Woodland Park Zoo Press Release

SEATTLE - – Residents in King County and Seattle like Woodland Park Zoo. According to a recent telephone survey, they also agree that the 108-year-old institution is an important asset to the community.

Five years ago, the City of Seattle and the zoo signed a joint Operations and Management Agreement that shifted the zoo’s City management and operations to the Woodland Park Zoo Society, the zoo’s nonprofit fundraising partner since 1965. “After five years of management, we wanted to ascertain the public’s current perception of the zoo,” explained Woodland Park Zoo President and CEO Dr. Deborah Jensen. The zoo commissioned EMC Research, Inc., a Seattle-based public opinion research firm to conduct a countywide phone survey.

According to the survey, 91% polled in King County and Seattle agree that Woodland Park Zoo is an important community asset that enhances quality of life. Strong majorities, nearly 70%, agree that the zoo takes exceptional care of its animals, with almost no disagreement; most of the remaining respondents said they simply “don’t know.” Another finding shows that there is near unanimous agreement (96%) that the zoo is a good learning experience for children.

When asked about the planned parking garage, support increased after respondents heard balanced arguments from both sides. More than 60% favor the garage countywide. Among respondents living in neighborhoods surrounding the zoo, 34% support the garage.

The zoo welcomes more than one million visitors each year including 100,000 students, teachers and educators in school groups and teacher workshops, and more than 250,000 visitors to its free public programs. “The results of the survey were amazing,” added Jensen. “We were very pleased to learn that Woodland Park Zoo has overwhelmingly strong favorability ratings, and that the public is especially enthusiastic about the zoo’s role in children’s education.”

Methodology
EMC Research, Inc. conducted the telephone survey among registered voters in King County in August 2007 on behalf of Woodland Park Zoo. A total of 503 interviews were conducted, with 400 countywide and 136 in Seattle. An additional oversample of 103 interviews was done in the neighborhoods surrounding the zoo. Results were weighted to reflect the proper distribution of registered voters in King County. Twenty-five percent of those interviewed were age 65 and older, which mirrors voter demographic. The overall county poll had a margin of error plus or minus 4.9%.

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.