Woodland Park Zoological Society

You Can Heal Animals!

Woodland Park Zoo is home to more than 1,000 individual animals representing more than 200 unique species, each one relying on expert care every day.

Today, YOU can be a part of that care team! When you GiveBIG you help provide:

• world-class nutrition,
• cutting-edge surgical and recovery care,
• and essential vitamins, supplements and therapies for each animal at every stage of their life.

Please consider making a gift today to keep animals healthy, safe and thriving! 

Providing Care for Mothers and Babies

Olympia the pregnant gorilla rests in the sunshine.Even before animals are born at the zoo, their mothers receive intensive, specialized care. Pregnant gorillas Olympia and Jamani are due this month and their team has been carefully monitoring their health every step of the way!

Through positive reinforcement training, keepers have taught both gorillas to voluntarily participate in ultrasounds and newborn-care simulations.  “We’re training Jamani and Olympia to pick up a burlap baby doll and bring it to the keepers on cue. This will allow the team to offer supplemental feedings of human infant formula should it become necessary,” said Arden Robert, Animal Care Manager of Primates.

Once babies are born, they are doted on by an entire team of animal health experts. From regular checkups for weight and growth progress to newborn vaccines, tremendous care is taken to ensure that each newborn, like lion cubs Zawadi and Kamari, get everything they need to start life on the right paw. 

Your gift today helps animal babies begin life healthy and strong, and supports their mothers through safe, comfortable pregnancies. 

Providing Emergency and Surgical Care

The two metal plates placed in Bowie's leg to fix her femur fracture.

Just like us, animals can get sick or have accidents, and when they do, care must be immediate.

One-year-old sloth bear cub Bowie, a rambunctious young bear, broke her femur in February. While security camera footage didn’t reveal the accident that caused the injury, her animal care and veterinary teams jumped in to help her, bringing in an orthopedic surgeon to place metal plates in her leg to keep the break stable. Her veterinarians say she is doing well recovering with her mom in a quiet, off-view den.

In late March, Dave, the 18-foot reticulated giraffe, underwent an anesthetized procedure to address a growth threatening to permanently damage the bones of his foot. One of the world’s most renowned hoof experts partnered with the zoo’s animal care team to trim Dave’s hooves, repair the damaged hoof and apply a special silicone filling to protect the sensitive area and allow it to heal. Dave is already back on his feet with his friends in the African Savanna, and his care team expects him to make a full recovery.

Thanks to the generosity of our zoo community, the animal health team had everything they needed to respond quickly and compassionately during these emergencies. From recruiting outside specialists, to providing anesthesia and blood panels during the procedures, and providing both patients with pain relief or antibiotics needed during recovery, your support enabled this world-class care. 

When emergencies happen, your gift makes a difference. Please make a gift today to ensure animals like Bowie or Dave can receive the urgent, life-saving care they need, now and in the future.

Supporting Daily Needs

“Animal care at the zoo means we provide every need, for every animal, for their entire lives,” says Associate Veterinarian, Dr. Laura St. Clair. Of the more than 1,000 animals living at Woodland Park Zoo, many are elderly or have conditions that require extra daily attention to keep them comfortable and thriving. 

Sloth bear mom Kushali was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2025. After her care team observed her having seizures, Woodland Park Zoo partnered with a veterinary hospital with an MRI machine to examine and diagnose her condition. Thanks to the support of our zoo community, she receives daily medications to keep her comfortable and seizure-free. A Humboldt penguin receives laser therapy.

Windana, the 33-year old elder emu, receives arthritis medication and non-invasive laser therapy to keep his joints stay mobile and healthy. That’s why he receives arthritis medication and laser therapy. Laser therapy is a non-invasive way to help promote healing from injuries, sprain, strains, and stiffness and soreness from old age. From Windana and Dave to goats and penguins, many animals at the zoo receive this laser therapy from licensed veterinary technicians at the zoo. 

When you show up for animals today, you can help provide all 1,000+ animals at the zoo with world-class nutrition, cutting-edge surgical and therapy tech and essential daily veterinary care they need to live healthy, happy lives at the zoo. 

Please GiveBIG today!