Junior Jaguar named his first-born son using paper-mache piñatas; he picked Kuwan meaning "butterfly showing beautiful wings" in the Hopi language, in reference to a butterfly-shaped marking on the cub's head. Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Jaguar Junior names first-born son Kuwan. Well, sort of… First Glimpse at Otter Pups: Otter Pups Born at Woodland Park Zoo Seattle - YouTube
Here is a 15-page document that contains a wealth of information about Bamboo Forest Reserve: http://www.zoo.org/document.doc?id=811
Another set of fantastic photos of the jaguar cubs: Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Jaguar cubs ace their final exams) Latest in the baby boom? The zoo's first giraffe to be born in 16 years is due any day now: Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Zoo’s giraffe due to give birth any day) WPZ has been experiencing an unprecedented baby boom, and during the past 8 months there has been a lot of high-profile youngsters born at the zoo. Babies include 4 Lions, 3 Jaguars, 2 Sloth Bears, at least 5 Humboldt Penguins, 1 Red-Crowned Crane, 1 North American Porcupine...and off-exhibit for now are several Asian Small-Clawed Otter pups and 1 Matschie's Tree Kangaroo.
Article about the Asian small-clawed otters : Woodland Park Zoo Otter Quadruplets Learn to Jump, Run and Whistle! - ZooBorns
The long awaited giraffe calf has been born. That?s one big baby! Giraffe born at Seattle zoo - seattlepi.com
All 4 Asian Small-Clawed Otter pups were confirmed to be males, and they recently went outside for the first time. Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Otter pups taking baby steps into outdoors
Vision-impaired Snow Leopard cubs Asha and Shanti made their debut a year ago, and this article talks about what's in store for them, including their upcoming move to another zoo. Read to find out! Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Vision-impaired snow leopard cubs teach us how to see a better world
Here is the full 41-page report on WPZ's elephant program: http://www.elephanttaskforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/5.DRAFT-ERP-REPORT_082613.pdf
Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Otter pups go for a swim, end up in the dirt Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Flamingo chicks add to the baby boom
The Tahitian Partula Snails have a new laboratory exhibit. Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Tiny lab for teensy snails gets a colossal makeover!
An article about the baby giraffe, who has been named Misawa. Baby giraffe at Woodland Park Zoo already 8 feet tall | The Today File | Seattle Times
The Honeyeaters, Masked Lapwings, and Laughing Kookaburras have recently gone back on exhibit after their enclosure was refurbished and replanted.
More information is available on the link below, and if you scroll down to the bottom the newly revamped exhibit is revealed. Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Kookaburra exhibit gets a beak-lift
I visited the zoo last Friday, only to be completely underwhelmed by the elephant enclosure. I was very disappointed by the indoor space provided to the three cows. In winter months, where outdoor access is limited, they would each have space to essentially turn around in the stalls... Out door space was more than enough for the present herd size, however... Bamboo, the older Asian cow was isolated. As I expected, but following the focus group's findings I expected efforts to integrate her to be more apparent. All and all, the exhibit, with it's abundant shade, varied topography, and swimming/wading opportunities could hold its own in the 21st century (with perhaps a slight expansion into the trees and area that was once the FC demo yard) and of course a necessary expansion of the barn and a revision of its herd grouping (still don't understand why Watato was not transferred to Oakland or San Diego SP prior to the opening of the Asian forest?).
This exhibit was truly state-of-the-art when it opened 25 years ago, but now they have the problem that many urban zoos do in that the exhibit is only about 1/3 the size that modern elephants exhibits are (or even smaller than that?) and they have very limited space to expand, or maybe none.
The Elephant Task Force published their report from evaluating the elephants. You can read the info via their blog. The board and staff will be reviewing the information and hopefully make decisions regarding the future of the zoo's elephant program by Spring 2014. Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Elephant Task Force final report
The giraffe calf has begun to go out on the savannah. Woodland Park Zoo Blog: Giraffe calf takes first steps onto savanna
Another article about the elephants' questionable future. A plan will be unveiled in January. What does the future hold for Seattle's zoo elephants? | KING5.com Seattle
