Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
@ptdefiancezoo.bsky.social
The only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest.
For the first time ever, you can bring your dog to Zoolights! ✨ It’s a magical way to enjoy the lights with your furry friend by your side. Zoolights Dog Nights are sold out on Dec. 9 & 10, but a few tickets remain for our final Dog Nights on Jan. 4. 🐾 www.pdza.org/zoolights
December 9, 2025 at 5:01 AM
For the first time ever, you can bring your dog to Zoolights! ✨ It’s a magical way to enjoy the lights with your furry friend by your side. Zoolights Dog Nights are sold out on Dec. 9 & 10, but a few tickets remain for our final Dog Nights on Jan. 4. 🐾 www.pdza.org/zoolights
For the first time ever, you can bring your dog to Zoolights! ✨ It’s a magical way to enjoy the lights with your furry friend by your side.
Only a few Zoolights Dog Nights tickets remain for our final Dog Nights on Jan. 4. 🐾 Online timed tickets are required: pdza.org/zoolights
Only a few Zoolights Dog Nights tickets remain for our final Dog Nights on Jan. 4. 🐾 Online timed tickets are required: pdza.org/zoolights
December 8, 2025 at 9:55 PM
For the first time ever, you can bring your dog to Zoolights! ✨ It’s a magical way to enjoy the lights with your furry friend by your side.
Only a few Zoolights Dog Nights tickets remain for our final Dog Nights on Jan. 4. 🐾 Online timed tickets are required: pdza.org/zoolights
Only a few Zoolights Dog Nights tickets remain for our final Dog Nights on Jan. 4. 🐾 Online timed tickets are required: pdza.org/zoolights
A big pile of fresh shavings for fluffy Arctic foxes Sven and Freya. This enrichment is great for mental stimulation and encourages natural fox behaviors like digging, pouncing, and sniffing!
📹: Keeper Russell
📹: Keeper Russell
December 7, 2025 at 6:56 AM
A big pile of fresh shavings for fluffy Arctic foxes Sven and Freya. This enrichment is great for mental stimulation and encourages natural fox behaviors like digging, pouncing, and sniffing!
📹: Keeper Russell
📹: Keeper Russell
Laerke the polar bear found the perfect winter toy: a giant stick! ❄️🐻❄️
📹: Keeper Russell
📹: Keeper Russell
December 6, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Laerke the polar bear found the perfect winter toy: a giant stick! ❄️🐻❄️
📹: Keeper Russell
📹: Keeper Russell
✨ ZOOLIGHTS ✨ Now through Jan. 4! Stroll through the Zoo as it sparkles with over 1.5 million dazzling lights.
🎟️: pdza.org/zoolights
🎟️: pdza.org/zoolights
December 6, 2025 at 12:48 AM
✨ ZOOLIGHTS ✨ Now through Jan. 4! Stroll through the Zoo as it sparkles with over 1.5 million dazzling lights.
🎟️: pdza.org/zoolights
🎟️: pdza.org/zoolights
10-month-old Ume is now 456 pounds and still enjoys the occasional nursing session! Mom Yuna is as patient as ever, letting her growing calf get in a little extra comfort time behind the scenes. 💗
📹: Keeper Katie
📹: Keeper Katie
December 3, 2025 at 11:44 PM
10-month-old Ume is now 456 pounds and still enjoys the occasional nursing session! Mom Yuna is as patient as ever, letting her growing calf get in a little extra comfort time behind the scenes. 💗
📹: Keeper Katie
📹: Keeper Katie
Our new siamang has officially swung into the Asian Forest Sanctuary, and she’s full of personality! At 6 years old, Senya joins Remy in a special conservation pairing (our first primate breeding recommendation in over 20 years), and she’s already exploring her habitats and vocalizing with Remy.
December 2, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Our new siamang has officially swung into the Asian Forest Sanctuary, and she’s full of personality! At 6 years old, Senya joins Remy in a special conservation pairing (our first primate breeding recommendation in over 20 years), and she’s already exploring her habitats and vocalizing with Remy.
