New Year, new reZOOlutions! 🎉 If you’re still deciding, our animals have a few ideas: meditate, take a walk, keep smiling. 🐾 #happynewyear

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back on the memories that made this year unforgettable. 🎉 From meaningful milestones to everyday moments of wonder, our talented staff photographer, Katie, captured it all! 1/2

Muskox zoomies, activated! ⚡ Charlotte (10 years old) is taking on a giant red enrichment ball, encouraging natural behaviors like charging, strength-building, and curiosity. Sound up for muskox grumbles, hops and zoomies! ❤️ 📹: Keeper Russell

Otter pupdate! 💙 Our Asian small-clawed otter pup is growing fast. His eyes are now open, and he weighs 586 grams, right on track for a healthy, curious little otter. Proud first-time parents Pintar and Sebastian continue to do an excellent job caring for their fuzzy male pup behind the scenes.

There’s a new tiger in Tacoma! 🐯 Bintang (“star” in Indonesian), affectionately known as Bini, is a 7-year-old Sumatran tiger now exploring the Asian Forest Sanctuary. He is expected to play a key role in the Species Survival Plan breeding program alongside our female tiger, Mawar. 🐅

Holiday meerkat enrichment throwback! ✨ These stockings were filled with mealworms and treats to encourage natural digging and foraging behaviors, one of many ways we keep animals active and engaged. 🐾 Wishing you happy holidays! ❤️

Deck the halls with walrus carols. 🎵 Wishing you a joyful holiday season from all of us at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium! ❤️

Sven and Freya got a fresh pile of chopped Timothy hay and immediately got to work by digging, rolling, and turning it into the ultimate enrichment playground. Enrichment encourages natural behaviors for our fluffy Arctic foxes, like digging, scenting, and exploring! 🩵 📹: Keeper Kacie

Meet Yuki! This male Asian small-clawed otter recently arrived through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan and has been successfully introduced to one of our female otters Arista. The pair is comfortable, bonded, and exploring their habitats together. 💕

Meet Bintang, our new Sumatran tiger, this weekend! 🐅 This stunning 7-year-old male just made his debut in the Asian Forest Sanctuary! Bintang, meaning “star” in Indonesian, also affectionately known as Bini, is here to inspire action for his critically endangered species.

Otterly adorable news! 🎉 Pintar, our four-year-old Asian small-clawed otter, gave birth to a healthy pup on Nov 18. Head veterinarian performed a wellness exam on the one-month-old pup, and it appears healthy, weighing just under one pound and exhibiting strong vigor, with a round, healthy belly.

Otterly adorable news! Pintar, our four-year-old Asian small-clawed otter, gave birth to a healthy pup on November 18. Pintar and Sebastian are first-time parents and are doing exceptionally well, keeping the fuzzy male pup safe and cozy behind the scenes.

Crunch time with adorable Ume! The 10-month-old tapir now weighs 483 pounds. 💗 📹: Keeper Katie

Meet Bintang, our new Sumatran tiger! 🐅 This 7-year-old male just made his debut, and guests can meet him for the first time this weekend. Bintang, meaning “star” in Indonesian, also affectionately known as Bini, is here to inspire action for his critically endangered species.

Calling all good pups! 🐶 Tomorrow night, Dec. 17, is our LAST Dog Nights at Zoolights with tickets still available! Come sparkle, sniff, and stroll. 🐾 PDZA.org/zoolights ✨

Meet Bintang our new Sumatran tiger!This 7-year-old male just made his debut in the Asian Forest Sanctuary and guests can meet him for the first time this weekend. Bintang, meaning star in Indonesian, also affectionately known as Bini, is here to inspire action for his critically endangered species.

