Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Alissa Wolken, Communications It’s a milestone year for one of our long-time residents. Blueberry, our beloved knobbed hornbill, celebrates her 20th hatchday (that’s bird speak for birthday) on Sunday, May 7, 2017. You can stop by the Friends by Nature program at the Alvord Broadleaf Theater that day (11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) to wish Blueberry a happy 20th! Video: Happy Birthday Blueberry! Blueberry enjoys some of her favorite treats:blackberries, grapes and, of course, blueberries. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Blueberry hatched right here at Woodland Park Zoo. Just think, in 1997 Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize” and Hanson’s “MMMBop” were at the top of the Billboard charts and “The Fifth Element” and “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” ruled the box office. My how time flies. Turning 20 isn’t the only thing Blueberry is celebrating; the hatchday girl is also a new member of the ambassador animals all-star team at the zoo and can be seen regularly

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications We know you all love animals and want to protect wildlife, but it’s not always easy to know what you can do from home that will make a difference. This Earth Day, we've made a list of five easy, impactful ways you can celebrate Planet Amazing (that's Earth). 1. HANG OUT IN THE DARK  A starlit sky over tiger territory in Peninsular Malaysia. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren. Woodland Park Zoo. Why:  Every year people turn off their lights during Earth Hour. The worldwide one-hour event has become a symbol for appreciating the planet, but you can celebrate Earth Hour all year long. Spend some time in the dark once or twice a week, or promise to turn out the majority of your lights an hour before bedtime, you'll sleep better too! Turning off lights and unplugging is an easy way to save energy and become mindful of how much energy you are using. How:  40% of total U.S. energy consumption is consumed in residential and comm

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos by Ryan Hawk/ Woodland Park Zoo It's April in Seattle which means weather. Lots of weather. Along with springtime blooms, the earth-soaked scent of petrichor and dancing under rainbows, there is yet another reason to love this season...an excuse to stock up on your favorite PNG YUS coffee! PNG YUS coffee is now available at both ZooStores and Caffe Vita shops around Seattle! Photo courtesy of www.caffevita.com. AROMA: Guava, hazelnut, orange zest FLAVOR: Honey, sugarcane BODY: Smooth CONSERVATION CONNECTION: A+ Caffe Vitta has been partnering with Woodland Park Zoo's Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) for over four years, and each batch of sustainable coffee tastes better than the last. Grown in the remote cloud forests of Huon Penensula, Papua New Guinea, the coffee plants thrive under native shade and the care of farmers who are proud to support local conservation. The coffee you buy can help save

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Ryther is a center that provides psychiatric and mental health services for children and youth. Just about 15 minutes away from Woodland Park Zoo, Ryther has been bringing kids to the zoo for over 25 years through the zoo’s free Community Access Program. These are the kids most in need of community and Ryther is one of the best kept secrets in our neighborhood. They take in some of the most vulnerable children in the Puget Sound and beyond. At Ryther , kids are never turned away. Today Ryther works with the most complex kids. Their mission is augmented by the generosity of the community, their dedicated volunteer base, the Ryther League, from large donations and sponsors to tickets from local institutions such as the Seattle Aquarium and Woodland Park Zoo.  This is a story about the kids in the Cottage Program.  Listen to the full story and hear from some of the kids who live at Ryther, their amazing counselors Jaspe r Kno

Posted by: Alissa Wolken, Communications Video and photo by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Woodland Park Zoo Spring has officially arrived, and it’s brought baby fever with it; giraffe baby fever to be specific!  Like many zoos around the country, we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a giraffe calf after confirming earlier this year that 8-year-old  Tufani is expecting her first baby. With a gestation period of 14 to 15 months, we're expecting a tall delivery anywhere from mid-May to early July 2017. So, what does it take to keep a pregnant Tufani comfortable and healthy? Lead keeper, and giraffe doula, Katie Ahl gives us the scoop on a few tricks of the trade. VIDEO: Lead keeper Katie Ahl welcomes us to the giraffe barn where she explains the special enrichment and diet that goes into caring for a pregnant giraffe. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCGPkiqKVo0 ) Tufani (left) with her nephew Misawa in 2013.  The father is handsome 4-year-old Dave of course. This wil

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Woodland Park Zoo Handsome pup! Hudson, an arctic fox and Woodland Park Zoo ambassador animal, shows off his finest pose. When it comes to enchanting creatures, it’s hard to find a more charming species than the arctic fox. Seemingly pulled straight from a fairy tale, these captivating canines are incredibly tough and inhabit some of the most frigid habitat. One little fox in particular is already getting quite a lot of attention as his handsome mug graces the cover of our Spring membership magazine, MyZoo.   Starting this spring, and even more-so this summer, you'll have the opportunity to meet a host of incredible creatures during our Ambassador Animals programs at th e  Alvord  Broadleaf and Wildlife theaters. Depending on how his training goes, Hudson will be one of them, giving guests the chance to see some of his awesomely Arctic adaptations such as leaping, pouncing and being entirel

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Don't get pinched! This Saint Patrick's Day, make sure you are green inside and out. Take this quiz to see where you land on the zoo's green'o'meter. While we're in the mood to rock all shades of green, let's see just how  green  you really are. Take the quiz at http://www.bit.ly/greenasgreen  Good luck! Are you as green as a waxy monkey frog? Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.