General Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. How many animals are at the zoo?
A. There are approximately 1,100 individuals animals at Woodland Park Zoo representing 292 species.
Q. Will you take donated animals?
A. In general we do not accept donated animals. Every year, we receive hundreds of requests to take iguanas, rabbits, snakes and other animals, chiefly those that have been pets. We do not accept these due to space (we simply don't have room for 1,000 iguanas!), health (many have unknown health backgrounds, plus they could potentially carry a number of diseases transmittable to other animals). Also we have very strict guidelines for the provenance of our animals, i.e., where they originated from, in order to track genetic history and to ensure that they were not taken illegally from the wild. For detailed information, visit the Northwest Zoo and Aquarium Alliance Smart Pet Choices site or the Exotic Animals Aren't Pets section on our site.
Q. What do I get with membership to the zoo?
A. Visit the Membership FAQ section for complete listings of categories and benefits.
Q. When is the best time to see the animals active? When is the best time to see baby animals?
A. This very much depends on the species. In general, the most active time is in the morning in the first hour after the zoo opens (9:30 a.m.) and again in the afternoon. This also is dependent on weather conditions (i.e., the big cats don't enjoy the rain but the brown bears don't mind). There is no "baby animal season" as some think as babies of different species can be born at nearly anytime of the year. The best place to find out about new or baby animals is on the zoo's blog.
Q. I'm doing a school report. Can I interview a keeper/zoologist in person or by phone?
A. We love to teach about zoo careers. Unfortunately we receive literally hundreds of requests for personal interviews each year and because the keepers need their time to care for the animals, we cannot accommodate all these requests. But we do have resources to help: first try visiting our Zoo Careers section. This outlines zookeeping, zoo horticulture and animal health (veterinarians and animal health technicians). Second, visit the Zookeeper FAQ which answers the most common questions about this field. If this still doesn't answer the questions you need, you may send us specific questions by email that we will try to get answered.
Q. I would like to pet a tiger (or other animal) or feed a baby animal. Can I arrange this?
A. Most of the animals at the zoo are not handled by people and their keepers do not go in with them; this is especially true of animals that could be potentially dangerous including tigers, lions, jaguars, elephants, venomous snakes and others. So we cannot accommodate this request. Also, we try to limit contact of baby animals for their health and welfare so we also do not allow outside contact for feeding or care. We do have a variety of opportunities to get up close to animals including giraffe feedings (offered May 1-Sept. 30); Willawong Station with feeding opportunities with small parrots; Family Farm Animal Contact area (offered May 1-Sept. 30) with goats and sheep; Animal Encounters staffed by docents with a variety of small animals including reptiles and insects (generally outside in the warmer months). Our Eye-to-Eye Behind the Scenes Tours is one way, however, to get a close-up view and information about the animals here.
Q. I have difficulty walking. Do you have a tram?
A. The zoo is a large area to walk at 92 acres. We do not have a tram that goes around the zoo. Non-electric wheelchairs are available for rent at $10 per day. Visit our Accessibility for more information.