Meet Chimi, Churri, and Malbec, named by their care team after traditional foods and drinks from their native range of Argentina and Chile. These growing, one-month-old Magellanic penguin chicks have reached a big milestone and are now eating whole fish all on their own! 🐧

🐧 Fish are officially on the menu! 🐟 Meet Chimi, Churri and Malbec, named by their care team after traditional foods and drinks from their native range of Argentina and Chile. These growing Magellanic penguin chicks have reached a big milestone and are now eating whole fish all on their own!

Our American Red Wolf pups have officially started eating meat, but every now and then, they still stop by for a quick nursing session with mom, Violet. 💗

Talk about perfect aim! 🎯 Assistant curator Shannon delivers a meatball straight into Sumatran tiger Bintang’s mouth during a keeper chat. 🐅

This week, we had the incredible honor of welcoming Harvey Drahos to Point Defiance Zoo! At 103 years old, Harvey is an Army veteran of World War II who served in the Battle of Okinawa, a Purple Heart recipient, an Olympia resident, and a lifelong animal lover.

Chill out with some of the Zoo's coolest residents! 🐻‍❄️🦭 Join us July 11–12 for Arctic Sea Ice Weekend! Watch polar bear Laerke, walruses Balzak and Lakina, muskoxen, and Arctic foxes enjoy special icy enrichments, hear keeper chats, and discover simple ways you can help protect Arctic wildlife. 💙🌎

Starting tomorrow morning, July 2, 15 handcrafted Art of the Game glass medallions will be hidden around the zoo grounds... and if you find one, it's yours to keep! 🏆✨ Watch this video for a few location hints, then put your searching skills to the test during your visit. 👀 Good luck!

Tiny but mighty! Meet June's aquarium highlight species, the sea gooseberry.🪼 This marble-sized comb jelly shimmers with rainbow colors as tiny hairs called cilia propel it through the water. Like other jellies, they lack a brain, heart, blood and bones. www.pdza.org/aquarium-hidden-gems/

The adorable two-month-old critically endangered Red Wolf pups recently received caribou hay for enrichment, giving them a chance to explore, play, and practice natural behaviors as they grow. ❤️

Neat find at the Tundra habitat! 🪹 Our keepers discovered an old bird nest woven with an unexpected mix of polar bear fur and muskox guard hair, some of which is shed alongside their incredibly soft qiviut each year. 📷: Animal care staff Russell

Ice, ice, baby, Bao! 🧊 It’s time for some cool enrichment behind the scenes. The small-clawed otter family received piles of ice to explore, and the tiny, happy otter hops may be the cutest thing you’ll see. 💖 📹: Animal care staff Katie

The adorable California sea lion pup has a name... meet Owen! 💙 His animal care team chose the name to celebrate the natural range of California sea lions, which stretches all the way to Washington's coast, and to honor our own backyard: Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park.

Yesterday’s warm weather called for a refreshing misting session! 💦🦉 Our two-month-old spectacled owlet cooled off with a gentle rain shower. Misting helps keep owls comfortable on warm days while also helping clean and condition their feathers. Safe to say this little one was a fan. 💙

Meet Owen! 🦭 Our second-ever sea lion pup arrived on June 1, and he’s already making a splash behind the scenes. Owen is thriving alongside mom Eloise. He’s nursing, growing stronger every day, finding his voice, and getting to know his animal care team. 💙

Meet Owen! 🦭 Our second-ever sea lion pup arrived on June 1, and he’s already making a splash behind the scenes. Owen is thriving alongside mom Eloise. He’s nursing, growing stronger every day, finding his voice, and getting to know his animal care team. 💙

Behind the scenes with Mawar! 🐅 After our male Sumatran tiger, Bintang, had used the wood wool as part of his scent marking, it was offered to Mawar for enrichment behind the scenes. She immediately started rolling, rubbing, and fully engaging with all the new scents left behind. 🌿

Family time with Sebastian, Pintar and Bao! 🦦 Watch this playful otter trio explore enrichment eggs throughout their habitat. As they investigate, you'll spot plenty of sniffing, rubbing, and scent-marking behaviors, which are important ways otters communicate and learn about their environment.

Watch as animals show off their soccer skills! ⚽ Enrichment like this encourages natural behaviors through physical activity, exploration, and plenty of fun for these all-stars.

More sweet puppy moments! ❤️ Nine critically endangered red wolf pups born April 18 at our offsite facility are growing fast and thriving. From playful tussles with their siblings to taking on a tree branch nearly as big as they are, these curious pups are so much fun to watch. 🐾

The baby owl has started taking small adventures around Zoo grounds as it continues to grow and build confidence. These curious outings are an important part of development, helping the young owlet practice new skills and become more comfortable for future close encounters.

Laerke is making the most of the warm weather! 🐻‍❄️💦 When temperatures rise, our 5-year-old polar bear loves cooling off in her saltwater pool. From splashing and diving to playful swims, her pools provide both enrichment and a refreshing way for Laerke to stay comfortable on sunny days. ☀️

Move over, World Cup stars, Hudson is ready for kickoff! ⚽ Our male muskox is showing off some seriously powerful soccer skills as he headbutts and chases a massive soccer ball around. Enrichment plays an important role in animal care by encouraging natural behaviors.

At just one week old, our sea lion pup is already making a splash! While sea lion pups aren't born expert swimmers, they learn quickly through practice and play. This little guy is getting more comfortable in the water every day. 🦭💙

More sweet puppy moments! ❤️ Nine critically endangered red wolf pups born April 18 at our offsite facility are growing fast and thriving. These playful pups are an important part of the effort to help save one of the world’s most endangered canids.

