Right now, the Woodland Park Zoo has begun birth watch for our very pregnant giraffe Tufani. Due anytime now, Tufani has exhibited small behavioral changes that indicate she may be delivering a calf soon. Read more about the excitedly awaited birth on the WPZ Blog.
While we wait, this summer WPZ has re-opened a Butterfly Garden, and built a new, year-round Pollinator Patio. With help from Molbak’s and Microsoft, Zoo visitors can enjoy these two educational, natural habitats as part of their general admission to the Park.
Take a walk among at least 15 native North American butterfly species in the immersive Garden – an arching tent structure enclosing nearly 500 free-flying butterflies in approximately 3,000 square feet of landscaping. Visitors can learn about the butterfly’s life-cycle, as well as witnessing new butterflies as they emerge from their chrysalises before flying free in the garden.
Behind the Garden, visitors can stroll among beautiful, pollinator friendly plants in the Patio, learning how to help pollinators grow in our backyards, and why we need these vital plants to create a thriving environment. The Patio gives ideas and actions visitors can take on behalf of native pollinators such as hummingbirds, beetles, bees and flies.
The Butterfly Garden will be open daily through September 4th, although the Pollinator Patio will be accessible from now on. Zoo hours, through September 30th, are 9:30a – 6p. For more information, about these exhibits, admission prices – and the status on Tufani – visit the Zoo.org website.