We’re thrilled to welcome Onion, an 11-year-old blind harbor seal, who recently arrived from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Rescued as a pup off the coast of Massachusetts, Onion’s journey is one of resilience. After being found stranded and experiencing vision loss, he was deemed non-releasable.

Bocce goes on an adventure! 💚 This rare southern three-banded armadillo pup is thriving and growing, now weighing 2.4 pounds. At just four months old, he’s already made Zoo history. Bocce is only the second healthy armadillo pup born at the Zoo in our 121-year history.

Baby Bean is officially 24 karat gold! ✨ The queen celebrated her 24th birthday in true luxury, with a 24 karat gold-themed bash fit for a legend. 👑🫘 Happy 24th, Bean! 🎂 📹: Animal assistant curator Erin

Say hello to the adorable beaver family, Nutmeg, Walnut, and Butternut, for #InternationalBeaverDay! 🦫 These busy builders are more than just cute; they’re ecosystem engineers. In the wild, their dams help create wetlands that provide vital habitat for fish, birds, amphibians, and more.

Throwback to baby Butternut for International Beaver Day! 🦫 Butternut turns 7 on April 29.

Bao is growing up fast! At four months old, our Asian small-clawed otter pup is getting more confident every day. He's splashing, exploring, and discovering new habitats alongside his loving parents.

Hudson the muskox is soaking up the sunshine like a pro! ☀️ 📷: Animal care staff Kacie

Sound up! Sven has something to say. 🥹 As spring rolls in, our rescued Arctic fox is shedding his winter coat. In the wild, Arctic foxes swap white for brown to blend into the tundra when the snow melts. 📹: Animal care staff Brittany

Happy Friday from Onion! 💙

Laerke is diving into enrichment time with new pool toys, designed to spark natural behaviors like exploring, problem-solving, and play. 💙🐻‍❄️ 📹: Animal care staff Dayna

Our cherry blossom tree is officially in bloom! 🌸

Sven is entering his ✨de-fluff era✨ Arctic foxes shed their thick winter coat each spring, trading all that fluff for a shorter, darker summer look that helps them stay cool and camouflaged. 📸: Animal care staff Noelle

Hudson is a certified snack-time professional! 💙 Muskoxen spend a big chunk of their day grazing, fueling up on grasses and browse to keep those massive bodies (and cozy coats) going strong. 💪

Say hello to Onion! We’re thrilled to welcome Onion, an 11-year-old harbor seal, from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Rescued as a young pup off the coast of Massachusetts, Onion’s journey has been one of resilience. Meet Onion this weekend! 💙

At four months old, Bao is learning how to be an otter, one worm at a time! Snacking like this supports natural foraging behaviors, builds coordination, and keeps growing Bao mentally and physically engaged. 🐾 📹: Animal care Katie

Our giant Pacific octopus habitat has been thoughtfully reimagined, thanks to dedicated aquarium staff. The new space was designed to mirror the rocky, cave-filled environments of Puget Sound. 1/2

Say hello to Onion! 🦭 We’re thrilled to welcome Onion, an 11-year-old harbor seal, from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Rescued as a young pup off the coast of Massachusetts, Onion’s journey has been one of resilience. Learn more at pdza.org/meet-onion

On #WorldBearDay, our 5-year-old polar bear Laerke is making a splash! From playful swims to floating on her back with a massive stick. Enrichment like this helps keep Lærke active, engaged, and mentally stimulated. 🐻‍❄️ 📹: Animal care staff Russell

Parks Tacoma’s 2026 bond proposal would bring significant new investments to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's penguin habitat. The proposed bond would fund more than 100 projects, without increasing the current park tax rate. Learn more about the April 28 bond at parkstacoma.gov/april-2026-election

Seal-abrate Day of the Seal with two of our Rocky Shores stars, Riley and Qilak! 🦭 Meet the duo: ✨ Qilak is our calm, confident queen, easy to spot with her unique markings, including a white ring over her eye ✨ Riley is our newer addition. She’s shy, sweet, and settling in beautifully

Rainy day outside, tropical vibes inside! 🌧️🌴 Step into our Tropical Reef Aquarium and you’re instantly surrounded by vibrant fish and warm waters, and no umbrella required. From colorful coral to mesmerizing sharks, it’s the perfect escape when the skies turn gray.

Meet Sheldon for Serval Day! Sheldon the African serval has been stealing the spotlight since joining Wild Wonders in 2013. He came to the Zoo as a kitten and was named after The Big Bang Theory star, as he's also one unique character. 🐾

Found in oceans around the world (including Puget Sound!), these translucent drifters can gather in large groups called “smacks” during the summer. Moon jellies don’t have a brain, heart, or eyes, yet they can still sense light, smell, and taste.

