Snack time with Tilli the aardvark! 💖 📹: Animal care staff Alex
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
@ptdefiancezoo.bsky.social
The only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest.
Snack break with Nigel the prehensile-tailed porcupine! 🍪
Go behind the scenes for our all-new Fins of the Future Shark Tour! Get an exclusive look at shark care, aquarium operations, and how we’re helping restore endangered Indo-Pacific leopard sharks through global conservation efforts. 🦈 Book your tour: pdza.org/tropical-reef-aquarium-behind-the-scenes
Happy #OwlAwarenessDay! 🦉 Meet 21-year-old Eurasian eagle owl Forrest, who can be seen soaring right over guests' heads during our daily animal show. As one of the largest owl species in the world, Forrest is as impressive as he is majestic.
Happy #OwlAwarenessDay! 🦉 Shredding coconuts is one of 21-year-old Eurasian eagle owl Forrest’s favorite enrichment activities behind the scenes, and he wants you to know about it. As one of the largest owl species in the world, Eurasian eagle owls are very impressive!
Say hello to Apollo for #OwlAwarenessDay! 🦉 Our 12-year-old barn owl is about the size of a cat but weighs only one pound, and he’s a master of stealth. Fun fact: Barn owls have incredible hearing! They can hunt in total darkness by sound alone.
At 19 years old, endangered clouded leopard Jao Ying is one of the oldest clouded leopards in human care.❤️ After a tumor was discovered years ago, Jao Ying had her left eye removed. She has adapted beautifully and continues to confidently climb and explore her habitats. #CloudedLeopardAwarenessDay
Watch Kristyn train Pepper, our young sea lion, to porpoise! 💙 Every hop, splash, and successful behavior helps build trust and supports Pepper’s care through positive reinforcement training. 📹: Animal curator Jen
Tiny crabs. Big impact. 🦀💙 Our conservation team, volunteers and students are helping monitor Dungeness crab larvae in Puget Sound as part of a regional community science project. The tiny larvae collected help researchers better understand future crab populations!
Meet Ricardo! 🦉✨ Throwing it back to this Close Encounter moment with our spectacled owlet before he officially had a name. Since then, our animal care staff have named him Ricardo, and we think it suits him perfectly! 📹: Veterinary Technician Bianca
Go behind the scenes or our all-new Fins of the Future Shark Tour! Get an exclusive look at shark care, aquarium operations, and how we’re helping restore endangered Indo-Pacific leopard sharks through global conservation efforts. pdza.org/tropical-reef-aquarium-behind-the-scenes
Bubble enrichment for 10-year-old walrus, Balzak! 🫧 📹: Animal care staff Kristyn
It's #SharkWeek! 🦈 Celebrate with a visit and meet Peanut and Butter, our Indo-Pacific leopard sharks, whose offspring are helping restore endangered shark populations through the StAR Project. From Tacoma to Indonesia, they're making waves for shark conservation! www.pdza.org/celebrate-sh...
River and Bronto are making the most of their day with plenty of zoomies, wrestling, and playtime! 🐺 These critically endangered American Red Wolves may look like they're just having fun, but play helps strengthen bonds, build important skills, and keep them active and engaged. 📹: Animal Curator Jen
Up close with Senya, our six-year-old siamang, enjoying a fresh, delicious Kiwi snack! 🥝 Their sharp canines allow them to easily pierce the tough outer shells of dense fruits that make up the majority of their diet. 📹 Animal care staff Katie
Happy #NationalZookeeperWeek to our incredible, hard-working animal care staff! Thank you for your passion, expertise, and dedication to providing exceptional care for the animals every single day of the year. We appreciate everything you do! 💙
Our animal care team finds fun, creative ways to help our animals stay cool in the summer heat! ☀️
Nothing says summer like frozen treats! ☀️ Our otter family is staying cool with enrichment ice treats packed with their favorite mealworms. 🦦 📹: Animal care staff Katie
Owen is making waves! 🦭 Our adorable California sea lion pup is now exploring the Rocky Shores habitat alongside mom Eloise and the harbor seals. Born June 1, Owen taught himself to swim by just 3 weeks old and is already winning hearts. 💙 www.pdza.org/sea-lion-pup...
Willow the muskox got a blue popsicle made of diluted Gatorade as a summer enrichment treat. She wasn’t too interested in eating it, but she was very enthusiastic about bouncing it on her head. 😂🧊 📹: Animal care staff Russell
Born on June 1, Owen is thriving alongside mom Eloise behind the scenes. The sea lion pup is nursing, growing stronger every day, and building confidence as he explores his world. Recently, he graduated to the larger behind-the-scenes pool, where he's even started meeting the harbor seals. 💙
The chorus is growing louder! 🐺🎶Our three-month-old critically endangered American Red Wolf pups are practicing their howls at our offsite facility. Howling helps wolves communicate with their pack, strengthen social bonds, and announce their presence across long distances.
Happy 14th Birthday to Nigel the coendou! 🎉 Cheers to 14 years of climbing, exploring, and plenty of snacks. 🍪 Nigel's prehensile tail acts like a fifth limb, helping him grip branches and navigate the treetops with ease.
Happy World Snake Day! 🐍 Snakes experience the world in some amazing ways! Meet Roano, our 19-year-old rescued Central American boa, and Mchanga, our 15-year-old sand boa. Stop by and discover just how incredible these often misunderstood reptiles really are. 💚
One-month-old sea lion pup Owen is still happily nursing! Sea lion pups typically nurse for 6 to 12 months before they're gradually weaned and begin eating whole fish like herring and capelin. For now, Owen is happy to stay close to his mom, Eloise, growing bigger and stronger every day. 💙
It’s Arctic Sea Ice Day! We created the day to draw attention to the rapidly melting Arctic ecosystem, why it matters, and how we can help slow this trend. What can you do to move the world toward action on climate change? Start by talking about it. Learn more: pbears.org/arcticseaiceday
Celebrate Shark & Ray Awareness Day by coming face-to-face with some of the ocean's most fascinating species! Meet sharks and rays eye-to-eye, discover the amazing adaptations that make them such incredible animals, and learn how you can help protect sharks and rays in the wild. 🦈 pdza.org/dive
Strike a pose! 🐧 Meet one-month-old Magellanic penguin chicks Chimi, Churri and Malbec, serving up peak penguin cuteness. 📷: Keeper Kacie
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!