Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Plus meet Dr. Robert Long, WPZ’s first Senior Conservation Fellow Posted by: Dr. Deborah B. Jensen, President and CEO President Jensen. Photo by Matt Hagen. December 2013 marked the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, a successful, complex and at times controversial federal law that has protected many of our most prized wildlife species from extinction. As we enter the New Year, the future of two native Northwest species hangs in the balance. Currently, gray wolves are being considered for delisting from the Federal Endangered and Threatened Species protections, while Oregon spotted frogs are being considered for listing . Under other circumstances, it would be hard to find a stage, outside of a Grimm brothers’ fairytale perhaps, in which both of these species shared a national spotlight. At the zoo, kids are learning all about wild wolves and other carnivores, including humans’ misconceptions of them, in our Zoo Crew and new Coexisting with Carnivores educat

Humans aren't the only animals that hug. On this National Hug Day, let's take a cue from the very social meerkats, who use touch to strengthen the bonds in their group. Photo: Dale Unruh/Woodland Park Zoo. XOXO.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Photos: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo The Seahawks 12s are getting wilder than ever. Today penguins, Asian small-clawed otters, wolves, river otters, meerkats and lemurs joined the roster. Together we’re cheering on the Hawks as they advance to the NFC Championship. As they keep winning, you keep saving—take $3 off zoo admission when you sport your Seahawks gear through their run for the Super Bowl. When zookeeper Celine Pardo tossed a bucket full o’ footballs to the Humboldt penguins, we learned how penguins rush—let’s call it Beak Mode. Cortez the penguin took it to the next level, waving his flag for all the 12s out there. The Asian small-clawed otters huddled to come up with their next play. The other team will never see this gnawesome play coming. Every team needs a dependable kicker. If you want a wolf to keep possession, douse the ball with pineapple extract, anise extract and a spritz of musky cologne

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Birthday banner? Check! Party horns? Got 'em. Now, where are the birthday boys… Aha! There they are…sleeping right through their own 20th birthday! That’s right—Woodland Park Zoo’s grizzly bear brothers, Keema and Denali, turn 20 today, and they are celebrating with a big ol’ snooze. Winter is a time of torpor for these bears, which means their activity level is low and their interest in our party horn shenanigans is non-existent. But we can’t let a milestone birthday like this one go unrecognized. After all, we remember these guys when they were just this big: Brothers hanging out at 1 year old in 1995. Photo: Woodland Park Zoo. That’s Keema and Denali at one year old exploring their Northern Trail home, opened in 1994. Cut to 2014 and the 20 year olds each weigh in at just over 850 pounds. My, how they have grown! Brothers still hanging out as adults. Photo: Ryan Hawk/WPZ. It’s uncommon for two adult grizz

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Winning photo by Instagram user momsasaurus Your votes are in—the winner of our #WPZWildLights photo contest is Instagram user momsasaurus! She’ll enjoy a behind-the-scenes Real Close tour, penguin feeding experience and ZooParent adoption. Congrats again to all of our finalists. Thanks for voting, everyone! Finalist: Rick Wade submitted via Facebook. Finalist: Karen Gallup submitted via email. Finalist: Kate Janson submitted via email. Finalist: Yoshiki Nakamura submitted via email.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Commnunications Save $3 on zoo admission when sporting Seahawks gear beginning Jan. 11 through the run for the Super Bowl! As the Seattle Seahawks hit the field for the NFC divisional playoff, Woodland Park Zoo is #TappedIn and will offer an admission discount to fans showing their Blue Pride. Beginning Saturday, January 11, visitors wearing garb or paraphernalia such as a jersey, sweatshirt, hat or beads will receive $3 off zoo admission every day as long as the Seahawks stay alive in the run for the Super Bowl. The admission discount applies only to the child or adult wearing the Seahawks sportswear and is not to be combined with other discounts or promotions. Gather round, 12th man, and catch the broadcast of the Seahawks vs. Saints game in the zoo’s Rain Forest Food Pavilion on January 11. The zoo closes at 4:00 p.m. daily but fans will be allowed to remain in the restaurant until the end of the game that day. (Photo: OK, OK, technically thi

Posted by: Kate Neville, Corporate and Foundation Gifts Officer Photos by Kate Neville/Woodland Park Zoo I slouch lower in the boat and pull my hat further down over my face. It’s hot. The relentless tropical sun sends rivers of sweat down my neck…and we still have several hours to go before reaching our destination. This boat ride is the last leg of a two-day journey from Lae to the village of Ronji, a remote community in Papua New Guinea’s Morobe Province. My traveling companions are Woodland Park Zoo's  Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Director Dr. Lisa Dabek, and TKCP staff members Benjamin Sipa, Karau Kuna and Mikal Nolan. We’re traveling to the coastal village of Ronji to participate in a ceremony celebrating the community’s new bridge and field office. TKCP helped construct the bridge and office at the community’s request, thanks to support from Conservation International, the German Development Bank and Woodland Park Zoo. I glance back to the stern, where the captain