New warthogs and rare Visayan warty pigs debut May 5
April 23, 2012 at 2:04 p.m.
Get ready for “Pigs, Warts and All” when African warthogs and Visayan (vih-SIGH-uhn) warty pigs make their debut on May 5 at Woodland Park Zoo. Get ready to see the mighty fine swine rooting, dusting and wallowing!
The arrival of the new pig species, presented by U.S. Bank and The Seattle Times, marks the first time that wild pigs will join the zoo’s extensive collection of animal ambassadors.
During opening weekend, May 5-6, free piggy banks will be given at the ZooStores to the first 500 kids (age 12 and under) each day. Also during opening weekend, keeper talks will be presented at the pigs’ exhibits and special pig-themed programming for young kids will be offered in Zoomazium.
The critically endangered Visayan warty pigs boast prominent head tufts that resemble the hairdos of punk rockers. The pigs will make their home in a broadleaf tropical forest landscape that evokes the species’ fragile habitat in central Philippines.
Warthogs, the wild pigs of the African savanna, earned their name from the large facial warts on each side of their tusks and jumped to fame when the character warthog Pumbaa endeared itself to fans of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The warthogs’ exhibit will take visitors to the moist and arid savannas of East Africa and is a part of the 4.5-acre, award-winning African Savanna that offers sweeping views dotted with giraffe, hippos, patas monkeys and lions.
WHEN: Opening weekend: Saturday-Sunday, May 5-6
Woodland Park Zoo opens 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. daily beginning May 1
“Pigs, Warts and All” programs:
Visayan Warty Pigs Smart Cart: Cute, Clever, Critically Endangered – 10:00 a.m.-noon
Creature Feature – 10:30 a.m., Zoomazium
Visayan Warty Pig Keeper Talk – 11:00 a.m.
Warthog Keeper Talk – 11:30 a.m. (Saturday only)
Shake, Rattle & Roar – 11:30 a.m., Zoomazium
Nature Exchange Trading – 1:00-4:00 p.m., Zoomazium
Puppet Show – 4:30 p.m., Zoomazium
WHERE: Enter Woodland Park Zoo through the West Entrance at Phinney Ave. N. between N. 55th & N. 56th Sts. or through the South Entrance at N. 50th St. & Fremont Ave. N.
INFO: The pigs’ exhibits and opening day programs are free with zoo admission. Admission May 1-September 30: Adult (13-64) $17.75; Child (3-12) $11.50; Toddler (0-2) Free. Active and retired U.S. military and their families, seniors and people with physical disabilities receive an admission discount. Zoo members receive free zoo admission year round. Parking: $5.25.
For more information or to become a zoo member, visit www.zoo.org. Or call 206.548.2500 or 548.2599 (TTY).
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