Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

For #ZookeeperWeek, we went behind the scenes with Russell, a dedicated keeper at Point Defiance Zoo. He cares for animals in our Rocky Shores and Arctic Tundra habitats, and shared what inspired his journey into zookeeping and what working with wildlife means to him. 🐻‍❄️🦦🐧…

Snoots & Toots! 😂 Baby tapir Ume is here behind the scenes adorably booping the camera with her fuzzy snoot. 🥰 Meanwhile, mom Yuna delivers a soundtrack we didn’t ask for but definitely won’t forget.💨 📹: Keeper Katie

🦈 Happy #SharkAwarenessDay! 🦈 Today, we’re shining a light on the incredible sharks in our care at the Tropical Reef Aquarium and the vital roles they play in keeping ocean ecosystems thriving. 🌊 Blacktip reef sharks – sleek, fast, and always on the move 🌊 Whitetip reef…

Meet Pintar and Sebastian, the newest Asian small-clawed otters at the Zoo, here for a breeding recommendation! 💗 This adorable pair is loving their new habitats, exploring every corner and scent-marking to make it their own. Otterly cute playtime alert: watch them splash,…

🌸🐝 Stop and smell the flowers! Our pollinators are busy at work! 🦋🌼 From buzzing bees to fluttering butterflies and helpful ladybugs, our gardens are alive with incredible pollinators and the beautiful blooms they help thrive. 🌿💚

This little meerkat knows how to kick off the week: with a good stretch, a sploot, and some sunbathing. ☀️ #MeerkatMonday #sploot

Tiny but mighty! 🌟 Meet the small brittle star, an incredible echinoderm that hides in plain sight. With long, slender arms and the ability to regenerate lost limbs, these little sea creatures are masters of survival. 🌊 Often tucked beneath rocks, brittle stars use their…

Today is #NationalTattooDay. Zookeeper Erica wears her heart on her sleeve! Her tattoo of tamandua Terra’s snoot is more than just art; it’s a tribute to an animal who left a lasting impression. And Gonzo, our current tamandua, seemed to recognize the connection, giving the…

It’s #WorldSnakeDay! 🐍 Meet Roano, our stunning 18-year-old Central American boa, who’s been soaking up the summer sun! At over 5 feet long, Roano thrives in the warmth, so our keepers have been taking him on adventures around Zoo grounds for a little sunshine and enrichment. ☀️…

Today is #ArcticSeaIceDay! Our polar bears Astra and Laerke are more than incredible animals to see up close; they’re ambassadors for their wild cousins and the fragile Arctic they call home. 🐻‍❄️ The Arctic is warming nearly 4x faster than the rest of the planet, melting sea ice…

It’s Shark and Ray Awareness Day, and we’re rolling out the (salty) red carpet for Rayna, our largest eagle ray! With a wingspan more than 6 feet and measuring 13 feet from nose to tail, Rayna glides through the water like royalty. She’s noticeably bigger than her fellow rays,…

☀️ Bone Appétit, Astra! 🐻‍❄️ On a sunny day, there’s nothing quite like a salty dip and a savory snack! Polar bear Astra is living her best bear life, lounging in her fresh saltwater pool while gnawing on a giant bone like it’s a five-star treat. 🍖 📹: Keeper Lindsey

Sven the Arctic fox is enjoying piles of ice during the warm weather! ☀️ During summer, an Arctic fox's fur changes to a brown-grayish hue to camouflage with the barren tundra in the wild. They sport a fluffy white coat in winter to blend in with the snow and ice. This…

🐧 Just a fluffy hello from one-month-old penguin chick Pedro! 👋 📸: Keeper Russell

Dive into our newest habitat, Coral Reef Up-Close! 🪸 Discover a vibrant underwater world where colorful coral gardens host a symphony of color and motion. Meet tiny but mighty reef caretakers like hermit crabs, snails, and more. This ever-changing ecosystem offers something new…

Ume has the zoomies! 🏎️ Baby Ume just explored the large waterfall habitat with her mom, Yuna, for the very first time. The 252-pound tapir calf swam, zoomied, snuffled through the grass, chomped on sticks and snacks, and chirped with pure tapir joy. 💗

Tapir mom Yuna and her mini-me Ume took to the water in their lush waterfall habitat, and it was pure magic. At 252 pounds, Ume swam like a natural (tiny snorkel and all), even though she’s still not totally sold on the whole "water" thing.