Round up your loved ones and celebrate Valentine’s Day at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and sister zoo Northwest Trek Wildlife Park Feb. 10-11. Watch as animals big and small enjoy unique Valentine’s enrichments, like ice or whipped cream in the shape of a heart. Love at the Zoo There’s plenty of love at the […]
Sumatran Tiger Gets A Root Canal
Point Defiance Zoo’s 12-year-old resident male tiger, Sanjiv, recently had a dentist appointment to fix a fractured tooth. Dr. Alice Sievers, a board-certified veterinary dentist and one of only 250 veterinary dental specialists in the world, volunteered her time with veterinary assistant Sharon Ghormley and veterinary technician Taylor Parker, all from Vancouver-based Pet Dental Specialists, […]
Top Rainy Day Activities At The Zoo
When it’s wet and cold outside, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and meet amazing animals! Warm, Indoor Aquarium The Pacific Seas Aquarium is indoors and heated and is open year-round. Guests can see hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles, a giant Pacific octopus and a variety of colorful fish and vibrant jellyfish among […]
Meet The “Shining Stars” Of The Aquarium
2024 resolution: Meet the shining stars of the Pacific Seas Aquarium. Of course, we’re talking about sea stars, commonly referred to as starfish. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is home to a variety of sea star species, all with incredibly unique characteristics and all worth celebrating. Sunflower Star Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is home to […]
Best Photos Of 2023
As another year ends, we reflect on the special moments Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium had the privilege of being a part of in 2023. We welcomed polar bear sisters Laerke and Astra to the Pacific Northwest, explored the shore with our community, and muskox Charlotte gave birth to Willow, among so many other moments. Enjoy some […]
Meet The New Queen Of The Aquarium
Her wingspan is 6.2 feet wide. From nose to tail, she’s 13 feet long. She’s noticeably more prominent than the three other female ocellated eagle rays in the Pacific Seas Aquarium. And her name — Rayna — (a punny take on the Spanish name “Reina”) means “queen.” “Even the hammerhead sharks get out of her […]
10 Wonderful Walrus Facts
The first full week of December every year is Walrus Awareness Week. In recognition of the holiday and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s two walruses, Balzak (pronounced bell’-zik) and Lakina, here are 10 Wonderful Walrus Facts. 10 Walrus Facts Balzak and Lakina, born just weeks apart, are 7 years old and have been together their […]
5 Animals that Beat the Cold
We’re all feeling the cold right about now in the Pacific Northwest. But here at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, our animals have some pretty cool ways to deal with it. From fur coats to heated hammocks, here are five ways our animals beat the winter cold. 1. Arctic Fox: Grow a winter coat Visit […]
Apply to be a Youth Volunteer Guide at the Zoo
TACOMA, Wash.— Applications are now open for high school students to become summer Zoo Guide volunteers at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. As a Zoo Guide, students will educate guests about the zoo and aquarium’s animals and important conservation and environmental issues. Zoo Guides will also inspire guests to prioritize protecting wildlife while gaining valuable […]