Baby shark conservation news! In the past week, the RARCC nursery “shark nannies” welcomed two very special zebra shark pups, Jelly (female) and PowerTee (male), the first two pups to hatch from Peanut & Butter’s eggs sent to the nursery.
📹 Jelly dislodging her first snail off the bottom for eating
📹 Jelly dislodging her first snail off the bottom for eating
December 2, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Baby shark conservation news! In the past week, the RARCC nursery “shark nannies” welcomed two very special zebra shark pups, Jelly (female) and PowerTee (male), the first two pups to hatch from Peanut & Butter’s eggs sent to the nursery.
📹 Jelly dislodging her first snail off the bottom for eating
📹 Jelly dislodging her first snail off the bottom for eating
SEA Airport’s otterly adorable mascot, Jett the SEA Otter, splashed into Tacoma for a special visit with our rescued sea otters, Clara and Moea! 🦦
Keepers crafted @flysea.bsky.social’s Jett his very own aviation-themed seafood cake, and our senior otters were more than happy to help celebrate. 🎉
Keepers crafted @flysea.bsky.social’s Jett his very own aviation-themed seafood cake, and our senior otters were more than happy to help celebrate. 🎉
December 2, 2025 at 12:44 AM
SEA Airport’s otterly adorable mascot, Jett the SEA Otter, splashed into Tacoma for a special visit with our rescued sea otters, Clara and Moea! 🦦
Keepers crafted @flysea.bsky.social’s Jett his very own aviation-themed seafood cake, and our senior otters were more than happy to help celebrate. 🎉
Keepers crafted @flysea.bsky.social’s Jett his very own aviation-themed seafood cake, and our senior otters were more than happy to help celebrate. 🎉
December 1, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Pepper’s serving full Spider-Sea Lion energy, hanging upside down like she’s about to save the day! 🕸️🦭✨
Young sea lions are incredibly agile swimmers and love to twist, flip, and glide underwater.
📹: Keeper Kristyn
Young sea lions are incredibly agile swimmers and love to twist, flip, and glide underwater.
📹: Keeper Kristyn
December 1, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Pepper’s serving full Spider-Sea Lion energy, hanging upside down like she’s about to save the day! 🕸️🦭✨
Young sea lions are incredibly agile swimmers and love to twist, flip, and glide underwater.
📹: Keeper Kristyn
Young sea lions are incredibly agile swimmers and love to twist, flip, and glide underwater.
📹: Keeper Kristyn
The Zoo is glowing once again! ✨ Wander through more than a million shimmering lights, larger-than-life animal displays, and all the cozy winter magic that makes Zoolights a Tacoma tradition.
Timed online tickets are required to help keep things comfy for everyone! pdza.org/zoolights
Timed online tickets are required to help keep things comfy for everyone! pdza.org/zoolights
November 30, 2025 at 3:37 AM
The Zoo is glowing once again! ✨ Wander through more than a million shimmering lights, larger-than-life animal displays, and all the cozy winter magic that makes Zoolights a Tacoma tradition.
Timed online tickets are required to help keep things comfy for everyone! pdza.org/zoolights
Timed online tickets are required to help keep things comfy for everyone! pdza.org/zoolights
Happy Thanksgiving from our herd to yours!
The goat's Thanksgiving feast included these veterinarian-approved foods: mashed turnip, a side of baby food, pears, blueberries, long-shaved carrots, mocktails (muddled beet juice), willow, maple, and evergreen.
The goat's Thanksgiving feast included these veterinarian-approved foods: mashed turnip, a side of baby food, pears, blueberries, long-shaved carrots, mocktails (muddled beet juice), willow, maple, and evergreen.
November 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Happy Thanksgiving from our herd to yours!
The goat's Thanksgiving feast included these veterinarian-approved foods: mashed turnip, a side of baby food, pears, blueberries, long-shaved carrots, mocktails (muddled beet juice), willow, maple, and evergreen.
The goat's Thanksgiving feast included these veterinarian-approved foods: mashed turnip, a side of baby food, pears, blueberries, long-shaved carrots, mocktails (muddled beet juice), willow, maple, and evergreen.
