Woodland Park Zoo Press Release

What:
WPZ Gorilla "Nadiri" with wreath Woodland Park Zoo’s Winter Celebration is sure to delight kids and animals of all ages 1 to 92. Get a sneak preview of the merrymaking as orangutans tear into gift wrapped boxes stuffed with treats and boughs of evergreen and lion-tailed macaque monkeys nibble on holiday cookies made exclusively for animals from Three Dogs Bakery.

Winter Celebration treats the zoo’s animal residents to a host of holiday-themed treats such as wreaths with assorted fruit, trees decorated with fruit ornaments, and boughs and wrapped boxes. The event begins Wednesday, December 20 and continues Thursday and Friday, December 21-22, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The second week is Wednesday-Friday, December 27-29, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

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:
Orangutans and lion-tailed macaque monkeys: Tuesday, December 19, 11:00 a.m.

Winter Celebration schedule: Wednesday-Friday December 20, 21, 22 and December 27, 28, 29, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Animal exhibit times can be found on the zoo’s Web site at www.zoo.org and at zoo entries.

Where:
Enter Woodland Park Zoo through the ARC building near the West Entrance at N. 55th St. & Phinney Ave. N. The ARC is locked. If late, enter through admissions and head to orangutans at Trail of Vines.

Info:
Winter Celebration is free with zoo admission. Visit the Rainy Day Tour page on the zoo's Web site for a Rainy Day Tour map and a discount admission coupon to the zoo. Free programs are offered weekends including elephant talks, Humboldt penguin feedings and raptor demonstrations. For a full schedule, visit the Daily Activities page on the zoo's Web site.

Winter hours are 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. daily. Admission: Adult (13-64) $10.50; Child (3-12) $7.50; Toddler (0-2) Free. Seniors and disabled receive a discount and zoo members receive free zoo admission year-round. Parking: $4.00. Call Metro at 206.553.3000 for bus service to the zoo.

For more information and how to become a zoo member, call 206.684.4800 or 684.4026 (TTY), or visit the zoo’s Web site at www.zoo.org.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, 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.