Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest, located in Tacoma, Washington, US, owned by Metro Parks Tacoma. Situated on 29 acres (12 ha) in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park, the zoo and aquarium are home to over 9,000 specimens representing 367 animal species. The zoo was founded in 1905; the aquarium was founded in 1935 near Commencement Bay and relocated within the zoo in 1963. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredits both. Pierce County, Washington is, sai,d to be one of the most popular tourist destinations. We are bringing in more than 600,000 visitors per year.
Beluga Whales
The zoo used to house beluga whales. A previous couple of belugas, Millie and Christy, died almost in unison in 2000. Mayak was sent to Shedd Aquarium in 1997 for breeding, where she gave birth to Qannik and Miki. Alpha Electrician Tacoma
In March 2009, one of the two belugas, Qannik, died of a blood infection. Beethoven, Qannik’s tankmate, was sent to SeaWorld, San Antonio, on 5 June 2009. Beethoven’s brother, Turner, died three years earlier, on 7 September 2006, of chronic liver failure, which resulted in Qannik being brought to the zoo in June 2007, soon after Beethoven had recovered from a severe infection.
Exhibits
Asian Forest Sanctuary
This 5-acre (2.0 ha) exhibit complex, which opened on July 1, 2004, simulates the forests of southeast Asia with a waterfall, streams, and plants native to the region, such as bamboo. The complex is designed,d, so species are rotated to different exhibit parts daily. Asian Forest Sanctuary includes Sumatran tigers, northern white-cheeked gibbons, siamangs, and an Asian elephant.
Rocky Shores
Completed in 1982, this exhibit is based on the shoreline of Cape Flattery, Washington. It is home to harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters, horned puffins, and tufted puffins in separate pools. In the middle of the exhibit area is a building for underwater viewing. The exhibit formerly contained beluga whales until they were taken to a zoo in Texas in 2007. It also formerly held walruses, but they shipped off their last two walruses, Mitik and Pakak, to another zoo where they had females.
Arctic Tundra
1981 saw the opening of this exhibit area, which forms a semicircle at one end of the zoo. Muskoxen are housed in a large meadow outside the pathway’s arc, while a Polar bear and Arctic fox live inside the arc. The polar bear has an eleven-foot-deep pool with above- and underwater viewing.
Address: 5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA
Check out other attractions like Tacoma Art Museum