Final touches are going up on the iconic Flame Tree, now sparkling with over 30,000 LED lights! ✨ #Zoolights starts Friday! Reserve your timed online tickets at pdza.org/zoolights.
November 27, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Final touches are going up on the iconic Flame Tree, now sparkling with over 30,000 LED lights! ✨ #Zoolights starts Friday! Reserve your timed online tickets at pdza.org/zoolights.
1/3: Help us welcome Jelly to the world — a newly hatched endangered zebra shark pup in Indonesia! 🦈💙
Thanks to parents Peanut and Butter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and our partnership with the global coalition ReShark, this tiny pup represents real hope for her species.
Thanks to parents Peanut and Butter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and our partnership with the global coalition ReShark, this tiny pup represents real hope for her species.
November 27, 2025 at 2:43 AM
1/3: Help us welcome Jelly to the world — a newly hatched endangered zebra shark pup in Indonesia! 🦈💙
Thanks to parents Peanut and Butter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and our partnership with the global coalition ReShark, this tiny pup represents real hope for her species.
Thanks to parents Peanut and Butter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and our partnership with the global coalition ReShark, this tiny pup represents real hope for her species.
🎉 Seven Days of WILD Savings Are Here! 🎉
From Nov. 25 – Dec. 1, it’s our BIGGEST deal of the year on memberships! Give the gift of a year full of amazing animal encounters and adventures with discounted memberships to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
👉 Learn more at pdza.org/cyber-deals
From Nov. 25 – Dec. 1, it’s our BIGGEST deal of the year on memberships! Give the gift of a year full of amazing animal encounters and adventures with discounted memberships to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
👉 Learn more at pdza.org/cyber-deals
November 25, 2025 at 11:51 PM
🎉 Seven Days of WILD Savings Are Here! 🎉
From Nov. 25 – Dec. 1, it’s our BIGGEST deal of the year on memberships! Give the gift of a year full of amazing animal encounters and adventures with discounted memberships to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
👉 Learn more at pdza.org/cyber-deals
From Nov. 25 – Dec. 1, it’s our BIGGEST deal of the year on memberships! Give the gift of a year full of amazing animal encounters and adventures with discounted memberships to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
👉 Learn more at pdza.org/cyber-deals
Happy Walrus Day! Our 2,640-pound male walrus, Balzak (pronounced BELL-zik), is enjoying fresh sustainable seafood and ice treats for enrichment.
Walruses like Balzak are equipped with incredibly powerful suction abilities, allowing them to create vacuum-like seals to feed on the ocean floor.
Walruses like Balzak are equipped with incredibly powerful suction abilities, allowing them to create vacuum-like seals to feed on the ocean floor.
November 24, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Happy Walrus Day! Our 2,640-pound male walrus, Balzak (pronounced BELL-zik), is enjoying fresh sustainable seafood and ice treats for enrichment.
Walruses like Balzak are equipped with incredibly powerful suction abilities, allowing them to create vacuum-like seals to feed on the ocean floor.
Walruses like Balzak are equipped with incredibly powerful suction abilities, allowing them to create vacuum-like seals to feed on the ocean floor.
Red Wolf sisters Peat and Willow have moved to our off-site Red Wolf facility in an effort to save this critically endangered species. Their new home is part of the SAFE American Red Wolf program, where carefully matched wolves help ensure a healthy future population.
November 24, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Red Wolf sisters Peat and Willow have moved to our off-site Red Wolf facility in an effort to save this critically endangered species. Their new home is part of the SAFE American Red Wolf program, where carefully matched wolves help ensure a healthy future population.
Meet Ruby, our charismatic 10-year-old hornbill! While she can fly, ground hornbills actually spend most of their time walking across their habitat, carefully searching for food. They’re also incredibly vocal, using their bright red wattles to create deep, booming calls that can carry for miles.
November 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Meet Ruby, our charismatic 10-year-old hornbill! While she can fly, ground hornbills actually spend most of their time walking across their habitat, carefully searching for food. They’re also incredibly vocal, using their bright red wattles to create deep, booming calls that can carry for miles.
