On February 17, 2024, the dedication of a bronze sculpture took place at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The couple, who have been long-time supporters, donated this beautiful piece to The Zoo Society. They’ve named the statue “Sally” in honor of their late daughter, who they describe as full of…

Preserving our Oceans to Protect our Future By Ashley Dawson, May 2023 What are sharks?  Sharks are cold blooded fish that have lived in the oceans for at least 400 million years. There is a lot we do not know about sharks. Researching animal life underwater is very difficult but…

Encouraging Play & Good Health! Over 10,000 enrichment items were used this year at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Those items can range from throwing a meatball to providing toys in the exhibit that encourage natural animal behavior. Being able to provide these enriching items to the…

It is no secret that tigers around the world are facing extinction at an alarming rate. According to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, as of August 2021, 97% of the wild tiger population has waned, leaving less than 4,000 tigers in the wild. Conservation efforts…

It’s no secret that wildlands and spaces are being reduced at rapid rates around the world. According to The Conservation, just 23% of the land worldwide is deemed wild or unharmed from human life and industry impacts. And that does not include Antarctica. Many remain hopeful that the dwindling…

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Members’ Night 6/16/22 If you missed us at the last PDZA Members Access Night, don’t worry, we will have our newly painted kiosk open on the next two – July 21st & August 18th 6PM-7PM. Stop by to say…

On July 15, 2022, join us for a summer night including an aquatic experience like no other with an outdoor gourmet dinner and live auction. You will get to see first-hand how we care for our aquariums and meet the crew who take diligent care of our aquatic life. All…

On June 10th The Zoo Society hosted our first child oriented fundraiser, Mocktails with the Keepers! Despite the rainy Friday evening over 100 people threw on their rain jackets to enjoy a family friendly night of fun. From Dippin’ Dots to Carousel rides and everything…

The first visit for many local students __ “It’s a beautiful day!” said Roosevelt Elementary kindergarten teacher Melissa Pick. After a spring downpour the day before, teachers, chaperones, and the 114 students alike were delighted for a sunny, dry day for a field trip to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

Kick off the summer as a family by loading up the car and joining as at Point Defiance Zoo for a family-friendly event! Friday, June 10th we are hosting our first ever Mocktails with the Keepers. Support animal enrichment as you learn from the keepers who care for the…

2017 Funded Projects : Marine Mammal Research and Conservation A key focus area for conservation funding is the study and conservation of marine mammals of the Arctic and understanding the impacts of climate change in this environmentally sensitive region.  Tracking polar bears in Canada: Polar bear researchers will deploy up to 40…

Zoo-based Research and Conservation  Enhancing animal reproduction through hormone monitoring: Over the last twelve years, PDZA has used non-invasive studies of endocrine hormones to enhance reproduction of clouded leopards, red wolves, Asian small clawed otters, walrus and other species. This grant will fund work using our in-house lab at Northwest…

Shark Research and Conservation  With the opening of the new Pacific Seas Aquarium, we’re pleased to be funding several projects focused on improving our knowledge of shark behavior. Most shark species are poorly understood and are believed to be suffering severe declines in numbers due to unregulated fishing and death…

Assessing polar bear fur growth Polar bear researchers gather blood, fat, and hair samples to analyze bear nutrition, contaminants and other environmental factors during the short annual spring field season when bears are accessible on or near land. Hair samples can provide especially important information on how diminishing sea ice…

Marine Conservation PDZA is committed to the study and protection of our marine environment. Many marine species, such as sharks and sea turtles, are poorly understood and are declining in number due to unregulated fishing and death through bycatch. Gaining accurate information on marine animals’ critical areas for feeding and…

Walrus reproduction This ongoing research project is a collaborative effort among zoos to study walrus reproduction to improve breeding management. Objectives of the study include monitoring male and female hormones, monitoring sperm production, monitoring female reproductive organ anatomy through ultrasound, and preservation of semen samples.  Sumatran tiger reproduction Since…

It’s time to dive into conservation. Our oceans, and the animals that live in it, are being threatened everyday by humans, industry and climate change. Pollutants like single-use plastics, oil, boats, and nets can choke or harm them. Carbon dioxide is warming their world. By taking action today and choosing…

Thanks to YOUR donation dollars, we were able to get a new dental radiography unit to help our animals with dental needs. “We used it for the first time on Friday to diagnose dental abscesses in one of our meerkats. I can definitely say that I would not have been…

Our goats are feelin’ fancy! With YOUR donation dollars, we were able to get all of our goats brand new collars. Each one is personalized with their name and birthday!

The holidays came early for some of the caregivers at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium! Your generous donations allowed us to purchase a new portable dental x-ray machine ? for the animals. This dental imaging unit will allow the keepers at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium to get…

Have you ever wondered…. What exactly is animal enrichment? Here’s a wonderful example. After months of waiting, Suki, the elephant was finally able to play with two modified kegs donated by Harmon Brewing Co. that were stuffed with grapes and hanging in the elephant habitat. To get to the tasty…

Connect. Inspire. Act. How we connect! I am The Zoo Society. You Are The Zoo Society. We are The Zoo Society. When you connect and contribute, you make an impact, and you are part of the much larger whole. At The Zoo Society, our aim is to help create meaningful…

What is animal enrichment? Animal enrichment focuses on improving the animal’s psychological and physiological well-being through providing stimulating activities and enhancing their environment. According to Smithsonian’s National Zoo, enrichment activities would include different forms of play that would emulate what they may be doing in their natural environment. Other examples…

What do we mean by education? Education ignites the brain and inspires the soul. At The Zoo Society, your gifts contribute to supporting educational programs that connect the community to animals and nature. This provides an abundance of educational opportunities both physically at the zoo, and virtually. As a Vision…

What do we mean by animal conservation? At The Zoo Society, we work hard to make an impact and to protect our beloved animal friends who are endangered or at risk of extinction. When you donate, you will have peace of mind knowing that your gifts are making a difference,…

CONSERVATION IS IN OUR DNA The 35,000- square foot, state-of-the-art Pacific Seas Aquarium at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium connects people to conservation of the world’s waters in new and innovative ways. The new aquarium and it’s diversity of marine life immerses visitors in the Pacific Seas, from the cold…

While millions of Americans across the country face unemployment and uncertainty in the face of rising Coronavirus cases and a struggling economy, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium stands tall with the unwavering support of The Zoo Society. Together, the two entities co-exist supporting each other, working side-by-side to ensure the…