{"id":108527,"date":"2026-02-25T08:05:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T16:05:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seattleschild.com\/?p=108527"},"modified":"2026-02-25T09:46:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T17:46:00","slug":"woodland-park-zoo-wild-encounters-new-exhibit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seattleschild.com\/woodland-park-zoo-wild-encounters-new-exhibit\/","title":{"rendered":"Bye Family Farm, Hello Wild Encounters: WPZ announces major exhibit transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"

For generations, visitors of all ages have enjoyed Woodland Park Zoo\u2019s Family Farm exhibit, where guests had the opportunity to experience close encounters with a number of common barnyard animals and learn about traditional aspects of farm life. But the space, just inside the zoo\u2019s south entrance, was beginning to show its age.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have an area that is great for making up-close connections but is outdated and in need of major upgrades,\u201d explains Dr. Luis Neves, Senior Director of Animal Care at Woodland Park Zoo. Those upgrades are underway and, beginning in the summer of 2026, zoogoers will be able to experience an array of very different up-close and hands-on experiences in a space the
\nzoo is renaming Wild Encounters.<\/p>\n

The extensive transformation will include habitats for Aldabra giant tortoises, arboreal lorikeets and lories, and there are plans for additional species to be introduced in the future. The zoo\u2019s existing herd of lively and popular goats will remain but will move into a refreshed area within Wild Encounters.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n
\n

(Image: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren\/Woodland Park Zoo)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The first of the new species to be viewable to the public this year will be two Aldabra giant tortoises, one of the world\u2019s largest land tortoises. The female pair were rescued with the help of longtime friends of the zoo, Madeline and Geoff Haydon. \u201cWe were happy to facilitate this rescue and give them the opportunity to become ambassador animals for Woodland Park Zoo where they can encourage curiosity, compassion, and respect for wildlife (\u2026)\u201d says Madeline Haydon.<\/p>\n

Fostering curiosity, compassion, and respect for wildlife will be key aspects of all the visitor experiences within Wild Encounters. Programing by the zoo\u2019s animal keepers will focus on bringing guests closer than ever to a variety of ambassador species and keepers will share their expertise on diet, behavior, and will allow guests to practice caring for individual animals.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n
\n

(Image: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren\/Woodland Park Zoo)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

And, coming next spring, Lorikeet Landing will be a paid experience to get up close with the brilliantly feathered, medium-sized parrots native to the Indo-Pacific region. Inside the aviary, visitors will be allowed to feed these colorful birds and view other bird species such as ground-dwelling pigeons and kookaburras.<\/p>\n

For more information about Wild Encounters, future developments, and to contribute to the zoo\u2019s fundraising efforts, visit Woodland Park Zoo – Wild Encounters.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A longtime zoo favorite evolves into something new<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1324,"featured_media":108529,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[852,112,840],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-field-trips","category-news","category-zoos-petting-farms"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWoodland Park Zoo Wild Encounters: New Exhibit Summer 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Woodland Park Zoo Wild Encounters will transform the former Family Farm into a new hands-on animal experience opening summer 2026, featuring giant tortoises, lorikeets, and interactive learning for families.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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