Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Hattie Potter, Development Editor's Note: Thank you to animal keepers Erin and Kayla for answering our questions and helping us get to know Woodland Park Zoo's toucans. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo How much do you know about toucans other than they have big beaks and are often "associated" with a fruity, sugary cereal? These beautiful and colorful birds are native to the tropical rain forests of Central and South America. They spend most of their lives high up in the trees where they nest in tree cavities and find many of their food sources. Woodland Park Zoo's toco toucans—one of the larger of the many species of this bird—can be found in our Tropical Rain Forest exhibit and their long, vibrant bills make them almost impossible to miss! Let's get to know more, with the help of animal keepers Erin and Kayla:   What are the names and ages of our toucans? There are currently two toucans living at the zoo – one male and a female. Our m...

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Today is World Health Day and we want to thank all of our visitors, members, staff, volunteers and our community for keeping health a top priority––not only for people, but for the animals too. We've asked you to visit your zoo with timed tickets (which helps spread folks out), to social distance (if you need help remembering how far six feet is, just imagine an adult tapir, from tail to snout, or our boa, Anahi, stretched all the way out!) and to mask up. You've been patient and kind as we've navigated the challenges of a new zoo experience and we want to acknowledge just how grateful we are for your understanding and willingness to go with the flow. We still have these precautions in place, but you can get a refresh on how to safely visit at www.zoo.org/visit/faq   as spring and summer heat up! For over a year now, much of the indoor space at Woodland Park Zoo has been closed to keep staff, visitors and animals healthy and safe duri...

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos by: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo Thanksgiving is a time for tradition—too much turkey, small talk with long-lost relatives, football jitters and holiday traffic jams—but we’re here to help you break convention and show your wild side. Take a cue from the animals and enjoy Thanksgiving like a beast! 1. Forage together In the wild, meerkats take turns foraging for small lizards, insects, birds and fruit while one or two of them act as a sentry and keep a lookout for predators. At the zoo, our meerkat mob dines on a variety of kibble, vegetables, crickets, mealworms, mice, fish and a carnivore meat diet. Tip from the meerkats: Holiday grocery shopping can be grueling, but not when you’ve got accomplices! Plan to visit the market with your own mob (a few close friends or family members). Divide your list and conquer the masses together. Then celebrate with a cricket pie. Hey, it’s protein! 2. Hoard your cache ...