Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

And… it’s a girl! We’re excited to share that our rare and endangered Malayan tapir calf has been named Ume (pronounced oo-may), a name chosen by her dedicated keeper staff. Ume means plum blossom and apricot in Japanese. The calf will remain behind the scenes in the Asian Forest Sanctuary, nursing and bonding with her […]

A rare and endangered Malayan tapir calf was born at the zoo on Sunday, February 2, marking only the second tapir birth in our 120-year history. The newborn, covered in distinctive white spots and stripes that resemble a tiny, walking watermelon, is considered healthy. Mother Yuna, 10, is also doing well, according to Head Veterinarian […]

This morning, one-year-old muskox Willow was officially introduced to one-year-old Pretzel in the large Tundra habitat, and it was a success! Willow and Pretzel have been seen grazing and exploring together, and their introduction has added a vibrant dynamic to the habitat. Willow’s parents, Charlotte and Hudson, observed the introduction nearby in their own space. […]

Our new muskox, Pretzel, underwent her first wellness exam at the Zoo today with head veterinarian Dr. Karen Wolf, associate veterinarian Dr. Kadie Anderson, and team. The one-year-old muskox had blood drawn to assess her overall health, and her hooves were trimmed. Pretzel will soon be introduced to Willow, born at the Zoo in September […]

As the year ends, we reflect on the moments Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium had the privilege of being a part of in 2024. We opened the Tropical Reef Aquarium, welcomed seven adorable goat kids, and extensively cared for penguin chicks, among many other moments. Enjoy some of our favorite photos from this year, taken by staff photographer […]

Our beloved Sven recently sustained a serious injury to his left knee, tearing all the ligaments and damaging his meniscus. To stabilize his knee, board-certified veterinary surgeons Dr. Brian Heiser and Dr. E.B. Okrasinski performed surgery with our associate veterinarian, Dr. Kadie. During surgery, a surgical pin was placed across Sven’s joint to stabilize the […]

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is excited to introduce Pretzel, a one-year-old female muskox, who will be a companion for fellow one-year-old Willow. “We’re thrilled to welcome Pretzel to our Arctic Tundra family,” said Curator Jen DeGroot. “Her arrival is critical to ensuring that all of our muskoxen continue to thrive.” Willow and her mother, […]

We said goodbye to Periwinkle, our beloved 6-month-old Magellanic penguin chick, on Friday.Periwinkle tugged on our heartstrings from the moment he hatched. He and his brother Lavender were the first two penguin chicks successfully hatched from their parents, Purple and White, and the first penguins artificially incubated here at Point Defiance Zoo. This “miracle” chick […]