Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Mother’s Day gives us a reason to celebrate all the fierce, snugly, protective, patient, kind, encouraging, creative, amazing, smart and inspiring mamas out there. “Mom” can mean many things—whether the title refers to sharing 50% of our DNA or to being an incredible, strong role model in our life—we are grateful for all moms, mothers, mamas, mums, mommies, mas and mumsies! When it comes to motherhood, the matriarchs of the animal kingdom will do whatever it takes to protect their young. With a ferocious love for their family, these mamas go the extra mile to keep their family safe and provide enough food to help them thrive. While most human moms don’t resort to teeth or claws to protect their kids (although we don’t recommend you test them), they do share some essential traits with these outstanding animal moms. Here are a few of our favorite mommy moments caught by our zoo photographers. Home is where mom is.   The comf

Posted by Ryan Driscoll, Education Climate change can be a messy subject, but that didn’t stop Woodland Park Zoo’s ZooCrew students from diving right in.   This past winter, students from three middle schools (Asa Mercer International, Washington, and Denny International) used a combination of games, activities, and research to explore the complexities around the causes and consequences of climate change in the Pacific Northwest. After examining the perspectives of various groups including climate scientists, mayors and oil companies, the students developed a variety of projects to help advocate for climate change action. The projects these students completed included creative artwork, presentations and good old fashioned digging in the dirt. Here are examples of some of the great work the ZooCrew students accomplished. Chickadee Houses As the climate changes, the species of plants that thrive in an area also change.  This can have a major impact for birds l

Posted by: Alissa Wolken, Communications Inspired by Star Wars Day, May 4, we'd like to share our own epic tale filled with action, drama and high stakes. This story is far from a fantasy however, as it highlights the very real plight facing tigers all over the world. But there’s reason for a new hope thanks to an alliance known as the Tiger Team! Join the alliance today and “May the Fourth Be With You!”

Posted by: Alissa Wolken, Communications Photo: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. The mane news of the day: we're preparing to say goodbye to lion brothers Tandie, Gandia and Mandla as they get ready to move to Oakland Zoo next month. They'll be living there together as a bachelor group. The departure date is not yet final but we expect to see them off sometime in mid-to-late-May. Please come see the brothers before they leave! The move is based on a recommendation made by the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a conservation breeding program across accredited zoos to increase the genetic diversity and enhance the health of species populations. A lion pride typically consists of one adult male and young males often form bachelor groups while they develop the skills to have their own pride. The accredited Oakland Zoo offers them a place to thrive together in that natural structure. Photo: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. They've grown so big and now each sport a shaggy

Posted by: Stephanie Payne-Jacobs, Zookeeper Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. At 5 months old, Yola’s physical strength and self-confidence continues to develop in leaps and bounds, influencing the steps we take to ensure a smooth transition into her gorilla family. We’ve come a long way from the initial visits during Yola’s first months , which consisted of a mostly sleeping infant, to the current youngster in perpetual motion. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. Yola’s burgeoning confidence and expanding knowledge of complex gorilla social cues is evident in the way she interacts with her mother and responds to the activities within her group. She watches closely as the gorillas communicate vocally and physically throughout the day. Yola has observed rambunctious play sessions, common displays of dominance and subordination, nest building, foraging and occasional disputes peacefully settled. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

Posted by: Alissa Wolken, Communications I don’t know about you but I’m feeling 22 25! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. Happy 25th birthday to Maria, our three-banded armadillo! It’s a big milestone for Maria in more ways than one: she’s now a quarter of a century old AND she is the oldest living three-banded armadillo in a North American zoo. (Think about it: Wilson Phillips topped the Billboard charts the day she was born at San Antonio Zoo on April 20, 1991 and Steven Seagal ruled the box office.) Make a wish! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. To celebrate this milestone, Maria’s keepers and local Girl Scout troop 44261 made her a “cake” out of cardboard decorated with tissue paper flowers and paper and straw "candles." Keepers then sprinkled bugs on top as a special treat. Maria ate a few of the bugs, and then it was nap time once she was full. Her Burmese mountain tortoise neighbor was happy to step in to help her celebrate.

Posted by: Kelly Gross, Zookeeper The African Savanna exhibit expertly mixes species. With a few new individuals and species added recently, keepers are working hard on getting all the savanna denizens to live in harmony! Archive photo: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. The savanna enclosure is a mixed-species exhibit; a large space where zebra, gazelle, giraffe, ostrich, guinea fowl, Egyptian geese and now bontebok live together , hopefully in harmony. Some of the combinations of animals are more compatible than others. In the past, our antelope species (fringed-eared oryx and Grant’s gazelle) seemed to do fine together, although to be fair, age had mellowed them and they seemed to prefer nothing better than spending the afternoon lying in the warm sun, their sparring days behind them. So far the Egyptian geese haven’t seemed to mind the thundering hooves of the zebra as they gallop past. But perhaps some of you remember last summer when the giraffe and ostrich never seemed to be