Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Lorikeets and lories are brilliantly colored parrots that primarily eat pollen and nectar. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Imagine ... a dazzling array of squawking lorikeets taking flight in search of nectar. Curious goats leaning in for a scratch. Aldabra giant tortoises walking slowly, steadily toward you. These unforgettable moments will come to life in Wild Encounters, where Woodland Park Zoo’s Family Farm will transform into a new and refreshed hub for up-close animal experiences for guests of all ages.  Phase one to open this summer. Located at the site of the current Family Farm, Wild Encounters will be designed around the concept, where everyone cares like a keeper. The space will be reimagined to give guests of all ages hands-on and up-close experiences with animals and animal care activities. “Our animal keepers are caretakers for wildlife, and everyone who feels a connection with animals can be inspired to care in t...

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Woodland Park Zoo Ahem, drum roll please... Meet Rufous! Rufous is the newest member of the Family Farm. This miniature Jersey cow is just 9 months old, but he has already become a barnyard favorite. Right now he weighs about 415 lb, but he'll be full grown at about 3 years old and could weigh between 1000-1200 lb. His tawny red fur is especially handsome. His main diet is Timothy Hay, a high fiber basic grass hay. The young cow enjoys playing with and eating his browse, fresh edible plants provided by his keepers. Rufous received a Christmas tree, which he nibbled on and also turned into a sparring partner. Sparring is definitely one of his favorite pastimes, a natural behavior for young bull calves. He pushes his ball around the yard with his forehead and feet. Keepers also hung a jolly ball in the barn for Rufous to knock around. Like his barn-mates , miniature donkeys Sam ...

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Video and Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/WPZ Watch video: Emma the rabbit receives acupuncture and massage therapy. When we think of aging, we look to our elders to show us how it’s done, and here at the zoo there are some furrier examples of aging gracefully. Getting older can be rough on the body, but with the right health care plan, assistance from geriatric specialists, physical therapy, medication and lifestyle changes, people can enjoy many active, healthy golden years. For decades, humans have known the healing benefits of physical therapy. Today, rehabilitation techniques are emerging as a new standard in best animal care programs in zoos around the country, and Woodland Park Zoo is at the forefront of providing thisspecialized care .  Meet Emma, a 13-year-old English spot rabbit. Emma has enjoyed an illustrious 11-year career as an ambassador animal at Woodland Park Zoo. Emma has been a special presence fo...

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Today, February 19th, Chinese New Year will welcome the new zodiac sign. 2015 is the year of the sheep… goat! Sheep! GOAT! Depending on who you ask, some will say it is the year of the sheep and some will say it is the year of the goat, while others will say it’s a combination of both. According to some Chinese folklorists , the symbol is actually of a fictional ‘yang,’ which refers to any member of the caprinae family. Both goats and sheep appear in Chinese New Year paintings, paper-cuts and other festival decorations. But here is the real question: do you know the difference between a sheep and a goat? You might think it’s easy, but the two animals share many similarities. Here’s a fleecy checklist of the two animals compared side by side… q Tubby or thin Goats are usually more slender-looking, while sheep are generally rounder-looking. Domestic goat q Bearded or maned S...

Posted by Caileigh Robertson, Communications Sam the miniature donkey. Photo by Dennis Dow/WPZ. Sneezes, sniffles and itchiness are all signs of allergies in humans and, as research indicates, they’re common symptoms in allergic animals too—especially for one miniature donkey at Woodland Park Zoo. Sam, one of our two mini donkeys living at the Family Farm, is allergic to hay! Zookeepers noticed him becoming itchy around hay, which serves as feed for Sam and his herd mate, Rico. Sam continuously rubbed and scratched against posts in his Family Farm barn, and his coat became short and thin. After a blood test came back confirming his hay allergy, our keepers and animal health team crafted a treatment plan to reduce his symptoms and ease his discomfort. Photo by Ric Brewer/WPZ. Keepers promptly switched Sam’s feed to Bermuda grass hay, which doesn’t trigger allergic reactions like Timothy grass, commonly known for its pollen allergen. Although Sam experiences itchy sid...

Posted by: Gigi Allianic, Communications Hot packs, ice treatment, massage, exercise ball, laser therapy…is this a physical therapy session? Close, but not for a human patient. These applications are part of a physical rehabilitation session for a domestic goat living at Woodland Park Zoo. The goat, a 7-year-old male named Waldo, is undergoing physical rehabilitation to help alleviate pain and improve his range of motion. Last year, Waldo was becoming more reluctant to move and showing signs of front and rear limb weakness. Following a thorough assessment by the zoo’s animal health team, which revealed compressed disks in his neck and lumbar spine, the goat was put on a physical rehabilitation program as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Video: Goat. Laser beams. Yoga ball. Produced by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. At the zoo, physical rehabilitation is used to help alleviate discomfort from an injury or surgical treatment, to improve circulation or range of motion ...

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Finally, the trifecta! Kunekune pigs have arrived at the Family Farm. And that means I can finally say that this is the summer of three little pigs! Three little pigs, from left to right: African warthog now on view in the African Savanna (photo by Dennis Dow/WPZ), Visayan warty pig now on view in Elephant Forest (photo by Dennis Dow/WPZ), kunekune pig now on view in Family Farm (photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ) Unlike the two wild pig species that debuted at the zoo this May—the Visayan warty pig and African warthog—the kunekune is a domestic species, albeit a rare one, native to New Zealand. Let me guess: you’re wondering how to pronounce kunekune. Try this: “KOO-KNEE, KOO-KNEE.” The word kunekune means “fat and round” in the Māori language, which isn’t a stretch when you see these little guys. You’ll have no trouble spotting the pigs, whose mottled spots and constant snorting draw plenty of attention in the farm. The ...