Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications Visayan warty pigs are a critically endangered species native to several islands in the Philippines. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren Let’s check in with some of our favorites in the Trail of Vines—the Visayan warty pigs. There have been some changes afoot for our resident rooters as well as for their species in the wild. You may remember we spotlighted our three pigs back in 201 8. They are Guapa (AKA Kulay) who will be 20 years old in April and her two daughters Bulak (AKA Scallops) and Magdula (AKA French Fry) who are both 13. Why do these pigs have nicknames? Well—pigs as special as these three have both formal as well as affectionate nicknames from their adoring animal keepers! All three of them came to Woodland Park Zoo together from Los Angeles Zoo in 2012 and each of their formal names reflects the Philippines origin of their species. Who doesn't love a good snack! Nom nom! Photo: Lindsay Wesselmann/Woodland Park Zoo In the wild, Visa...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos and video by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Happy fabulous 1st birthday, Fern and Juniper!  Juniper and Fern (Ferniper) discover their cakes together! Woodland Park Zoo’s rambunctious, charismatic brown bear cubs , known fondly as Ferniper, turn 1 year old January 31! The zoo celebrated their milestone birthday by treating the cubs to ice cakes concocted with fruit and veggie juice made with the cubs’ faves: apple, cantaloupe, carrot, honeydew, pear, oranges, romaine, watermelon, yam, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, corn, and even a couple of tropicals—papaya and mango—nom nom! Watch:  https://youtu.be/6-CnDaBgTB0   It is estimated the cubs were born in January 2022. Both cubs were rescued from their native habitats. Juniper is a coastal brown bear from Anchorage, Alaska; Fern is a grizzly bear from Montana. They were too young to survive on their own. Bear cubs learn everything about being a bear directly...

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Hello, Monty! All our new Canada lynx, who arrived in Seattle last year, are now ready to meet you in Woodland Park Zoo’s Living Northwest Trail. All three live in the brand-new lynx facility and came to Seattle from zoos around the United States. Yukon, 3, came from Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo, Monty, 3, arrived from Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and Marty, 3, came from Minnesota Zoo. Yukon explores his habitat in the Living Northwest Trail. Two of the young male lynx were recently renamed, so that both the animals and their names can be ambassadors for the Pacific Northwest. The lynx were named Monty and Yukon by good friends of the zoo, who have been generous supporters of the zoo and its wildlife conservation efforts. The names were inspired by the mighty Yukon River in Canada and Montreal, one of the country’s largest cities in Quebec. The third lynx, Marty, has been enjoying the habitat since it...

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications This weekend, people around the world will usher in the 2023 Lunar New Year on January 22, and this year it’s the Year of the Rabbit! Lunar New Year is celebrated across the globe, but especially in East Asia, where traditions and interpretations are as unique as the many cultures that mark this special date. Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash Rabbits have long symbolized good luck; therefore, the rabbit is considered the luckiest of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. Rabbits can also symbolize prosperity, cleverness and fertility. The Chinese zodiac suggests that those born during the Year of the Rabbit will be gentle, elegant and creative. At Woodland Park Zoo, two rabbits live at the Family Farm. Ten-year-old Winston the rabbit has tortoise-shell fur with lovely dapples of orangey-brown and black. Keaton, 6, is the zoo’s gray-furred Flemish giant rabbit. His breed is one of the largest in the world—males can weigh 15 to 20 pounds! Leah M...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Dhirin had a calm, sweet and sometimes aloof disposition. Photo: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo We are mourning the loss of our male snow leopard, Dhirin (pronounced DIH-dihn). The 17-year-old cat was humanely euthanized on January 17, following serious respiratory issues in addition to severe worsening of symptoms caused by kidney failure. The life expectancy for snow leopards in zoos is 17 to 19 years old. According to the Snow Leopard Trust , life in the wild is much harder, so the life expectancy of snow leopards in their natural habitat is more likely to be 10 to 12 years. According to Dr. Tim Storms, director of animal health at Woodland Park Zoo, the geriatric snow leopard had been diagnosed with renal disease more than a year ago, and the animal health team had been tracking the progression with trained blood collection and urinalyses. “In the last two weeks Dhirin had worsened quite dramatically, with changes in his respiratory pattern, es...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Woodland Park Zoo Keema was the bestest grizzly bear. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of our older male grizzly bear, Keema. The 28-year-old was humanely euthanized on Christmas day due to a severe decline in his health, including a lack of appetite and reduced mobility. Keema would have turned 29 on January 15. Male grizzly bears have a median life expectancy of 21 years in human care, and often less in the wild. For the past few months, the zoo’s animal care team has had Keema under close observation . He has undergone diagnostic examinations due to declining mobility, but the veterinary team did not find any treatable underlying diseases. The geriatric bear has been on prescribed analgesics and joint medication to address his arthritis and keep him comfortable for as long as possible. “While Keema had been hanging in there, he had been declining in mobility which is not uncommon for aging animals. He ...

Tamlyn Sapp, Waterfowl Animal Keeper Photos by Tamlyn Sapp, Woodland Park Zoo unless otherwise noted Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo ‘Tis the season for holiday music to ring, but the ears of many zoo guests are left ringing after visiting the most raucous birds at the zoo—the southern screamers and the Chilean flamingos! This flamboyant group of South American birds often showcase their choral talents in harmony. But what is all this ruckus really about? Let me introduce you to my jolly friends and I will explain why they have so much to say and what it all means! Southern screamers (Chauna torquata) are native to South American grassy marshes and agricultural lands, spanning Bolivia to Argentina. These birds can be domesticated and are known to be good guard animals due to their deafening “oh-WOOOW” screechy bark, which can be heard up to a mile away! When threatened, screamers will let out a low drumming warning rumble from their chest, and in times of contentment t...