What:
Animals at Woodland Park Zoo don’t have to hibernate in the winter…and neither do humans. The zoo will liven up the winter season with a Winter Celebration. Media are invited to watch as zookeepers give the elephants frozen “holiday punch” which contains cranberry and orange juices, sliced oranges, apples and cranberries. Stick around and watch sloth bears shred evergreens and Patas monkeys open boxes filled with treats.

Winter Celebration is part of the zoo’s ongoing enrichment program to help enrich the lives of the zoo’s animals, promote natural animal behavior, keep animals mentally stimulated and provide added enjoyment for visitors.

When:
Photo op: Tuesday, December 20
Elephants: 1:30 p.m.
Patas monkey and sloth bears: 2:00 p.m.

Where:
Meet at the zoo’s ARC building near the West Gate at N. 55th St. & Phinney Ave. N. Staff will escort you to the elephant exhibit in the Asian Tropical Forest and to the Patas monkey and sloth bear exhibits. The ARC is locked – late arrivals may enter through the West Gate and proceed to the exhibits.

Info:
Visitors may enjoy the zoo’s Winter Celebration Wednesday through Friday December 21, 22, 23 and December 28, 29, 30. Animals throughout the zoo will receive special treats during the winter school break. A schedule will be listed on the zoo’s Web site and at zoo entries. Woodland Park Zoo opens 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily during the winter. For more information, call 206.684.4800 or visit www.zoo.org.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.