Park Zoo helps support our local and international conservation efforts , like those helping to protect endangered western lowland gorillas—just like Nina—in the wild. Blackback Costa, submerged and feeding on mineral rich aquatic plants in a stream in the Mbeli Bai clearing, northern Congo. Photo by Kelly Greenway For 15 years, Woodland Park Zoo

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Today is Endangered Species Day, a time to reflect on the importance of wildlife conservation and restoration efforts for all imperiled species and those who work to protect them. Malayan tiger, Eko spies on our photographer. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. With the opening of our newest exhibit, Banyan Wilds, we’ve welcomed three young Malayan tigers to Woodland Park Zoo. It’s difficult to put into words how precious these individual creatures are, not only in our care, but precious in their very existence. When we began this immense project just a few years ago—the exhibit design , the Tigers Forever: Kenyir-Taman Negara,Malaysia Project and our Show Your Stripes advocacy campaign—we were under the impression that only 500 Malayan tigers were left in the wild. A daunting statistic. Since then, researchers and camera traps have revealed that number is even less; instead there may be fewer than 350 individuals that remain.

Posted by: Kerston Swartz, Public Affairs and Advocacy Are your ears ringing, boys? It’s just because we can’t stop talking about tigers! Photo: Dennis Dow/WPZ. We’re kind of tiger nerds at Woodland Park Zoo. You already know this: the zoo has its paws in a lot of tiger-related stuff this summer. So far, we opened our new Banyan Wilds exhibit featuring three new Malayan tiger brothers and organized prominent local artists to decorate ten magnificent fiberglass tigers to place throughout the community as part of the Show Your Stripes art tour… and it’s only May. Show Your Stripes Tour tiger ambassadors. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer Lindgren/WPZ. Add to the list a partnership worth roaring about. Tiger Story Time at The Seattle Public Library. Photo by Jerry and Lois Photography. With all this tiger mania going on, imagine our excitement when The Seattle Public Library invited us to partner on its Summer of Learning Program. We’re calling this summer’s program “Wild S

Posted by: Stacey Hammond, Education This past winter, ZooCrew students learned about the conservation issues that face the Northwest and designed projects to address those issues. All of these projects highlighted how climate change is affecting animals. From bats to birds to wolverines and wolves, check out some of the projects from the Mercer, Denny, and Washington Middle School ZooCrew students below. Bat Houses Students from all three schools made bat houses, which will be hung up on zoo grounds. Bats are an important part of a healthy ecosystem. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, bat populations have decreased. By building bat houses, the students are helping create safe homes for bats. Denny Middle School students. Mercer Middle School students. Mercer Middle School students. Mercer Middle School students. Washington Middle School students. Backyard Bird Counts Another project highlighted bird conservation. Students observed birds in t

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Last week we shared a sneak peek of the new Malayan tiger and sloth bear exhibit Banyan Wilds (opening May 2). Now let’s take a closer look at the three tigers who have been keeping our horticulture crew busy (see evidence below) as they taste test out their new digs.  Our young tigers use all of their senses to get the dirt on their new space. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Liem, Eko and Olan arrived at Woodland Park Zoo in March and will make their debut when the new exhibit opens. The three brothers and their sister were born November 12, 2013 to Malayan tigers Liku and Suhana at Little Rock Zoo. Since their arrival the boys have been getting to know their keepers, exploring the new exhibit and testing out all of its features—especially the tiger stream. At one and a half years old, the young male tigers are curious, playful and especially interested in their keepers and still fascinated with each other. One by

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor VIDEO: Tigers sniff and lick GoPro camera. Produced by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. It may be April Fool's Day, but this is no joke: tigers return to Woodland Park Zoo when the all new Banyan Wilds exhibit opens May 2! The tigers—three brothers named Liem, Olan and Eko— arrived last month from the Little Rock Zoo. Right now the brothers are in a standard 30-day period of quarantine where we monitor their health and establish training and care routines with them. This is a chance for them to acclimate to their new surroundings, get to know their new keepers, and settle in comfortably. Zoo photographer Ryan Hawk set up a GoPro camera in one of the tigers' behind-the-scenes quarantine areas to get this first footage of the coolest new stripes in town. A GoPro camera is set up in a behind-the-scenes quarantine area for the tigers to get up close video. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. We'll be sharing more and more