Woodland Park Zoo Blog

By Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos by Kirsten Pisto, Woodland Park Zoo (unless noted) At the heart of the zoo, we’re putting the finishing touches on our most ambitious exhibit project in nearly two decades. Banyan Wilds is our new home for three Malayan tigers, three sloth bears, an entire family of frolicking Asian small-clawed otters and a colorful aviary. We are eager to open this immersive exhibit to the public on May 2. As we watch the final details come together, we can’t help but share with you a sneak peek at some of the elements you’ll find in the tigers' and sloth bears' new home and a look back on what it took to get here! As luscious bamboo starters are positioned to plant, here is one view into the new tiger yard. The blue tape on the windows reminds workers that glass is in place. This view of the tiger stream is for tiger eyes only, but visitors will be watching from another viewpoint as tigers splash and play in the cool water.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor The return of tigers and the opening of ‎ Banyan Wilds ‬ on May 2 are less than a month away, but they've been years in the making. One of Woodland Park Zoo's Malayan tigers testing out the new exhibit. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. Follow the story of how an exhibit comes to life and a community comes together for a better future for wildlife and people: Video: Tigers return to Woodland Park Zoo, Thrive 2015. Produced by VIA Creatives for Woodland Park Zoo. We'll continue to share updates on the project each Tiger Tuesday as we count down to the grand opening. Thanks for making all this possible. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications The newest residents of the zoo have made their debut! Welcome maned wolves Vincent (Vinny) and his mom, Lana, to the Wildlife Survival Zone. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. After arriving last week, the two maned wolves scoped out their digs in the former cheetah exhibit, which has now been re-contoured to meet their needs. They meticulously investigated every stick, log, berm and napping cave in their grassy exhibit. Neither a fox nor a wolf, Chrysocyon is a species all its own with stilt-like legs, a pointed muzzle, an impressive red coat and dark mane along the back. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. At home in the grasslands and scrub forest of central South America, these crepuscular canines roam the marshes and woodlands at dawn and dusk in search of fruit, small mammals, birds, eggs and invertebrates. They are particularly fond of a tomato-like fruit called lobeira (nicknamed the wolf apple) as well as bana

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor VIDEO: Tigers sniff and lick GoPro camera. Produced by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. It may be April Fool's Day, but this is no joke: tigers return to Woodland Park Zoo when the all new Banyan Wilds exhibit opens May 2! The tigers—three brothers named Liem, Olan and Eko— arrived last month from the Little Rock Zoo. Right now the brothers are in a standard 30-day period of quarantine where we monitor their health and establish training and care routines with them. This is a chance for them to acclimate to their new surroundings, get to know their new keepers, and settle in comfortably. Zoo photographer Ryan Hawk set up a GoPro camera in one of the tigers' behind-the-scenes quarantine areas to get this first footage of the coolest new stripes in town. A GoPro camera is set up in a behind-the-scenes quarantine area for the tigers to get up close video. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. We'll be sharing more and more

Posted by: Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Hop, skip and bounce to Woodland Park Zoo for egg hunts on the North Meadow and Easter-themed treats for the zoo’s animal residents at the 14th annual Bunny Bounce , Sat., April 4, 2015, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The spring event offers amazing egg hunts for children ages 1 to 8, crafts, bunny encounters, and eggs-citing zoo programs throughout the day. Space for egg hunts might be limited and is open on a first-come, first-served basis.As part of the zoo’s conservation mission, families must bring their own egg hunt basket or reusable bag. For the health and well-being of the zoo’s animals, candy will not be placed inside the eggs—egg hunt participants will receive their treats as they exit the zoo. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. While the kiddies hunt for eggs, the orangutans, meerkats, lions, and other wildlife residents will nibble on specially made Easter baskets lined with flower

Posted by: Stephanie Payne-Jacobs, Zookeeper Calaya enjoys organic flowers from the zoo's Rose Garden. Photo: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. Calaya joins the dating game As animal caretakers, the daily welfare of the gorillas is our highest priority, but looking ahead and planning for the future of each gorilla is just as important. Such long term plans may revolve around future breeding opportunities, socially appropriate groupings or age related concerns. At the heart of this planning is making sure we meet the mental and physical health of each individual, while also assuring the genetic sustainability and health of the population. Recently, Woodland Park Zoo had to say goodbye to a member of the gorilla family due to a match-making opportunity that we felt was in the gorilla’s best interest. In late February, Calaya, a young adult female gorilla from Vip’s group, was transferred to National Zoo in Washington D.C. as part of a breeding recommendation by the Speci

Story by Ariel Mark, mongabay.com contributor Originally published by mongabay.com ; republished in part via The Global Forest Reporting Network Habitat loss and illegal hunting are leading drivers behind mammal population decline and extinction in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. But what's driving these drivers? Road infrastructure, according to research. Dr. Reuben Clements* from James Cook University, along with his colleagues, conducted the first-ever comprehensive study examining the impacts of road infrastructure on mammal populations in Southeast Asia. Their findings were recently published in PLOS One . An elephant crosses State Road 156. Photo by Reuben Clements. Roads pose extreme environmental challenges, particularly for conservation efforts in the global south, where roads are often intertwined with economic growth and habitat degradation. From just 2005 to 2010, Southeast Asian landscapes saw an increase of total paved roads from 16 to 51 percent,