Gunnar, a red-tailed hawk, is back home after taking a “vacation” a few days ago. After escape, Gunnar, Woodland Park Zoo’s red-tailed hawk, returns home
Pregnant gorilla news: Bouncing baby incoming: Gorilla at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo is pregnant, due January 2020
The iconic Northern Trail section of the zoo (Grizzly Bears, Grey Wolves, North American River Otters, North American Porcupines, Steller's Sea Eagles, Snowy Owls, Great Grey Owls, both Rocky Mountain Elk and Roosevelt Elk together) is an AZA award-winning section of Woodland Park Zoo and it's still spectacular 25 years after its inception. In 2020 the zoo is "re-imagining" this area, changing its name to Living Northwest Trail. There will be "large-scale screens in the redesigned Salish center and storytelling throughout linking to our Coast Salish heritage and to conservation challenges and successes. We will empower our guests to be their own conservationists with interactive features, a Western pond turtle display and virtual experiences that are accessible to all". The best news of all is that the zoo will have new additions in the form of two species: Canadian Lynx and Fisher. The zoo is only tweaking an already fantastic exhibit complex, but at least there is now a sign of forward progress after a few years of relative stagnation. I'm excited!
I have no idea...fingers crossed there will be two new exhibits in the Living Northwest Trail next year and the rest of the complex remains basically as it is.
49-year-old gorilla Amanda is recovering after an exam for her recent health issues. Woodland Park Zoo's oldest gorilla recovering after exam for age-related concerns
There are some wonderful new sights to see at Woodland Park Zoo as of the last couple of months. There is a new male tiger named Bumi, and a mate will arrive probably next year on a priority breeding recommendation. There are two new young lionesses, just added to Xerxes' exhibit to make the foundation for a new pride. The female Malayan tapir is finally pregnant. A gorilla birth is expected in March, a first-born for the expectant mother, and there is hope that her half sister may follow in her footsteps in partnership with the same silverback. There is a new female red-ruffed lemur, with hope of an expanded family there. A male jaguar will arrive before too long, who will alternate being on view with the female. Two female warthogs are also on the way. So a lot is going on!
Someone asked which WPZ female gorilla is pregnant and who the sire is, though for some reason I cannot see that post here, only in my email. Uzumma, daughter of Amanda and VIP, is due in March. Kwame is the sire.
