Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Kwame shares a "smooch" with daughter Zuna as Yola looks on. We are lucky in Seattle to have two family groups of western lowland gorillas at Woodland Park Zoo—each led by its own silverback male. A couple weeks ago we gave you an update on silverback Nadaya’s group . So now it’s time to check in with silverback Kwame and his family. Kwame, who is 23 years old, lives with females Uzumma (15), Nadiri (27), Akenji (21), and Yola (7), plus the two youngsters, his 3-year-old son (with Uzumma) Kitoko and 2-year-old daughter (with Nadiri) Zuna. Kwame is a wonderful, attentive father and a steady, protective silverback for his family. Over the last few years, Kwame has proven to be a wonderful and attentive father to Kitoko and Zuna as well as a steady, protective, and calming presence for the females in his group—exactly what a silverback should be for his family. Our gorilla keepers describe

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications Nadaya is such a handsome silverback! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Lots of you have been asking for updates on our western lowland gorilla families. Let’s start with Nadaya, our silverback who is about to celebrate a birthday, turning 22 on April 4. Nadaya lives with three females, Olympia, Jamani and Jumoke. You may remember that Nadaya, Olympia and Jamani all arrived here at Woodland Park Zoo last year to form a new family group with Jumoke , who had been living alone since Vip (her male companion) died in 2021. We are happy to report that this group is doing great together, and they seem relaxed and at ease in each other’s company—a very good sign of bonding. Nadaya and Olympia. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Our gorilla keepers already know Jumoke—and they’re thrilled to see her thriving as an active part of a family group once again—but these last few months have given them time to get to know the individ

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications If you’ve been inside the Tropical Rain Forest building, you may have seen the colorful poison dart frogs there. If you haven’t visited in a while, now may be the perfect time for a reintroduction to these incredible amphibians. Yellow-banded poison dart frog. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo The poison dart frog is the common name for dozens of frog species which are native to the warm and wet environments of Central and South America’s tropical rain forests. They are so named because some Indigenous Amazon peoples historically used the toxic skin secretions from a few select species to poison the tips of their blow darts and arrows for hunting. Green and black poison dart frog. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Like most amphibians, these frogs begin life as tiny, aquatic, gill-breathing tadpoles. They go through a metamorphosis as they grow, becoming terrestrial, lung-breathing adults that live amongst the trees,

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications, with contributions from Al Kennedy and Chad Harmon, Rhino Keepers Our greater one-horned rhinos—Taj and Glenn. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo If you’ve visited our Assam Rhino Reserve recently, you might have noticed something new about Taj and Glenn’s habitat. The ground these 2-ton greater one-horned rhinos walk (and run, and play) on looks a little different than before. But the biggest change is actually beneath the surface. It took more than a year to complete and it has totally transformed the way we care for these amazing animals! The word “substrate” refers to the kind of substance that covers the ground or surface where an animal lives—sort of like flooring. In short, Taj and Glenn have a new “floor” in their habitat. The process to plan and install it was a huge undertaking and the benefits it offers for our rhinos and for their well-being are equally huge. A greater one-horned rhino in Manas National Park, India, wh

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications Visayan warty pigs are a critically endangered species native to several islands in the Philippines. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren Let’s check in with some of our favorites in the Trail of Vines—the Visayan warty pigs. There have been some changes afoot for our resident rooters as well as for their species in the wild. You may remember we spotlighted our three pigs back in 2019 . They are Guapa (AKA Kulay) who will be 20 years old in April and her two daughters Bulak (AKA Scallops) and Magdula (AKA French Fry) who are both 13. Why do these pigs have nicknames? Well—pigs as special as these three have both formal as well as affectionate nicknames from their adoring animal keepers! All three of them came to Woodland Park Zoo together from Los Angeles Zoo in 2012 and each of their formal names reflects the Philippines origin of their species. Who doesn't love a good snack! Nom nom! Photo: Lindsay Wesselmann/Woodland Park Zoo In the wild, Visa