Cougar Mountain Zoo facts for kids
Cougar Mountain Zoo logo
|
|
 |
|
| Date opened | 1972 |
|---|---|
| Location | Cougar Mountain, Issaquah, Washington, U.S. |
| Land area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Coordinates | 47°33′11″N 122°04′50″W / 47.55299°N 122.08069°W |
| Memberships | ZAA, AAZK, ZSW |
| Website | http://www.cougarmountainzoo.org |
The Cougar Mountain Zoo is a special place located in Issaquah, Washington. It's about 15 miles (24 km) east of Seattle, right on the north side of Cougar Mountain. This zoo is 11 acres (4.5 hectares) big and is a non-profit park. It's also very close to the large Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.
The zoo works hard to protect animals that are in danger of disappearing. You can see amazing creatures like lemurs from Madagascar, powerful Bengal tigers, and rare birds from all over the world. The zoo was started in 1972 by Peter and Marcie Rittler. For the first 15 years, you could visit for free! In 1990, they gave the zoo to the Zoological Society of Washington. This group now helps manage the zoo and raise money for it. Peter Rittler was still involved with the zoo's management in 2009.
Contents
Discover Amazing Animals at the Zoo
The Cougar Mountain Zoo has many cool exhibits. They focus on animals that are endangered, meaning they are at risk of disappearing from the wild. Some of these animals include tigers, lemurs, wolves, reindeer, cranes, wallabies, macaws, and cougars.
Meet the Tigers
On June 16, 2007, the zoo welcomed two male Bengal tiger cubs. One was a rare white tiger, and the other was golden. They were born about eight weeks apart in a tiger preserve in Florida. The zoo added two more tiger cubs in 2009.
You can get a really close look at the tigers in the "Tiger Tunnel." This tunnel has glass walls, so you can see these big cats up close! In 2011, a photo of a 370-pound (168 kg) tiger went viral. It showed the tiger putting its paw up to the glass to meet a small child's hand. It looked like they were playing "patty-cake"!
Wolves Join the Pack
In 2016, a group of four male gray wolves came to live at the zoo. You can learn about these intelligent animals and how they live in a pack.
Learn and Explore with Education Programs
The Cougar Mountain Zoo offers many ways to learn about wildlife. Throughout the day, you can enjoy zoo lectures, presentations, and demonstrations. Friendly volunteers called docents are also on-site to answer all your questions.
The Living Classroom
The zoo has a special program called "The Living Classroom." This is a paid membership program for all children and youth groups, from preschool to high school (grades K-12). It's a great way to learn even more about animals and nature. The zoo also has outreach programs. They visit churches and groups for senior citizens to share their knowledge about wildlife.
More Fun Features at the Zoo
Besides the animal exhibits, the Cougar Mountain Zoo has other interesting things to see and do.
- Bronze Collection: Look for beautiful bronze sculptures of animals displayed all around the zoo.
- Wildlife Tracks Library: This helps you learn how to identify animals by looking at their footprints.
- Wildlife Museum: This museum has many items used for teaching about wildlife. These items were donated by people who love animals.
- Magnani Nature Gallery: This is an art gallery right on the zoo property. It opened in 1989 and shows nature-themed art. You can see a permanent exhibit and also buy art. Even though it's a for-profit gallery, it gives money every year to help the zoo's education programs.
