Big, breath-taking sharks or majestic sea turtles often are the attention-grabbers when visiting one of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s two aquariums. But there are hundreds of underrated little ocean … Continued
The three Magellanic penguin chicks in Penguin Point are growing quickly and reaching exciting new milestones. The chicks continue to receive routine health checkups, and all three are thriving, each … Continued
Owen will remain behind the scenes for the next few weeks as he continues to bond with mom. He will join the other sea lions and seals in the public … Continued
The sea lion pup will remain behind the scenes for the next few weeks as he learns to swim and continues to bond with mom. He will join the other … Continued
Three Magellanic penguin chicks are healthy and thriving at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium after successfully hatching earlier this month, marking an exciting milestone in the zoo’s ongoing penguin conservation … Continued
Guests visiting the Pacific Seas Aquarium will now be greeted by a new resident almost immediately after entering. The aquarium’s former spider crab exhibit has been transformed into a new … Continued
Big, breath-taking sharks or majestic sea turtles often are the attention-grabbers when visiting one of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s two aquariums. But there are hundreds of underrated little ocean … Continued
A critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish named Fender will make his public debut Friday, Nov. 7 in the Tropical Reef Aquarium’s Outer Reef habitat at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Born … Continued
Get ready for some Halloween fun! We’re featuring spooky (and not-so-scary) species from our Pacific Seas Aquarium and Tropical Reef Aquarium. Keep an eye out for these amazing fish and … Continued
The nine critically endangered American Red Wolf pups met the veterinary team for their first official pup exam at our offsite facility. Head Veterinarian Dr. Karen evaluated the eight-week-old pups’ … Continued
Our 16-year-old Southern sea otter, Clara, had a fractured tooth that was discovered during her recent wellness exam. The affected tooth was one that Clara uses to crunch through the … Continued
Sumatran tiger Bintang recently underwent a routine wellness exam at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s healthcare clinic. While under anesthesia, the veterinary team performed a full physical assessment, including X-rays, … Continued
Sumatran tiger Mawar recently underwent a routine wellness exam at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s healthcare clinic. Under anesthesia, the veterinary team completed a thorough physical assessment including X-rays, an … Continued
A litter of nine healthy American Red Wolf pups was born on April 18 to first-time mom Violet, and dad, Fiddle, at the shared off-site breeding facility operated by … Continued
Parks Tacoma’s 2026 bond proposal would bring significant new investments to two of the region’s wildlife destinations: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in … Continued
A welcome mat is being laid out along Ruston Way for purple martins. The dark purple and blue birds – North America’s largest swallows – have historically had a thriving … Continued
Update: June 2026 Big things are happening for the zebra shark pups descended from our shark pair, Peanut and Butter! Through our partnership with global conservation coalition ReShark, healthy zebra … Continued
At Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, we believe wildlife experiences should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we hosted Disability Adventure Day, a special evening designed for individuals with disabilities … Continued
Every day, an extraordinary team of veterinarians at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium works tirelessly to ensure the health and wellbeing of every animal in our care. This World Veterinary … Continued
Volunteers are the heart of the community at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Every day, they bring energy, curiosity, and compassion to the zoo’s mission to inspire and conserve. They … Continued
In late October, students from Lister Elementary kicked off their first “Park Week” of the year with a visit to Swan Creek Park. The park is a living classroom where … Continued
The Tower of Jewels plant is currently in bloom in the Kids’ Zone area at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, offering guests a chance to see one of the botanical … Continued
When you visit Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, you’ll discover more than two aquariums and animals like Malayan tapirs, Sumatran tigers, and walruses, you’ll also be surrounded by a … Continued
One of the most fascinating stops on a walk through Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is a 12-foot conifer that looks like it stepped out of prehistory. It stands out … Continued
A rare botanical event nearly 20 years in the making is now unfolding at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. A mature Agave parryi var. truncata in the Desert Garden is in full bloom, … Continued
This fall, the forests and pathways of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park will become the stomping grounds for giants. Beginning Oct. 15, guests can step … Continued
This summer, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium invite guests to celebrate wildlife, community, and unforgettable outdoor experiences with a vibrant lineup of events and activities. … Continued
More than 1,160 observers took part in this year’s City Nature Challenge spanning King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, including Everett, Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Snohomish and communities throughout the region. Between … Continued
As the Seattle Seahawks clinch the division and head into the playoffs, Pierce County zoos are gearing up to bring that same energy to wildlife fans across the region. Starting … Continued
This summer, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium invite guests to celebrate wildlife, community, and unforgettable outdoor experiences with a vibrant lineup of events and activities. … Continued
A heartwarming new addition now greets guests at the top of the Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: a life-size bronze sculpture of Herald the Dog, … Continued
For more than three decades, the South Pacific Aquarium at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium has transported guests to warmer waters full of curious sharks, colorful coral, and rainbows of … Continued
There’s a new sea turtle at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Like many sea turtles, it swims along the sandy ocean floor in a seagrass bed. But this sea turtle … Continued
Just above floor level at the Red Wolf Woods habitat, a young girl crouches low. Open-mouthed in wonder, she slowly runs her fingers over the soft snout of a sleeping … Continued
With the holiday season just around the corner, the Zoolights crew at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is deep into preparations for one of the Puget Sound region’s most beloved … Continued
One of the Puget Sound region’s most treasured holiday traditions is back! Zoolights returns for its 38th year to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium from Nov. 28 to Jan. 4, … Continued
It’s only October, but the Zoolights crew at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is already hard at work setting up for the biggest and best holiday event in Pierce County. … Continued
Sightseeing Zoolights with Cameron McIntyre isn’t your standard experience. For one thing, we’re driving around the annual holiday lights display at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in a maintenance truck during daylight. The Zoo … Continued