Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications All photos by John Loughlin, Woodland Park Zoo It's a big, wonderful world out there. Especially when seen through the eyes of a curious youngster ... Two-month-old Hasani eyeballs the green savanna. This past week was an exciting one for baby giraffe, Hasani. He is doing really well, doesn't need his therapeutic shoes anymore, and is reaching all the milestones that a healthy little (not so little) giraffe calf should reach at two months old. The two-month old giraffe gets a taste, literally, of life on the savanna. Hasani explores the savanna with his family. https://youtu.be/euu4WYTw4Ic Hasani's most recent adventures involve wandering beyond the barn and the corral area to explore the savanna. Like many babies, he is curious and seems to enjoy taking in new sights, sounds, and tastes. He is also making new friends, in the form of a group of helmeted guineafowl. Exploring new areas means making new f

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications with Erin Sullivan, Entomologist Does it get any cuter than a fuzzy, gentle mason bee? Photo by nutmeg66 via Flickr. To celebrate Pollinator Week 2019 (June 17-23), we asked you to send us the questions you've always wanted to know about bees. Below are just some of the bee questions we have received from across our social media platforms. Our in- house hive bee expert, Erin Sullivan, entomologist and collection manager, gives us the answers we've been searching for—when it comes to our buzziest pollinators. Q: What is the best type of hive box design for honeybees and bumblebees? Erin: When it comes to creating a good habitat for bees in your backyard, the most important thing to begin with is looking at what's already in your garden. That means paying attention to the types of bees that frequent your yard. The bee hive or box is just the beginning. Creating a suitable habitat for bees means looking at basics, such as fo

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications There are hundreds of animal species that call Woodland Park Zoo home—animals that are native to many different remote habitats around the world. This includes species ranging from orangutans of the Asian tropical forest and penguins from the Pacific coast of South America to hippopotamuses and ostriches of the African savanna. But there is another community of animals that rely on the green spaces found right here at home—on our grounds and in other neighboring Seattle area parks. You may have seen them here or in nearby habitats. Or maybe you haven’t noticed them at all... but they are here if you look. We share much of our green space with local and native wildlife. A wild blue heron takes advantage of the lemur's pool. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Set on 92 acres, Woodland Park Zoo offers a lush canopy that is made up of more than 90,000 plants, trees, flowers, shrubs and other greenery representing more than 1,

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications These are the conservation stewards of tomorrow and we salute their dedication and passion for protecting endangered species like the Matschie’s tree kangaroo. Photo by Chris Banks, Zoos Victoria Young people are the future of our communities and the future stewards of our planet. There is no better example of this than the Junior Rangers of Papua New Guinea. An integral part of the success of Woodland Park Zoo’s Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program , these youth are the real conservation heroes who are learning about and working towards a sustainable and balanced ecosystem in their own communities. Looking to the future with Junior Rangers. Photo by Lisa Dabek, Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Chris Banks, Zoos Victoria The Yopno-Uruwa-Som (YUS) “Junior Ranger Program” is based around activities designed specifically for children who live throughout the YUS Conservation Area, a protected area on the Huon Peninsula in Papua New Gui

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications Meet Marai! Photo by Elena Mavros, @greekgal.esm via Instagram You may have noticed a new furry face—plus some new spots, paws and a long tail—at the snow leopard exhibit over the past few months. Say hello to Marai. This 2-year-old female was born at Los Angeles Zoo in 2017 and arrived here at Woodland Park Zoo earlier this year.  Marai is sweet, sociable with her keepers and likes knuckle bones! Photo by Elena Mavros, @greekgal.esm via Instagram While she’s not quite mature enough to breed yet, it is hoped that Marai will eventually pair up with Aibek , who is her same age and was born here in 2017. The Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP), a conservation breeding program for endangered animals at accredited zoos, has matched these two cats as a recommended breeding pair in another year or so. Other than making adorable cubs, the goal of SSP programs like this is to increase the genetic diversity and health of species

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications That's a face we will never forget. Rest easy, Junior, thank you for letting us love you and inspiring millions to save jaguar habitat. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Jaguar Cove won't be the same without the presence of our favorite male jaguar, Junior. The geriatric cat had been off view, living behind the scenes where keepers could keep a close watch on him (spoil him) since late in 2017. Junior was humanely euthanized on May 31 due to a major decline in health and quality of life. Junior was 20 years old.  The life expectancy of jaguars in zoos is 18 years. The big cats live longer in zoos than in their natural range because of the evolving field of zoo medicine, including improved husbandry and management techniques, excellent animal care, better nutrition, increased medical knowledge, and diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.  Sweet cat naps on his favorite hot rock made Junior a happy boy. Photo by Ry

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos by John Loughlin/ Woodland Park Zoo A lick of approval? Hasani here with just kinesiology tape on his rear feet. A couple of weeks ago, our baby giraffe, Hasani got a new pair of custom shoes to treat congenital rear leg abnormalities. Because of significant improvements, the giraffe is now shoe-free. Hasani blends in with mom Olivia and aunt Tufani. Hasani was born on May 2 to mom Olivia. Immediately after his birth, the zoo’s animal health team noticed each rear foot was not in normal alignment. The condition, known as hyperextended fetlocks, is well documented in horses and has been reported to occur in giraffes. One day after the giraffe was born, the zoo’s animal health team applied casts on both rear legs to help stabilize his limbs. The zoo’s veterinary team consulted with a Kentucky-based equine veterinarian who specializes in foot conditions. He visited the zoo to evaluate the calf, and crafted new custom sho