Woodland Park Zoo

The Quick and Easy:

What: Woodland Park Zoo
Who: Over 1,000 animals and invertebrates
When: Daily, 9:30am - 6:00pm (fall hours come into effect September 1st)
Where:Phinney Ridge area
Why: Everyone needs a moment to monkey around

They playfully jab at their mates and give a decisive push to get ahead. They become ravished from the day’s activities and loudly announce their hunger while awaiting the next feeding. They smile for close-ups and roar at the creatures standing on the other side of the glass. At Woodland Park Zoo, ‘they’ are animals and the ambiguous pronoun wavers between the literal and figurative, as watching the monkeys, lions and birds in action often leads to an unwitting and unavoidable mimicry of the behaviors displayed from within the enclosures. 

With over 1,000 animals representing 300 species, of which 35 are endangered and five threatened, Woodland Park Zoo comprises the largest live animal collection in Washington State. The zoo’s imposing 92 acres remain amazingly well-hidden amid the urban Phinney Ridge neighborhood thanks to the 7,000 trees and 50,000 shrubs and herbs that beautifully garnish the grounds’ interior and exterior. 

Over the course of the last 100 years, Woodland Park Zoo has established itself as a Seattle staple and during that time it has expanded its role far beyond that of zoological garden. Although its collection is undeniably impressive, Woodland Park Zoo is not just a place to see animals, but rather an institution that teaches, enriches, engages and reaches out to the community. 

For starters, the walkways are sprinkled with recycling receptacles, a subtle hint at the zoo’s most prominent principles of conservation and preservation. Taking the theme one step further, Woodland Park Zoo has partnered with other local organizations to form the Zoo & Aquarium Alliance of Northwest Institutions, which is currently working to save the quickly disappearing Oregon spotted frog. It has also launched animal adoption plans and several other programs to encourage the peoples’ interest and involvement in animal protection.

To ensure that guests leave with more than just a roll of colorful film, the zoo’s exhibits are supplemented with facts and information so that viewers know exactly what they’re looking at and also why. Should those tidbits merely whet the visitor’s academic appetite, the zoo also offers classes for students of all ages; the ‘Edzoocation’ program is sure to interest any child and the more adult-geared courses range from photography to lectures of varying subjects. And, if that still isn’t enough, the zoo takes its teachings out of the park and across the globe in its ‘Wildlife Adventures Travel Program.’

Although Woodland Park Zoo is serious about preserving the lives of its inhabitants and enriching the lives of its guests, it also wants to have fun. To accomplish this goal, the zoo hosts several festive events throughout the year that include holiday celebrations, summer music concerts like “WaMu Zoo Tunes” and themed shindigs, such as its annual “Jungle Party” and “Overnight Adventure” series. 

Needless to say, Woodland Park Zoo provides a wide array of activities, making it a perfect stopping point for visitors of all sizes, whether traveling alone or in a pack. It is a destination difficult to leave without feeling revitalized and enlightened, a place where an understated animal appreciation takes over and blurs the very fine line that separates us from them.

The Flamingos

Having grown up in Ohio, my previous exposure to flamingos was limited to two species (both of the family, plastic): those that typically flocked in groups of forty to sixty and announced the surprise birthday of some unfortunate middle-aged Midwesterner; and those that were commonly paired with heavily shellacked seashells, adorning the condos of Florida-bound grandparents. Suffice it to say, my contact with the well-balanced birds had been severely limited, which is why I was eager to visit the new Chilean flamingo exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo.

And apparently I’m not alone. Although the exhibit doesn’t open to the public until May 24, 2008, the birds are still visible to visitors, albeit from a distance and through wire gates. Despite the obstructed view, “People are glued to the fence,” says zookeeper Shawn Pedersen. Perhaps this is because fifteen years have passed since flamingos last graced the grounds of Woodland Park Zoo, a long wait indeed but one that’s been accompanied by high anticipation and lots of preparation.

In accordance with the zoo’s ultimate goal of preservation and conservation, staff members have thoroughly studied the flamingos’ natural habitat in order to mimic the fresh water pond and beta-carotene rich diet as closely as possible. To do this, some lucky staff members traveled all the way to the Chilean island of Chiloé, where the birds typically seek winter refuge. The researchers brought back a better sense of the environment that surrounded the flamingos and were able to replicate authentic building patterns in the exhibits utility sheds as well as adorn the information placards with the area’s unique Spanish dialect.

It is a well-planned engaging exhibit that Woodland Park Zoo hopes to keep permanently and that visitors simply shouldn’t miss. To celebrate opening day, the zoo will provide complimentary pink mini-cupcakes by Cupcake Royale (while supplies last), live South American music and several activities geared to educate and entertain both kids and adults.