Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Two days ago, Woodland Park Zoo’s female Asian elephants, Bamboo and Chai, departed on a custom-built elephant transport vehicle for their new home at Oklahoma City Zoo. The caravan had to change their route in Salt Lake City due to a storm in Colorado and Wyoming that was expected to increase in severity. Because the reroute would have extended the trip a day longer, a decision was made for veterinary precautions to go to San Diego Zoo and allow the elephants to rest. Bamboo and Chai at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Mandi Fillmore/Woodland Park Zoo A total of three elephant experts, two veterinarians and three staff with the transportation consultant are accompanying the truck transporting Bamboo and Chai. The team has been making stops every few hours for wellness checks on the elephants and to provide food and change water. According to Martin Ramirez, mammal curator at Woodland Park Zoo, an extra day on the road would have been challenging for Bamboo and Chai. “For their wel

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor Conservation starts with conversation. To save tigers, we need to get people talking about tigers. Here at Woodland Park Zoo, we’re transforming the heart of the zoo into the new Banyan Wilds exhibit opening May 2. And now we’re bringing tiger conservation into the heart of the community too. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. The Show Your Stripes Tour launched today at the base of the Space Needle with the unveiling of 10 tiger statues designed by local artists. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. With fewer than 3,200 tigers left in the wild, now is the time for action. The zoo challenged each artist to select a conservation issue these endangered big cats face and bring the story to life using any media or style. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. The results will challenge you. Inspire you. And motivate you. Are you ready to show your stripes for tigers? Photo by John

Chai and Bamboo at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. A new chapter began for female Asian elephants Bamboo and Chai when they stepped into elephant-sized travel crates, were loaded on the flatbed truck, and left Woodland Park Zoo for their new home at Oklahoma City Zoo. The truck pulled out at 6:15 p.m. PST today, April 15. Bamboo and Chai at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Mandi Fillmore/Woodland Park Zoo. Bamboo, 48, and Chai, 36, were the last remaining elephants at Woodland Park Zoo. Their departure came after four months of planning to ensure they can join a family of Asian elephants and live in a socially enriching environment. The 2,000-mile journey to Oklahoma City will take approximately 35 to 40 hours. A total of three elephant experts, two veterinarians and three staff with the transport consultant are accompanying the truck. The trip will be straight through except to stop every few hours to check on the animals’ well-being and to provide fo

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