Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by: Marie Manguette, Mbeli Bai Gorilla Study , a Woodland Park Zoo Partner for Wildlife At Mbeli, we follow twenty-one groups of gorillas that come to feed in the clearing. The number of individuals in a group ranges from just two to around 13. In gorillas, it is generally only the mother that takes care of her infant, with no assistance from the other members of the group. Mom Dinka carrying her male infant Duma on her back.  Photo by Marie Manguette On rare occasions however, we have observed juveniles carrying their siblings on their back or helping them when they are climbing trees. These altruistic behaviors have been observed in only two of the groups followed at Mbeli, and in both female and male juveniles. While rare in the wild, this phenomenon seems quite common in habituated or captive groups of gorillas.  Zulu’s group is one of these groups where juveniles have been observed caring for and supervising their siblings without interruption from the

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor Malayan tiger at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Malayan tigers have officially been reclassified from “Endangered” to “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature , the leading authority on the risk of extinction. The change reflects the reality of dwindling population numbers coming in from research data. What it doesn’t reflect is the hope that we can turn this around. We know what we need to do to save tigers—protect their habitat, protect their prey base, and protect them from poachers. And thanks to your support, we have boots on the ground in Malaysia implementing these key strategies. Now the work must continue at home. Washington residents can help protect species facing extinction by voting #YESon1401 this November . The initiative seeks to curb the wildlife trafficking trade and sets a new model for citizen-driven conservation. It’s never been more critical.

Posted by: Fred Koontz, Vice President of Field Conservation This morning, I joined our Initiative 1401 partners, Vulcan, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Seattle Aquarium, to announce that 348,627 people signed the petition to get this groundbreaking initiative on the November ballot. We’re one step closer to taking this critical issue to the people of Washington state. Woodland Park Zoo Vice President of Field Conservation Dr. Fred Koontz at today's I-1401 press conference. If passed, I-1401 will strengthen laws that ban the trafficking of products made from endangered animals—animals that are being poached or exploited so much, they are facing extinction. Woodland Park Zoo is proud to join the thousands of Washingtonians who signed the petition sheets in support of I-1401. U.S. Fish and Wildlife confiscated ivory. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher/Wildlife Conservation Society. Earlier this year, Woodland Park Zoo drafted and advocated for legislatio

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor Quick, name a zoo animal with black and white stripes… Chances are you said “zebra.” But soon you might consider another possibility after you meet the newest Woodland Park Zoo additions, a colony of ring-tailed lemurs! Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Their debut marks the return of this endangered species to Seattle for the first time in nearly 20 years.  Photo by John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo. That long tail striped with black and white rings gives the lemur its name and serves as a counter balance when leaping from tree to tree.  Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Ring-tailed lemurs use trees as a place to eat, nap, and interact with their troop mates, but this species can also be spotted on the ground more frequently than other lemurs. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. That’s where you might find them sunbathing in the morning, sitting in a yoga-like pose with limbs outstretched to ma

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: 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