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2016 Press Releases

2016 Releases

December 29, 2016
Dramatic art exhibit featuring sea creatures sculpted from plastic pollution opens in April at Point Defiance Zoo

December 29, 2016
Point Defiance Zoo, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Lancer Hospitality team up to eliminate the sale of disposable plastic bottles at both zoos

December 16, 2016
Alan Varsik named interim director of Zoological and Environmental Education for Metro Parks Tacoma

December 15, 2016
A third female walrus arrives at Point Defiance Zoo as a breeding partner for Dozer

December 5, 2016
Scouting out a great deal: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Members, their families and friends can attend Zoolights for $2 off general admission on Dec 6

November 25, 2016
3,650-pound walrus whistles, bellows, clacks, shows his flippers and gets fed with his ‘girlfriends’ in new video from Point Defiance Zoo

November 25, 2016
Thanks to our visitors: Guests at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park team up to donate 3,691 pounds of food to people in need

November 21, 2016
Military Nights honor nation’s servicemen and servicewomen with a discount to Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Nov 28 and 30 and Dec 5, 7, 12, 14

November 10, 2016
E.T. the walrus to be honored with a bronze sculpture at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

November 10, 2016
Male walrus with 17-inch tusks to debut Friday at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

November 2, 2016
Veterans enjoy free admission to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium during Veterans’ Appreciation Days, Nov 11-13

November 2, 2016
Calling sixth-grade through college-age students – Get the scoop on zoological careers for free

October 30, 2016
Help Out for Half Off: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium team up to help the hungry this holiday season with a special food drive Nov. 4-20

October 27, 2016
Zoolights 2016: Holiday nights will glow with the magic and wonder of the season as zoo animals, whimsical scenes and landmarks spring to live in 600,000 colorful LEDs

October 26, 2016
Sculpture of Tacoma’s beloved Ivan will help tell the story of critically endangered gorillas as their numbers dwindle in the wild

October 25, 2016
Larger than life: Bronze sculpture honoring beloved gorilla’s memory to be unveiled Wednesday in Point Defiance Park near entrance to zoo

October 10, 2016
It’s here: The spookiest time of year at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

October 6, 2016
Polar Bear Conservation Weekend set Nov. 5-6 to celebrate iconic Arctic animals

September 20, 2016
Gary Geddes to retire in January, leaving a legacy of conservation and growth at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

September 1, 2016
Searching far and wide: Pokémon trainer discount at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

August 23, 2016
Dive into Labor Day Weekend fun during End of Summer Splash

August 1, 2016
3-month-old muskox calf to make public debut Tuesday at Point Defiance Zoo

July 26, 2016
Splish, splash, we’re having a summer blast at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium – California sea lion makes his debut

July 7, 2016
Sugar and Spice and all things nice: The votes are in, and the public picked sweet names for sister Nigerian dwarf goats born two weeks ago at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

July 3, 2016
Sharks, sharks, and more sharks! it’s a shark extravaganza at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on July 9-10

June 28, 2016
We’re ‘bleating’ the drums with exciting news: female Nigerian dwarf goat twins born in Kids’ Zone at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

June 26, 2016
Groundbreaking celebration set for July 11 for new Pacific Seas Aquarium

June 21, 2016
Indiana Bones and his sidekicks – plus some awesome new friends – are back this weekend at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s live animal show

June 17, 2016
Wanna find Dory? Come see a real version of the animated Disney star, along with a variety of her aquatic pals at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

May 27, 2016
Bugs Alive! New program debuts Saturday at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium to give visitors an up-close view into the wonderful world of crawly things

May 26, 2016
Tiger triplets to appear together and get special enrichments at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium this weekend as one of them prepares to leave Tacoma for a new home in Southern California

May 12, 2016
Endangered Species Spotlight, May 21-22, will celebrate conservation efforts

May 6, 2016
Introducing Saffron, Masala and Coriander

May 2, 2016
Two beach programs offer hands-on exploration and fun

April 28, 2016
Sumatran tiger Jaya dies at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

April 27, 2016
Sumatran tiger critically ill at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

April 25, 2016
Sea otter dies at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

April 21, 2016
Clouded leopard triplets to make public debut Friday at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

April 18, 2016
Zoo’s Dr. Holly Reed Wildlife Conservation Fund awards 21 grants totaling $131,360 to help fund research and wildlife conservation at home and around the world

April 8, 2016
Watch a movie, protect a species: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium sponsors exclusive screening of the documentary “Red Wolf Revival” at Grand Cinema on April 28

April 7, 2016
Endangered clouded leopard cubs growing fast at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

April 1, 2016
Three endangered clouded leopard cubs born at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

March 28, 2016
Spend a spring break ‘staycation’ with conservation superstars at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

March 9, 2016
Dive in to experience the magic of marine life during Ocean Commotion weekend, March 19-20

March 8, 2016
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park to expand days of operation and hours on March 18; wildlife park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium are open on Easter Sunday, March 27

March 7, 2016
– There’s no drugstore pregnancy test for a clouded leopard: Point Defiance Zoo staff uses science, training and trust to tell if an animal is expecting – and she is!
– Three California sea lions arrive at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, but they won’t be on exhibit just yet February 3, 2016
– February brings Valentine’s fun at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, plus a bonus event for Leap Day weekend

February 2, 2016
Plants live at the Zoo, too! Monthly garden tours showcase landscape at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

January 21, 2016
Tiger “brothers” Berani and Dumai to separate as Malayan tiger Berani moves on to another zoo through a managed breeding program

January 11, 2016
– Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium sets attendance record as 732,208 people visit during 2015 to see clouded leopard quadruplets, tiger triplets and much more
– 15-month-old tiger triplets will receive special enrichments at 11 am today as Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium announces best attendance in history

January 4, 2016
Nominations now open for Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s Paw of Approval Award recognizing environmental stewardship among Pierce County businesses

 

2018 Releases

2017 Releases

2015 Releases