Seattle - Imagine a warm, sandy shoreline…the harmonious sounds of birds and falling water…a lush, light-dappled forest…a large, powerful jaguar leaping from a fallen tree…Enter the world of the jaguar, naturally, of course, when Woodland Park Zoo opens its new Jaguar Cove June 28, 2003.

The $4.3 million naturalistic exhibit, which quadruples the size of the former jaguar exhibit, will transport visitors to the lush, tropical rain forests of Central and South America, the natural habitat of jaguars. A fallen kapok (KAY-pahk) tree serves as a dramatic entry to the zoo’s award-winning, 2.5-acre Tropical Rain Forest and sets the stage for the jaguar exhibit. Visitors may observe the jaguar padding silently on the forest floor, lounging on the trunk of a downed tree, climbing a large rock, or scooping out live fish from a pool fed by a waterfall. Visitors can stop at a nearby research tent to discover how multidisciplinary teams of botanists, entomologists, cultural anthropologists, or researchers learn about jaguars and their habitat.

The 92-acre Woodland Park Zoo is a top award-winning institution that is famed for its naturalistic wildlife exhibits and for conservation education. “The stunning jaguar exhibit marks another chapter in our 103-year-old history,” notes Woodland Park Zoo President and CEO Dr. Deborah B. Jensen, “as our momentum continues toward fulfilling our vision of providing our wildlife residents with enriched, naturalistic environments and supporting worldwide conservation projects for these animals.” The new jaguar exhibit is a part of the zoo’s Long-Range Plan, which has generated world-renowned recognition for its revolutionary landscape exhibits. The zoo is also supporting four conservation projects dedicated to preserving jaguars in the wild and their native habitat.

Generous gifts from the Kreielsheimer Foundation (in honor of Greye M. Kreielsheimer), The Estate of Julia (Millie) Albee, D.V. & Ida McEachern Charitable Trust, Mylo and Marion Charlston, an anonymous gift, HomeStreet Bank and the Williams family (to honor Walter and Marie Williams), and Jeff Sanderson and Mich Mathews have helped make this exhibit possible. The designer for the exhibit is The Portico Group (Seattle), and the contractor, Synergy Construction Inc. (Woodinville, Wash.). Woodland Park Zoo opens 9:30 a.m. daily every day of the year. For more information, call 206.684.4800.