Latest news with #Zoo&Aquarium
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Point Defiance garden festival will impact traffic this week. Plan ahead.
The annual Point Defiance Flower & Garden Festival will take place on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Starting Thursday, June 5, traffic will be impacted in and around Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. On Thursday, the Pearl Street entrance, Roberts Garden Road and Marina tunnel will be affected, according to a Wednesday news release from Parks Tacoma. The Pearl Street entrance will be closed at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. During the festival, the gate will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Normal operations will resume on Monday. Roberts Garden Road's left fork that leads to the Pearl Street entrance is scheduled to close from Thursday to Sunday. Crews will reopen it on Monday by 2 p.m. The Marina tunnel will also be closed starting Thursday, and will return to normal operations on Monday by 2 p.m. Throughout this period, drivers entering Point Defiance must exit the park through the marina, according to the news release. Those who wish to visit the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Owen Beach and the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum during this time have to use the Mildred Street Entrance. Other than that, entrance to the Point Defiance Marina, boat launch or Vashon Island ferry won't be affected. The festival is free to the public, but experiences like guided garden tours, workshops, lectures and happy hour vary in price, according to the Parks Tacoma website. Free parking is limited, but available in the boat launch parking lot and on neighborhood streets. Paid parking can be found above the boat launch parking lot for $16 and at Point Ruston. Attendees can pre-pay in the Point Ruston garage and walk across the Wilson Way pedestrian bridge to enter Point Defiance Park. Reserved parking is available for visitors with disabilities near the lodge crosswalk at Point Defiance. Visitors can also take public transportation to the park, including Pierce Transit buses 10 and 11.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tacoma zoo addresses concerns about ‘special needs' polar bear after viral video
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's polar bear Laerke went viral over the weekend after a video of her behavior caused concern for some commenters. Zoo staff told The News Tribune on Tuesday that the animal's seemingly strange behavior is the result of her unique upbringing around humans and special needs. A Tik Tok user identified as Ellyana posted a video on May 4 of Laerke repeatedly moving her head up and down while standing in her enclosure at the Point Defiance Zoo. Ellyana, who did not immediately return a request for comment from The News Tribune, asked viewers in the video if they knew whether the behavior was normal. 'I looked it up and it says that he feels threatened or stressed, but I have no clue,' she said in the video. Ellyana said in a later video that she was worried that the bear did not have enough enrichment toys and that Laerke's behavior could have indicated stress. The video garnered about 900,000 views two days after it was posted, and some commenters said the conditions were not normal and theorized the bear's behavior could have been the result of stress. Both in an interview with The News Tribune and a post on Tik Tok addressing the concerns, Malia Somerville, the zoo's general curator, said Laerke's behavior in the video is typical for her and not a cause for concern. Somerville said the polar bear suffered a medical emergency when she was an infant at the Detroit Zoo that resulted in her spending more time with veterinarians and the Detroit Zoo staff than with her mother and twin sister Astra. Somerville said the Point Defiance Zoo staff doesn't quite know what happened to her, but the time Laerke spent with her human caretakers has meant she's smaller than her twin sister and received less attention from her mother. 'Laerke is a special bear, her behaviors are sort of atypical always because she sort of had that special upbringing,' Somerville said. 'That's why we wanted folks to understand that her behavior will always be different than her sister's.' The polar bear's atypical behavior often manifests in repeated movement like the video depicted, and it seems to uptick around the spring, Somerville said. 'She's just sort of a special needs bear because of things that we will maybe never understand that are going on inside her head and her body,' Somerville said. 'But she's been different, she's been atypical since she was born, and we're learning to work with her and accommodate her and give her the things she needs, even though it might be different than her sister.' After her original post also drew widespread criticism from commenters who said she was spreading misinformation, Ellyana said in a later post that that was not her intent. Uproar for the bear's condition resulted in a petition that received over 4,000 signatures with several comments expressing concern for Laerke's condition — though the petition had been closed by May 6. The petition starter did not return a request for comment. While some on Tik Tok have expressed concern for Laerke, others have taken to posting videos of the zoo's polar bears swimming, playing and seemingly enjoying their enclosure to convey that the bears are well cared for. Still others have referenced the video at the center of the controversy in jest, even overlaying the clip of Laerke's repeated head motion with heavy metal music. Somerville said she appreciates the concern for the zoo's polar bears. Zoo spokesperson Tessa Miller said people can learn more at
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare, endangered Malayan tapir calf born at Point Defiance Zoo in WA
The Brief Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium celebrated the birth of a rare and endangered Malayan Tapir calf. The calf is bonding with its mother behind the scenes, and zoo visitors could expect to see it by late spring. The gender and the name of the calf will be revealed in the coming weeks. TACOMA, Wash. - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium celebrated the birth of a Malayan tapir calf over the weekend, marking only the second time in the zoo's 120-year history that this rare and endangered species has been born there. What we know According to Head Veterinarian Dr. Karen Wolf, the calf and its parents are both healthy. For now, the calf is staying behind the scenes at the zoo's Asian Forest Sanctuary, where it will bond with its mother. The newborn is estimated to weigh about 20 pounds. Yuna and Baku, the mother and father, are both 10 years old and weigh about 900 and 800 pounds, respectively. What they're saying "We're thrilled to witness this incredible moment and look forward to watching the calf grow," said Curator Telena Welsh. What's next According to the zoo, tapir calves usually nurse for about 13 to 14 months. The sex and name of the calf will be revealed in the coming weeks, and guests may get the chance to see it later this spring. The calf's markings—white spots and stripes—are typical for tapir calves and often resemble a watermelon due to their appearance. When a Malayan tapir becomes an adult, its head turns black with varying colors along its body. Why you should care According to the zoo, Malayan tapirs are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with populations declining due to habitat loss from deforestation and human development. According to A-Z Animals, there are between 3,000 and 4,500 Malayan tapirs left in the world, depending on the species. Yuna and Baku were paired as part of the Species Survival Plan, a program that helps ensure the genetic diversity and long-term sustainability of Malayan tapirs in human care. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. The Source Information for this story came from a press release by the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. School closures: Track closings, delays in western WA for Tuesday, Feb. 4 LIVE UPDATES: Road closures, delays to know as winter weather hits western WA Northbound I-405 in Renton blocked after semi crash King County Metro purchase of 120 Teslas faces scrutiny as anti-Tesla sentiment in WA grows 50 states, 50 protests against Project 2025, Trump orders planned for Feb. 5 China responds to Trump's tariffs: See the list To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