The federal government is considering changes to the Endangered Species Act that would severely weaken our most powerful tool for saving threatened and endangered wildlife, and the public comment period is now open. Learn more at www.oregonzoo.org/news/defend-endangered-species-act

Stroll through a magical world with over 1.5 million sparkling lights during Zoolights, now through Jan. 4. A classic holiday tradition, Zoolights has dazzled our community for 38 years! Online timed tickets are required, pdza.org/zoolights

For the first time ever, you can bring your dog to Zoolights! ✨ It’s a magical way to enjoy the lights with your furry friend by your side. Zoolights Dog Nights are sold out on Dec. 9 & 10, but a few tickets remain for our final Dog Nights on Jan. 4. 🐾 www.pdza.org/zoolights

For the first time ever, you can bring your dog to Zoolights! ✨ It’s a magical way to enjoy the lights with your furry friend by your side. Only a few Zoolights Dog Nights tickets remain for our final Dog Nights on Jan. 4. 🐾 Online timed tickets are required: pdza.org/zoolights

A big pile of fresh shavings for fluffy Arctic foxes Sven and Freya. This enrichment is great for mental stimulation and encourages natural fox behaviors like digging, pouncing, and sniffing!  📹: Keeper Russell

Laerke the polar bear found the perfect winter toy: a giant stick! ❄️🐻‍❄️ 📹: Keeper Russell

✨ ZOOLIGHTS ✨ Now through Jan. 4! Stroll through the Zoo as it sparkles with over 1.5 million dazzling lights. 🎟️: pdza.org/zoolights

10-month-old Ume is now 456 pounds and still enjoys the occasional nursing session! Mom Yuna is as patient as ever, letting her growing calf get in a little extra comfort time behind the scenes. 💗 📹: Keeper Katie

Our new siamang has officially swung into the Asian Forest Sanctuary, and she’s full of personality! At 6 years old, Senya joins Remy in a special conservation pairing (our first primate breeding recommendation in over 20 years), and she’s already exploring her habitats and vocalizing with Remy.

Baby shark conservation news! In the past week, the RARCC nursery “shark nannies” welcomed two very special zebra shark pups, Jelly (female) and PowerTee (male), the first two pups to hatch from Peanut & Butter’s eggs sent to the nursery. 📹 Jelly dislodging her first snail off the bottom for eating

SEA Airport’s otterly adorable mascot, Jett the SEA Otter, splashed into Tacoma for a special visit with our rescued sea otters, Clara and Moea! 🦦 Keepers crafted @flysea.bsky.social’s Jett his very own aviation-themed seafood cake, and our senior otters were more than happy to help celebrate. 🎉

Only one more day for our BEST membership deals! 🔥 Join the herd ➜ pdza.org/cyber

Pepper’s serving full Spider-Sea Lion energy, hanging upside down like she’s about to save the day! 🕸️🦭✨ Young sea lions are incredibly agile swimmers and love to twist, flip, and glide underwater. 📹: Keeper Kristyn

The Zoo is glowing once again! ✨ Wander through more than a million shimmering lights, larger-than-life animal displays, and all the cozy winter magic that makes Zoolights a Tacoma tradition. Timed online tickets are required to help keep things comfy for everyone! pdza.org/zoolights

Happy Thanksgiving from our herd to yours! The goat's Thanksgiving feast included these veterinarian-approved foods: mashed turnip, a side of baby food, pears, blueberries, long-shaved carrots, mocktails (muddled beet juice), willow, maple, and evergreen.

Final touches are going up on the iconic Flame Tree, now sparkling with over 30,000 LED lights! ✨ #Zoolights starts Friday! Reserve your timed online tickets at pdza.org/zoolights.

1/3: Help us welcome Jelly to the world — a newly hatched endangered zebra shark pup in Indonesia! 🦈💙 Thanks to parents Peanut and Butter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and our partnership with the global coalition ReShark, this tiny pup represents real hope for her species.

🎉 Seven Days of WILD Savings Are Here! 🎉 From Nov. 25 – Dec. 1, it’s our BIGGEST deal of the year on memberships! Give the gift of a year full of amazing animal encounters and adventures with discounted memberships to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. 👉 Learn more at pdza.org/cyber-deals

Happy Walrus Day! Our 2,640-pound male walrus, Balzak (pronounced BELL-zik), is enjoying fresh sustainable seafood and ice treats for enrichment. Walruses like Balzak are equipped with incredibly powerful suction abilities, allowing them to create vacuum-like seals to feed on the ocean floor.

