Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Stephen Reed and Meghan Sawyer, Communications This has been a year of many challenges and changes—and for some that also has meant some hardship, separation and even loss. Still, there is much to be thankful for. We have been inspired by kids from our community who have found creative and thoughtful ways to safely reach out with kindness, spread joy and show they care for animals and for people.  Mia and her friends have a safe, socially-distanced meet-up at the zoo! Photo: Courtesy of Mia's family. MIA Nine-year-old Mia really likes the animals and the people at Woodland Park Zoo—and before the pandemic, she used to go there on a bus to meet up with and visit friends. In the spring, when quarantine started, Mia was only able to see classmates and teammates on video screens.  When they were unable to visit in person, Mia left animal-inspired care packages for her friends with t-shirts and coloring sheets. Photo: Courtesy of Mia's family As a way to reach out and get...

Posted by the 2019 Jungle Party Co-Chairs Amy Alcala, Diane Shrewsbury, Alyssa Sunderland and Jill Walker On behalf of all of us at Woodland Park Zoo, thank you for joining us at the 43rd annual Jungle Party, Our Zoo, Our Oasis - Ensuring a Fierce Future!   We are honored to announce that collectively, more than $2 million was given for Woodland Park Zoo’s pioneering work and conservation mission. As a leading conservation zoo, we believe that saving wildlife and their habitats is our imperative. To achieve this, we are embarking on nothing less than a historic transformation that will redefine the relationship between people, our planet and all its creatures through a broad, social movement for wildlife conservation. Your support at Jungle Party and throughout the year enables us to build upon our proud history of innovation and leadership while embracing a rapid metamorphosis necessary for our times. We invite you to spend a few moments with our new s...

Posted by Alexa Woodard, Engagement Thrive 2019 was an amazing show of support from our community. Woodland Park Zoo’s Thrive 2019 Wildlife Heroes , our signature conservation-focused fundraising event of the year, took place at Fremont Studios on February 27 th with more than 400 zoo supporters attending. Funds raised will support the zoo’s Living Northwest program, which saves species, engages students in inquiry-based science learning and protects ecosystems right here at home. Thrive co-chairs Sandra Andrews of Microsoft and Anders Brown of Valence with Woodland Park Zoo President and CEO Alejandro Grajal. Fremont Studios made a festive location for our conservation-focused fundraiser, Thrive 2019! Co-chaired by Sandra Andrews of Microsoft and Anders Brown of Valence, Thrive Wildlife Heroes brought together Puget Sound region businesses, community and conservation leaders, and philanthropists to advance the mission of the zoo. The Thrive Wildlife Heroes e...

Posted by Meghan Sawyer, Public Relations Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Woodland Park Zoo More than 1,000 Seattle leaders and philanthropists came together at Woodland Park Zoo’s 42nd Annual Jungle Party fundraising event, giving collectively more than $2 million for the zoo’s pioneering work and conservation mission.  This year’s Jungle Party, themed “Wander Into the Wild,” was held on July 13 and presented by title sponsors The Boeing Company and Callisons, Inc. Woodland Park Zoo Board members Jim Burgett, Ben Magnano, Matt Rosauer, Ethan Stowell and Evan Wyman co-chaired the event. “The extraordinary generosity of our Jungle Party patrons this year is humbling, energizing and inspiring,” said Alejandro Grajal, President and CEO of Woodland Park Zoo. “The contributions from our long-term supporters and new friends will directly support local and global wildlife conservation, world-class animal care at our zoo and a considerable increase in access for chil...

Posted by: Gigi Allianic, communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren Last night during the Thrive Leadership Awards dinner and fundraiser, Woodland Park Zoo honored individuals and a family business who have demonstrated their commitment to protecting wildlife and the environment around them, and advancing the zoo's conservation mission. WATCH: Be a Force for Nature at  https://youtu.be/9c0opJ-8tI0 “Conservation depends on people and each of these awardees is a force for nature,” said Woodland Park Zoo President and CEO Alejandro Grajal. “Zoos can’t protect the biodiversity of species alone. We need partners and the unsung heroes to help us protect our planet, whether that’s educating millions of visitors on zoo grounds, working with farmers in Mexico, or being a champion of wildlife through time and leadership. They are showing us how to change humanity’s relationship with nature. They are truly forces for nature.” The zoo’s inaugural Thrive Leadership ...