Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle

The Zoo

Since its founding in 1899, Woodland Park Zoo has operated on one simple belief: that people who experience the wonders of the natural world will be inspired to protect it. Today, the zoo greets more than one million visitors annually, immersing each into a verdant realm of naturalistic exhibits and species-saving conservation efforts.

The Animals

Over 1,000 animals representing more than 300 species call Woodland Park Zoo home, including 47 endangered species and 20 threatened or vulnerable species. The menagerie features birds, reptiles, and some of the globe's most awe-inspiring mammals, including big cats and several groups of gorillas. Some of the most playful residents are Azul and Bumi, two Malayan tigers who represent an international conservation effort led by Woodland Park Zoo.

The Botanical Collection

In addition to its animals, Woodland Park Zoo boasts a mesmerizing botanical collection. It spans more than 92,000 plants and 1,300 species, and each month, something new is in bloom. The leafy canopy above—which covers nearly half of the zoo's 92 acres—is important, too: Woodland Park has planted more than 4,000 trees since 1987, making it a green oasis in the heart of an urbanized community.