Lucky clover snacks for Cessna! ☘️💚 Our 32-year-old radiated tortoise is celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day by snacking her way through some festive greens. 🐢 🎥: Animal care staff Alex

During last Friday’s snow day, the 3,000-pound walrus Balzak took a moment to watch the snowflakes fall. Walruses like Balzak are built for the cold, with thick blubber to keep them warm even as late winter weather rolls in. 📹: Conservation Engagement Curator Wendy

Our foxes would like to thank the weather for today’s enrichment. ❄️ Arctic foxes like Sven and Freya are perfectly adapted for winter, with thick fur that keeps them warm even in freezing temperatures. ⛄️ 📸: Animal care staff Kacie

Pepper pokes her head out of the water to catch snowflakes! ❄️ 📹: Graphics Delaney

Snow zoomies activated! ❄️ Our muskoxen were taking full advantage of today’s snow with plenty of racing, bouncing and embracing the winter weather. 📹: Graphics Delaney

Due to snowy conditions, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is closed today. ❄️ 📸: Curator Jen

Seven goats, one big birthday celebration! 🎂🐐 Happy second birthday to Kettle, Biscuit, Hopper, Crumpet, Rhubarb, Thistle, and Daisy Mae. May your day be filled with tasty snacks, bouncy zoomies, and plenty of mischief.

Scooter is 24 today! 🎉 With a median life expectancy of 17.8 years for armadillos in human care, Scooter is officially in his legend era. 💪 Happy 24th birthday to this shellebrated superstar! 🎂 📹: Animal care staff Hannah

Bintang, affectionately known as Bini, can often be seen exploring the Asian Forest Sanctuary, exploring along forested trails, scent-marking his territory, or stretching out for a nap. Nearby, Kali enjoys the waterfall habitat, often keeping a watchful eye on everything around her. 1/2

Spotted and soaring through Baja Bay! 💙 Eagle rays are among the largest rays in the ocean, growing up to 10 feet across and 16 feet from tip to tail. Their dark gray-blue backs are dotted with small white spots, and their wing-like fins make it look like they’re flying through the water.

Happy National Napping Day from a few of our napping experts! 💤

Snack time with Bao! 🐟 Every nibble, chew, and curious chomp is part of Bao discovering the tasty side of being an otter. 📹: Animal care staff Katie

Tilli’s on landscaping duty for Aardvark Week! 🐾 When it comes to digging, our aardvark has the ultimate built-in rototiller. With powerful claws and a nose for adventure, Tilli can turn over soil in no time while searching for tasty insects. 🐜 📹: Animal care staff Erica

Happy #AardvarkWeek to the queen of the castle, Tilli! 👑🏰 Tilli’s care team built her a cardboard castle, and she wasted no time putting that adorable sniffer to work. Watch as our 20-year-old aardvark explores her castle and slurps up mealworms and snacks with her long, sticky tongue.

Making waves together! 🌊 Our playful California sea lions and curious harbor seals share the water like pros. From speedy spins to smooth glides, these marine neighbors know how to make a splash while cruising through their underwater world. 🦭

While keepers were busy cleaning one of the larger pools, baby otter Bao enjoyed his own little splash zone, complete with a tub full of toys to investigate, toss, and pounce on. 📹: Animal care staff Katie

Keeping Humphrey healthy is all in a day’s work! 💙 When our charismatic humphead wrasse started “flashing” (essentially a fish’s way of saying, “I’m itchy!”), our animal care and veterinary teams stepped in with a careful exam and treatment. 🐠 Read the story at pdza.org/keeping-humphrey-healthy

Happy snoozes for #AardvarkWeek 💤 Our sweet girl Tilli is off on a dreamland adventure, and yes, that little tongue is still hard at work! 💕 Even in her sleep, it looks like she’s slurping up imaginary termites.

Meet Remy and Senya, our dynamic siamang pair. Siamangs are the largest of the gibbons and are famous for their powerful, echoing calls, thanks to a special throat sac that inflates like a balloon when they sing! 🎵💗

Meet the sweetest stars in the sea ⭐🍪 These iconic sea stars get their name from the dark, cone-shaped spines scattered across their backs, just like chocolate chips on a cookie. Chocolate chip sea stars aren’t just adorable; those “chips” actually help protect them from predators.

Tilli the aardvark reporting for duty: professional digger, dirt enthusiast, and all-around tunnel queen. 👑 Named after a rototiller (because she’s basically a living, breathing garden tool), Tilli digs because she loves it, and she’s very, very good at it. #AardvarkWeek

Happy #AardvarkWeek Tilli! Get ready to giggle, our girl Tilli is slurping up grub at lightning speed in this hilarious video. That loooong, sticky tongue is built for business, and she puts it to work, along with her oversized ears, adorable sniffer, and powerful digging claws.

Our tufted puffins are still rocking their winter plumage! In winter, tufted puffins have: 🖤 Darker faces 🧡 More muted beaks and feet ✨ No long golden “tufts” (those grow back for breeding season!) As spring approaches, we’ll start to see their famous glow-up.

Sunday snoozin’ with Clara & Moea 🦦 Rescued sea otters Clara and Moea are taking their Sunday very seriously, naps first, everything else later. 💤 In the wild, otters will often link paws, sometimes called forming a “raft”, so they don’t drift apart while floating on their backs.

Three months of squeaks, splashes, and serious cuteness! 💙 Bao is officially in his busy otter era, curious, confident, and always ready to investigate anything that moves (or makes a splash). From wiggly pounces to tiny paddle-powered swims, he’s growing fast and loving every minute of it. (1/2)

Our meerkat family is taking “cuddle puddle” to a whole new level! 💗 📷: Veterinary Technician Bianca

It’s International Polar Bear Day! 🐻‍❄️ Denning is the most vulnerable time in a polar bear’s life. The biggest threat to polar bear population sizes is cubs not surviving to adulthood, so every single cub is critically important. Learn how you can get involved: pbears.org/intlpolarbearday