Born June 1, the 26-pound pup recently received his neonatal exam and is doing well. He’s growing, gaining strength, and spending plenty of time bonding with mom, Eloise, behind the scenes.

Sound up for adorable baby howls! ❤️ The seven-week-old Red Wolf pups are finding their voices. The litter includes six males and three females, and is the latest success in recovering this critically endangered species. The American Red Wolf family will remain behind the scenes.

Exciting news! 💙 Our second-ever sea lion pup arrived on June 1! Mom Eloise and her growing pup are doing well behind the scenes, where he’s nursing, gaining strength, finding his voice, and getting to know his care team. 1/2

Nine critically endangered red wolf pups born April 18 at our offsite facility are growing fast and thriving. ❤️🐺 These playful pups are an important part of the effort to help save one of the world’s most endangered canids.

Join us in wishing Ume safe travels on her next adventure! It’s hard to believe the tiny calf who arrived looking like a little “watermelon on legs” is now a confident, independent young tapir ready for her next chapter. Over the past year, we’ve watched Ume grow, explore, and capture many hearts. ❤️

Giant News: Trolls are coming! 🎉 Beginning Oct. 15, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium become the first locations in the Pacific Northwest to host TROLLS: A Field Study by acclaimed artist Thomas Dambo. ✨ Learn more at TrollTrek.org 📷 Courtesy of Imagine & Thomas Dambo

Sound on for adorable baby howls! The seven-week-old Red Wolf pups are starting to find their voices. The critically endangered American Red Wolf family will remain behind the scenes at our offsite facility, so stay tuned online for pupdates.

Pip, pip, hooray! 🎉 Three fluffy Magellanic penguin chicks have hatched and are healthy, growing, and thriving! The chicks, who hatched in mid-May, recently received another routine health check and continue to do well. 🐧

The cutest morning routine from the adorable otter family. 💤 Slow stretches, cozy snuggles, and a few sleepy yawns before a day filled with splashes, snacks, and plenty of mischief. 💙 📹: Animal care staff Chrissy

Rio sneaks off with a beak full of wood wool, helping himself to more nesting material from his fellow penguin pals! 🐧

The baby owl has started taking small adventures around zoo grounds as it continues to grow and build confidence. These curious outings are an important part of development. Be among the first to meet this adorable young chick this Thursday, June 4, at 2 p.m. at the Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater!

Happy Pride Month! 🌈 Join us in celebrating inclusion, compassion, and empathy at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Our Pride Celebration returns June 20–21, bringing our community together to honor love, diversity, and belonging while connecting with wildlife, nature, and one another.

Lunch is served! These two penguin chicks are enjoying a meal from their parents, who regurgitate food to feed their growing young. Every snack helps these fluffy chicks grow a little bigger and stronger. 💙🐧 📹: Animal Curator Jen

🌊 Celebrate World Reef Day with us! 🐠 Dive into the vibrant underwater world of our Coral Reef Up-Close habitat inside the Tropical Reef Aquarium. Discover dazzling corals, colorful fish, and learn why coral reefs are some of the most important ecosystems on Earth. 🪸

Throwback to baby Pepper for World Sea Lion Day! From tiny pup to soon-to-be big sister, Pepper has come a long way. We’re counting down the days until she welcomes a new sister or brother this summer, and we can’t wait to see her take on her newest role! 💗

Big changes are happening for our growing spectacled owlet! 🦉✨ The baby owl continues to thrive as its fluffy white down slowly gives way to darker feathers, including the beginnings of the species’ signature “spectacles,” the markings around the eyes that look like a pair of glasses.

Did you know tapirs “talk” too? One-year-old tapir Ume has been making adorable chirps as she explores her different habitats. Tapirs communicate using whistles, squeaks, chirps, and soft grunts to stay connected and express themselves. 📹: Animal care staff Katie

Baby howls! The six-week-old Red Wolf pups are starting to find their voices. The litter includes six males and three females, and is the latest success in recovering this critically endangered species. The Red Wolf family will remain behind the scenes at our offsite facility.

Onion is making a big splash during mealtime! The 11-year-old blind, rescued harbor seal recently showed off his skills by tossing around a giant salmon before digging in for a well-earned feast. 🐟

Clara the rescued sea otter is showing off her lightning-fast tippy-tappies! 🦦 Those speedy paws aren’t just adorable, they’re a natural skill sea otters use to crack open hard-shelled snacks like clams and crabs using rocks as tools. Smart, speedy, and seriously cute. Happy #WorldOtterDay ❤️

Sea otters are very social, and ours are no exception! Rescued sea otters, Moea and Clara, love to play together or just snuggle. They’re also extremely curious and enjoy exploring objects for enrichment. Happy #WorldOtterDay! 🦦

Pip, pip, hooray: Three fluffy Magellanic penguin chicks hatched and are healthy and thriving! 🐧🎉 Read more at pdza.org/three-magellanic-penguin-chicks-hatch

A throwback to baby Bao, the Asian small-clawed otter, for #WorldOtterDay!

Pip, pip, hooray: Three fluffy Magellanic penguin chicks hatched and are healthy and thriving! 🐧🎉

Little miss independent Ume saying hello before her big adventure! 👋 Our beloved Malayan tapir, Ume, is heading off to her next big adventure at another accredited zoo in the Midwest in early June. Join us in wishing Ume safe travels during a farewell weekend, May 30 & 31!

Big changes are happening behind the scenes for our growing spectacled owlet! The baby owl continues to thrive as its fluffy white down slowly gives way to darker feathers, including the beginnings of the species’ signature “spectacles,” the markings around the eyes.