Love at the Zoo
Animal Love
Valentine Treats
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 9am | Asian Forest Sanctuary | Watch animals enjoy Bamboo Hearts at Exhibit 4 (Tapirs on Saturday, Anoa on Sunday) |
| 10:15am | Rocky Shores | See puffins exploring a Kissing Booth with enticing hearts made of krill |
| 11am | Pacific Seas Aquarium | See California sheepshead, Buddy, receive a heart shaped enrichment in the Kelp Forest |
| 11am | Asian Forest Sanctuary | Keeper Chat & heart-shaped enrichments for one of our tigers |
| 11:30am | Arctic Tundra | Watch muskoxen enjoy heart-shaped watermelon |
| 11:30am | Arctic Tundra | Polar Bear Keeper Chat and watch bears receive fish valentines |
| 12pm | Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater | Valentine Close Encounters with some of our lovely animals and Rocket in a tuxedo |
| 12pm | Asian Forest Sanctuary | Watch otters play with paper hearts & confetti in Exhibit 5 |
| 12:30pm | Rocky Shores | Keeper Chat and watch marine mammals enjoy special valentines |
| 12:45pm | Asian Forest Sanctuary | Watch clouded leopards enjoy meat-jello hearts |
| 1pm | Elephant Barn | Keeper chat and watch Suki enjoy watermelon & bamboo heart treats |
| 1:30pm | Pacific Seas Aquarium | Sunday Only: Dive Talk at Northwest Waters |
| 1:45pm | Wild Wonders Exercise Yard | Watch skunks explore puzzle feeders |
| 2pm | Red Wolf Woods | Keeper Chat and learn why it's important for red wolves to breed as a critically endangered species |
Animal Stories
During Tacoma Public Schools January mini-term, students at the Science and Math Institute (SAMi), School of the Arts (SOTA), and Industrial Design Engineering and Art (IDEA) choose one class from a variety of exciting, hands-on courses to deep-dive into all month long. You’ll see students enthusiastic and eager to learn on any given day. Students in the “Jurassic Zoo and Aquarium” class studied the habitats at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park to re-create the famous…
Point Defiance Zoo’s 12-year-old resident male tiger, Sanjiv, recently had a dentist appointment to fix a fractured tooth. Dr. Alice Sievers, a board-certified veterinary dentist and one of only 250 veterinary dental specialists in the world, volunteered her time with veterinary assistant Sharon Ghormley and veterinary technician Taylor Parker, all from Vancouver-based Pet Dental Specialists, a clinic primarily focused on treating dogs and cats with dental issues. After taking radiographs and deciding the best plan of action, Dr. Sievers performed…
As another year ends, we reflect on the special moments Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium had the privilege of being a part of in 2023. We welcomed polar bear sisters Laerke and Astra to the Pacific Northwest, explored the shore with our community, and muskox Charlotte gave birth to Willow, among so many other moments. Enjoy some of our favorite photos from this year, taken by staff photographer Katie Cotterill. Astra shakes off in her pool. Laerke submerges in…