Red Wolf sisters Peat and Willow have moved to our off-site Red Wolf facility in an effort to save this critically endangered species. Their new home is part of the SAFE American Red Wolf program, where carefully matched wolves help ensure a healthy future population.

Meet Ruby, our charismatic 10-year-old hornbill! While she can fly, ground hornbills actually spend most of their time walking across their habitat, carefully searching for food. They’re also incredibly vocal, using their bright red wattles to create deep, booming calls that can carry for miles.

Arctic foxes, Sven and Freya, the most perfect snow puffs! During summer, an Arctic fox's fur changes to a brown-grayish hue to camouflage with the tundra. They sport a fluffy white coat in winter to blend in with the snow and ice.

Join us in wishing Laerke a beary happy 5th birthday today! 🎂🐻‍❄️ Celebrate with us and learn more about Laerke during our daily polar bear keeper chats. Happy BEARthday, Laerke! 🎉

The Zoo comes aglow with more than 1.5 million sparkling lights during Zoolights, Nov. 28-Jan. 4! ✨ 🎟️ Online timed tickets are required and selling fast! Get yours at pdza.org/zoolights

Say hello to Fender, our critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish, making waves in the Tropical Reef Aquarium! Our aquarists and veterinary team worked together for a smooth, carefully monitored transfer to the Outer Reef habitat, ensuring the 230-pound guitarfish settled safely into his new home.

Aquarium cuties for the rainy day! 🐠☔ Your Zoo admission includes our two aquariums, perfect for staying dry while exploring under the sea!

Our veterinary team recently performed a delicate eye surgery to remove a cataract from our filefish. Working with veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Kice, our team successfully removed the cloudy lens, helping this fish see (and eat!) more easily again. The patient is now recovering behind the scenes.

Peanut + Butter = Shark-saving power couple! 🦈💕 Seven zebra shark eggs from Peanut & Butter have arrived at the RARCC Nursery in Raja Ampat. As part of the global StAR Project, these eggs will hatch, grow, and contribute to the rebuilding of endangered wild populations. 💙 📸: RARCC

Veterans' Appreciation Days continue tomorrow, Nov. 11, 9am-3:30pm. US military veterans and active-duty service members receive free admission, while their immediate family members enjoy half-off general admission as a heartfelt thank you. This special offer is available only at our ticket window.

Up close with 2-year-old Willow, the muskox munching on some tasty lichen! Beneath that fuzzy, shaggy coat, muskoxen have a super-soft underlayer called qiviut, one of the warmest natural fibers in the world. 📹: Keeper Russell

Polar bear keeper Stephanie traveled to Churchill, Manitoba with Polar Bears International to see polar bears in the wild and learn about the effects of melting sea ice. Inspired by what she saw, she’s sharing ways we can all protect these Arctic icons! 🌎🐻‍❄️💙 pdza.org/a-keepers-journey-to-churchill

Meet Fender, a majestic 6′7″, 230-lb bowmouth guitarfish! One of only nine pups to survive after his mother was caught in a fishing net, Fender represents a critically endangered species. Come see Fender at the Tropical Reef Aquarium and learn how you can help protect ocean wildlife. 💙

It’s #PolarBearWeek! 🐻‍❄️ Meet Laerke, our polar bear ambassador, as we celebrate and raise awareness for her wild cousins facing a changing Arctic. Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt, travel, and raise their young, but that ice is melting earlier each year as our climate warms.

No bones, no brains, no teeth, fins or even blood – in fact, jellies are mostly water. But they survive in oceans all over the world, and are mesmerizingly beautiful as well. Drift with the jellies at our Pacific Seas Aquarium. 🪼 #WorldJellyfishDay