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🐧 Fish are officially on the menu! 🐟
Meet Chimi, Churri and Malbec, named by their care team after traditional foods and drinks from their native range of Argentina and Chile. These growing Magellanic penguin chicks have reached a big milestone and are now eating whole fish all on their own!
Guests may be able to spot them in their cozy nook at Penguin Point while they finish growing their waterproof feathers. Then, it’ll be time for swimming lessons in the main pool with the rest of the waddle! 🌊
#penguin #penguinchick #pointdefiancezoo #animalcare #zooquarium
Our American Red Wolf pups have officially started eating meat, but every now and then, they still stop by for a quick nursing session with mom, Violet.
The pups are part of the AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program and the American Red Wolf population management program. Depending on what`s best for the species, they may remain at our offsite facility, move to another accredited zoo or conservation center, or potentially contribute to future recovery efforts in the wild.
Our offsite Red Wolf facility has played an important role in recent recovery successes, including multiple pup births, fostering pups into wild dens to increase genetic diversity, and the release of adult wolves into protected habitats in North Carolina. Every pup born here helps support the future of one of the world`s most endangered canids.
Talk about perfect aim! 🎯 Assistant curator Shannon delivers a meatball straight into Sumatran tiger Bintang’s mouth during a keeper chat. 🐅
This week, we had the incredible honor of welcoming Harvey Drahos to Point Defiance Zoo!
At 103 years old, Harvey is an Army veteran of World War II who served in the Battle of Okinawa, a Purple Heart recipient, an Olympia resident, and a lifelong animal lover. During his visit, he watched the Red Wolves, Arctic foxes, muskoxen, and goats enjoy special enrichment. He also enjoyed the Wild Wonders show, where he met a sloth and a macaw up close.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we`re especially grateful for those whose service helped shape our nation`s history. It was a privilege to share a day of wildlife, wonder, and connection with Harvey, and we`re honored he chose to spend part of his week with us.
Chill out with some of the Zoo`s coolest residents! 🐻❄️🦭
Join us July 11–12 for Arctic Sea Ice Weekend! Watch polar bear Laerke, walruses Balzak and Lakina, muskoxen, and Arctic foxes enjoy special icy enrichments, hear keeper chats, and discover simple ways you can help protect Arctic wildlife. 💙🌎
Learn more and plan your visit: Arctic Sea Ice Weekend ❄️
Starting tomorrow morning, July 2, 15 handcrafted Art of the Game glass medallions will be hidden around the zoo grounds... and if you find one, it`s yours to keep! 🏆✨
Watch this video for a few location hints, then put your searching skills to the test during your visit. 👀
Good luck, and if you find one, let us know in the comments!
Tiny but mighty! 🪼 Meet June`s aquarium highlight species, the sea gooseberry. ✨
This marble-sized comb jelly shimmers with rainbow colors as tiny hairs called cilia propel it through the water. Don`t let its delicate appearance fool you; it can eat up to 10 times its body weight each day!
Instead of stinging like some other jellies, it uses long, sticky tentacles to snag tiny prey. Like other jellies, they lack a brain, heart, blood and bones.
Next time you`re in the Pacific Seas Aquarium, take a closer look at the jelly habitats. Some of the ocean`s most fascinating animals are also the easiest to miss. 💙
Neat find at the Tundra habitat! 🪹 Our keepers discovered an old bird nest woven with an unexpected mix of polar bear fur and muskox guard hair, some of which is shed alongside their incredibly soft qiviut each year.
📷: Animal care staff Russell
