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Love at the Zoo

February 11 - 12, 2023
9:00AM - 3:30PM
Animals. Enrichments. Feel the love.
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Animal Love

Feb. 11-12
Feel the love
Watch animals enjoy Valentine-themed enrichments like heart-shaped ice treats, bamboo hearts, whipped cream, watermelon, and more!
Hearts Galore
Do the "Heart Hunt"
Who loves animals? Walk the Zoo to spot 12 big heart cut-outs, each with a QR code unlocking a secret web page full of cute animal pics, videos and fun facts! Look for lovely photos ops and decorations scattered throughout the Zoo.
Zoo-themed Valentines
At the event & free e-cards
Want to say "I Love You" in a furry special way? Send a Valentine with an animal design and cute pun! Save and print, or send a free e-card. Or, make one in our plaza during Love at the Zoo! Guests are invited to bring a paper Valentine from home or make one at our Valentine station. Just drop them into our specially made Valentine mailboxes.
Animal Valentines

Valentine Treats

Love at the Zoo Keeper Chats & Animal Enrichments
WhenWhereWhat
10:30amPacific Seas AquariumSun Only: Dive Talk
11amAsian Forest SanctuaryKeeper Chat and heart-shaped enrichments for one of our tigers
12pmWild Wonders Outdoor TheaterValentine Close Encounters with some of our lovely animals
12:30pmRocky ShoresKeeper Chat and watch marine mammals enjoy special valentines
1pmElephant BarnWatch Suki enjoy watermelon treats
2pmRed Wolf WoodsKeeper Chat and learn why it's important for red wolves to breed as a critically endangered species
2:30pmMuskoxenWatch the muskoxen enjoy special valentines like heart-shaped watermelon
Other Valentine's and heart-shaped enrichments will happen at unscheduled times throughout the weekend.

Animal Stories

Meet the new Sumatran tiger, Sanjiv!

There’s a new tiger in town! An 11-year-old male Sumatran tiger named Sanjiv (pronounced sun-jeev) recently made his debut at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.  The 286-pound male tiger arrived in December from Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan® for Sumatran tigers. … Continued

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Walrus Lakina Gets A Protective Tusk Crown

Lakina, our new female walrus, wears custom-made crowns to help protect her two tusks. Lakina did an excellent job holding still long enough for one of her crowns to be reattached after it came off during her journey from Quebec. Walruses in human care often receive metal crowns to protect their growing tusks – similar … Continued

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New Walruses Arrive

They were born just weeks apart six years ago and have been closely bonded ever since. And now, the two young walruses have moved together from Aquarium du Québec to their new home at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Male walrus Balzak (pronounced bell’-zik) and female walrus Lakina (pronounced la-kee’-na) arrived in Tacoma, Wash. yesterday, … Continued

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The perfect Valentine
Looking for the perfect Valentine? Come get a "hug" from a sea urchin! Take this behind-the-scenes tour of the Pacific Seas Aquarium.
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