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 […]
Arctic Fox Sven Receives Knee Surgery
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 […]
Meet Pretzel, the new muskox companion for Willow
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, […]
Farewell, Periwinkle
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 […]
Zoolights now open at Point Defiance Zoo with over 1 million lights and new displays
TACOMA, Wash. — The highly anticipated Zoolights event is back and brighter than ever! Starting Friday, November 29, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium will be transformed into a winter wonderland, illuminating the holidays with over one million dazzling lights. Pierce County’s largest holiday light celebration opens Friday, Nov. 29 and runs through Sunday, Jan. 5. […]
Caring for Red Wolves, an iconic American species
Beep. Beep. Beep. The heart monitor and other monitoring devices hum as veterinary professionals work in rhythm caring for their VIPs — very important patients, that is. On the exam table in the veterinary clinic lies Terra, who is under anesthesia. The 8-year-old American Red Wolf has inflammatory bowel disease or IBD, a disease that’s […]
Climate Change and Polar Bears: Lessons from the Arctic Tundra
Our massive, 14-foot-tall buggy (which felt more like a tank) traversed the rocky, lichen-laden tundra late into the arctic afternoon. Suddenly, a wild polar bear peeked over the willow branches, climbing onto a nearby boulder to stretch its long neck and gaze toward a short-eared owl gliding along the horizon in Churchill, Manitoba. This was […]
Periwinkle’s Journey: A Penguin’s Tale of Resilience
Periwinkle, a young Magellanic penguin, made his debut today at the zoo’s Penguin Point after overcoming a challenging start in life. The five-month-old penguin recently underwent a second surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right leg. While Periwinkle will wear a special boot for stabilization for the next few weeks, his determination to thrive […]
Spooky Aquariums
Get ready for some Halloween fun! We’re featuring spooky (and not-so-scary) species from our Pacific Seas Aquarium and Tropical Reef Aquarium. Keep an eye out for these amazing fish and invertebrates on your next visit to the zoo! Skeleton Shrimp (Caprella mendax): These amphipods cling to various substrates, waiting to catch plankton drifting through the water, […]