Arctic foxes, Sven and Freya, the most perfect snow puffs!
During summer, an Arctic fox's fur changes to a brown-grayish hue to camouflage with the tundra. They sport a fluffy white coat in winter to blend in with the snow and ice.
During summer, an Arctic fox's fur changes to a brown-grayish hue to camouflage with the tundra. They sport a fluffy white coat in winter to blend in with the snow and ice.
November 19, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Arctic foxes, Sven and Freya, the most perfect snow puffs!
During summer, an Arctic fox's fur changes to a brown-grayish hue to camouflage with the tundra. They sport a fluffy white coat in winter to blend in with the snow and ice.
During summer, an Arctic fox's fur changes to a brown-grayish hue to camouflage with the tundra. They sport a fluffy white coat in winter to blend in with the snow and ice.
Join us in wishing Laerke a beary happy 5th birthday today! 🎂🐻❄️
Celebrate with us and learn more about Laerke during our daily polar bear keeper chats. Happy BEARthday, Laerke! 🎉
Celebrate with us and learn more about Laerke during our daily polar bear keeper chats. Happy BEARthday, Laerke! 🎉
November 18, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Join us in wishing Laerke a beary happy 5th birthday today! 🎂🐻❄️
Celebrate with us and learn more about Laerke during our daily polar bear keeper chats. Happy BEARthday, Laerke! 🎉
Celebrate with us and learn more about Laerke during our daily polar bear keeper chats. Happy BEARthday, Laerke! 🎉
The Zoo comes aglow with more than 1.5 million sparkling lights during Zoolights, Nov. 28-Jan. 4! ✨
🎟️ Online timed tickets are required and selling fast! Get yours at pdza.org/zoolights
🎟️ Online timed tickets are required and selling fast! Get yours at pdza.org/zoolights
November 17, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The Zoo comes aglow with more than 1.5 million sparkling lights during Zoolights, Nov. 28-Jan. 4! ✨
🎟️ Online timed tickets are required and selling fast! Get yours at pdza.org/zoolights
🎟️ Online timed tickets are required and selling fast! Get yours at pdza.org/zoolights
Say hello to Fender, our critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish, making waves in the Tropical Reef Aquarium!
Our aquarists and veterinary team worked together for a smooth, carefully monitored transfer to the Outer Reef habitat, ensuring the 230-pound guitarfish settled safely into his new home.
Our aquarists and veterinary team worked together for a smooth, carefully monitored transfer to the Outer Reef habitat, ensuring the 230-pound guitarfish settled safely into his new home.
November 14, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Say hello to Fender, our critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish, making waves in the Tropical Reef Aquarium!
Our aquarists and veterinary team worked together for a smooth, carefully monitored transfer to the Outer Reef habitat, ensuring the 230-pound guitarfish settled safely into his new home.
Our aquarists and veterinary team worked together for a smooth, carefully monitored transfer to the Outer Reef habitat, ensuring the 230-pound guitarfish settled safely into his new home.
Aquarium cuties for the rainy day! 🐠☔
Your Zoo admission includes our two aquariums, perfect for staying dry while exploring under the sea!
Your Zoo admission includes our two aquariums, perfect for staying dry while exploring under the sea!
November 13, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Aquarium cuties for the rainy day! 🐠☔
Your Zoo admission includes our two aquariums, perfect for staying dry while exploring under the sea!
Your Zoo admission includes our two aquariums, perfect for staying dry while exploring under the sea!
Our veterinary team recently performed a delicate eye surgery to remove a cataract from our filefish. Working with veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Kice, our team successfully removed the cloudy lens, helping this fish see (and eat!) more easily again. The patient is now recovering behind the scenes.
November 12, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Our veterinary team recently performed a delicate eye surgery to remove a cataract from our filefish. Working with veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Kice, our team successfully removed the cloudy lens, helping this fish see (and eat!) more easily again. The patient is now recovering behind the scenes.