Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by: Fred Koontz, PhD, Vice President of Field Conservation On behalf of Woodland Park Zoo Society Board of Directors and staff, I congratulate the citizens  of Washington for passing Initiative 1401, making Washington the first state in the country to help save 10 endangered animal species groups from extinction by a vote of the people. By creating tough new penalties for trafficking products made from these animals, Washington joins other major port states like California, New York and New Jersey in passing laws that close loopholes allowing the black market to thrive for endangered species products. As Washingtonians, we should be tremendously proud of what we have achieved. Tuesday’s overwhelming election result shows that when asked, Washington voters will stand up to protect species from the cruelty of poaching and illegal trade. This is a groundbreaking, grassroots effort – especially significant is that passing I-1401 undoubtedly will inspire other states

Posted by: Bridget Dunn, Communications In and around Taman Negara National Park in Peninsular Malaysia, we’re working with our field conservation partners Panthera and Rimba to find and protect critically endangered Malayan tigers. This effort was established in 2012 as the WPZ-Panthera Malayan Tiger Conservation Partnership  with a $1 million, 10-year commitment to collaborate with Rimba and Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks. One of Rimba’s most important tiger detection tools is a series of remote cameras, known as camera traps, set up around the forest. The traps are motion and heat sensitive, and the images they capture help us understand where tigers are so we can focus our protection efforts in those areas. One great thing about these cameras is how they are documenting that there are more than tigers to discover in this spectacular jungle! Photo: DWNP-Rimba Camera traps aren’t picky—they’ll snap a photo of any warm-blooded animal that moves withi

Posted by: Bobbi Miller, Conservation When we think of October, we think of bright, cool days and brisk nights; early, golden sunsets; things that are scary and go bump in the night; and Halloween with the kids all dressed up and ready to go door to door looking for candy and treats. It’s a time of creepy, spine-tingling excitement for young and old alike. Your Halloween candy choices can be a treat for wildlife, no trick! Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. But while we’re enjoying those crisp, clear days and chilly evenings, the people and wildlife in Borneo, Indonesia and nearby countries are dealing with thick, choking smoke. People there are wearing masks for a very different reason this Halloween, and it's all related directly to our candy. Borneo's Gunung Palung National Park shrouded in smoke. Photo courtesy Tim Laman. Wait, what? How does our Halloween candy relate to fires halfway around the world? Simple: most candy includes palm oil, and

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, communications Photo and Video by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren On September 17, three tiny white birds hatched in a quiet behind-the-scenes area of Woodland Park Zoo as part of the zoo’s conservation breeding program. The chicks, downy fluff balls with snow-colored plumage, are a big deal: they represent the first successful hatches of the critically endangered Bali mynah here at the zoo in 22 years! They also act as a powerful symbol of hope for their species. This shy chick gave our photographer a run for his money. The nest box is the perfect hiding spot. A curious look outside of the nest gives us a better view of a chick. Endemic to Bali, Indonesia (an island smaller than Rhode Island), Bali mynahs are threatened primarily due to illegal pet collection and trade. Their stunning white feathers and gorgeous cobalt blue patch around the eyes make this beauty especially attractive to bird collectors, despite their endangered status. On top of

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor Video and photos by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren It is music to our ears to hear newly paired siamangs Sam and Briony developing their sweet duet together. We caught a few notes of their very first outdoor song. Video: Siamang pair sings first duet notes at Woodland Park Zoo. High in the canopy, this treetop symphony at once strengthens the bond between the pair of siamangs and declares their territory to others in the area. The song can be heard from over a mile away even in our urban environment and, as they develop their tune, the bouts may last up to 20 minutes. How do they project their voices so far? Those ballooning throat sacs act like a resonating chamber and amplify the sound. Briony’s tune with her former long-time mate Simon was known by not just zoo visitors, but also neighbors in Phinney Ridge, Fremont and Wallingford, all within earshot of their morning song. Hearing the treetops come to life in siamang song once

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor with Gigi Allianic, Communications Nadiri at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo. At 19 years old, western lowland gorilla Nadiri is pregnant for the first time. We're counting down to the expected birth in early November after an eight- to nine-month gestation period. This is big news, and since Nadiri is not an experienced mother, we're taking extra precautions to prepare her. It starts with pre-natal care for the expectant mom. She is currently on a diet created by a nutritionist and receiving supplemental vitamins to help her maintain a healthy weight for a normal delivery. Keepers will need to be able to perform visual checks on the baby to confirm it is thriving, so the work begins now with training Nadiri to present her "baby"—in this case a stuffed burlap object about the size of a newborn. Once the baby comes, all eyes are on those first 72 hours after birth, the most critical time for a

Posted by: Alissa Wolken, Communications Photos by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo An Oregon spotted frog is released into wetlands. Nearly 750 Oregon spotted frogs reared at Woodland Park Zoo were released yesterday into marshy wetlands at a protected site in Pierce County. Gathering the frogs from their behind-the-scenes area at Woodland Park Zoo. Nearly 750 frogs were packed up for transport.  The frogs were collected from wetlands as eggs and placed at the zoo for hatching and rearing for approximately seven months in a predator-free home as they transformed from tadpoles to juveniles, increasing their survival by giving them a head start until they were large enough to avoid most predators. Unloading the containers of frogs at the protected wetlands site. The protected site provides marshy wetlands habitat for the frogs and future frog generations. Head starting and releasing the frogs is part of a cooperative program with Woodland Park Zo