Submitted by Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Spring Break will be here before month’s end, and now’s a great time to make plans for time with the kids.
There’s no better place around Puget Sound for a “staycation” than Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, where families can spend time close to home and get in a bit of “globetrotting” at the same time.
There’s a whole world of animals to see, and a different one of the zoo’s conservation superstars will be highlighted each day. Animals will receive special treats, and visitors can participate in a secret code scavenger hunt and enjoy hands-on activities.
Here’s the schedule of featured animals:
Monday, March 30
Red wolves: These animals are native to the Southeastern United States, and Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium has been instrumental in saving the species from extinction. Watch the red wolves get a basket of eggs at 2 p.m. Plus, there will be activities on scent-marking and puzzles.
Tuesday, March 31
Sharks: Visitors can check out the South Pacific Aquarium, home to 16 sharks of five different species. The sharks get special “popsicles” and other treats during feeding time at 11 a.m. Plus, zoo education staff members will lead “Match Up the Sharks” and “Shark Toss” games and activities.
Sharks swim all the world’s oceans, and the species is increasingly threatened by finning and overfishing.
Stingrays aren’t the featured animals on this day, but they live next door to the sharks. Stingray Cove is a great place to stop, reach into the touch tank and run fingers along the stingrays’ velvety surfaces.
Wednesday, April 1
Polar Bears: These massive mammals are native to the coastal regions, islands and seas of the Arctic. Three polar bears, Boris, Blizzard and Glacier, live at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. The bears will get salmon to eat at 11:30 a.m. People can enjoy “Catch of the Day” and “How Much Does That Weigh?” activities.
Thursday, April 2
Gibbons: Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium has two white-cheeked gibbons, Bobby and Sunisa. At 2:30 p.m., these amazing apes will search for hidden treats and enjoy bamboo sticks as enrichment. Humans can enjoy hands-on activities like “Finger Challenge” and “Tale of Tails.”
Friday, April 3
Tigers: Seven Sumatran tigers and one Malayan tiger live at the zoo. Kids can learn more about Sumatran tiger Jaya and her 5-month-old cubs, Indah, Kirana and Dari; big sister, Kali; brothers Bima and Dumai; Malayan tiger Berani; and the crucial conservation effort to save wild tigers.
Tigers will receive yummy enrichments at 12:30 p.m. Activities for kids of all ages include “Jump Like a Tiger,” “Sounds Like a Tiger” and “Dining Out.”
All activities are free with membership or admission to the zoo.
For more information, go to www.pdza.org.
