Cougar Mountain Zoo
Encyclopedia
Cougar Mountain Zoo is a zoological garden located on the north slope of Cougar Mountain
, just to the west of Issaquah, Washington
. It was founded in 1972 by Peter and Marcie Rittler and covers 8 acres (3.2 ha). The zoo is open for general admission Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding the month of December).
, including many endangered birds from around the world and small lemurs from Madagascar. The highlight of the zoo for many observers is the cougar, named Nashi. Nashi is provided enrichment on a near-daily basis, which consists of a stimulant to keep him active mentally and physically. The zoo currently specializes in eight "worlds" of animals: cougars, lemur
s, cranes
, reindeer
, macaw
s, wallabies
, ratite
s, camelid
s.
On June 16, 2007, another world was added to the list, when the zoo welcomed its newest members, two male tiger cubs. Named Taj and Almos, they were the only Bengal
tigers in Washington state. Two cubs have now joined them. Watch Bagheera the tiger's first swim
Each December the Zoo offers a special Reindeer
Festival, during which people may come view, and feed Santa's
Reindeer, and visit the "big guy" in person.
Additional exhibits include Magnani Nature Gallery, featuring paintings sculptures and craft; Wildlife Tracks Library, Wildlife Museum featuring collection of wildlife and paraphernalia
and collection of bronze animal statues throughout the zoo.
Cougar Mountain
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is a regional park in King County, Washington, near the towns of Bellevue and Issaquah. The park was established in June 1983 to protect the central core of Cougar Mountain...
, just to the west of Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked....
. It was founded in 1972 by Peter and Marcie Rittler and covers 8 acres (3.2 ha). The zoo is open for general admission Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding the month of December).
Exhibits
Zoo offers a glimpse at many endangered speciesEndangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
, including many endangered birds from around the world and small lemurs from Madagascar. The highlight of the zoo for many observers is the cougar, named Nashi. Nashi is provided enrichment on a near-daily basis, which consists of a stimulant to keep him active mentally and physically. The zoo currently specializes in eight "worlds" of animals: cougars, lemur
Lemur
Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits of some species...
s, cranes
Crane (bird)
Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...
, reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
, macaw
Macaw
Macaws are small to large, often colourful New World parrots. Of the many different Psittacidae genera, six are classified as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca...
s, wallabies
Wallaby
A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
, ratite
Ratite
A ratite is any of a diverse group of large, flightless birds of Gondwanan origin, most of them now extinct. Unlike other flightless birds, the ratites have no keel on their sternum—hence the name from the Latin ratis...
s, camelid
Camelid
Camelids are members of the biological family Camelidae, the only living family in the suborder Tylopoda. Dromedaries, Bactrian Camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos are in this group....
s.
On June 16, 2007, another world was added to the list, when the zoo welcomed its newest members, two male tiger cubs. Named Taj and Almos, they were the only Bengal
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
tigers in Washington state. Two cubs have now joined them. Watch Bagheera the tiger's first swim
Each December the Zoo offers a special Reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
Festival, during which people may come view, and feed Santa's
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
Reindeer, and visit the "big guy" in person.
Additional exhibits include Magnani Nature Gallery, featuring paintings sculptures and craft; Wildlife Tracks Library, Wildlife Museum featuring collection of wildlife and paraphernalia
Paraphernalia
In modern usage, the word paraphernalia most commonly refers to apparatus, equipment, or furnishing used in or necessary for a particular activity as in, "Beth is such an avid sports fan that her walls are covered with baseball paraphernalia"....
and collection of bronze animal statues throughout the zoo.