“Your troubles are away when you’re visiting the animals”

Meeting Paul and Karen Hogle with one of their guide-dogs-in-training in tow, their love for animals and people was immediately apparent. The couple shares a dedication to the community and nature that drives their support for Woodland Park Zoo.

Paul and Karen began giving to the zoo in honor of Paul’s parents and the many family trips they took to the zoo together. Their first contribution was donating to name a carousel horse “Gunny” in their memory.

They continued to recognize their family members with impactful donations toward two of the zoo’s most beloved exhibits -- Banyan Wilds in memory of Karen’s mom and another honoring their niece and nephew to help construct the Humboldt penguin exhibit.

The Hogles are proud of each of their gifts over the years, one of which brought gray wolf Shila and her three late sisters to live at the zoo’s Northern Trail as young pups. Nearly a decade later, they continued their commitment to Northwest wildlife by contributing to the revitalization of the Northern Trail into what is now known as the Living Northwest Trail, further strengthening the zoo’s ability to connect guests with nature and inspire actions that support species recovery.

As longtime contributors to exhibit enhancements, it’s no surprise that Paul and Karen have a special interest in animal care, and they have been amazed to see the time and dedication put into determining the individual needs of each of the zoo’s animals. Paul highlighted the recent addition of wood chips to the rhino exhibit which allow rhino Glenn’s weight to be distributed onto his toes rather than his hoof pads. Today, this material is being considered for future standards and exhibit models across the country and Paul is proud of the zoo for being a leader in rhino welfare worldwide.

In addition to their passion for the well-being of the animals, Paul and Karen enjoy connecting with guests. This April will mark their two-year anniversary as zoo volunteers.

“People are really excited to be here and the guests are really fun,” says Karen.

She volunteers with the zoo’s horticulture team and likes sharing her knowledge about the plants on zoo grounds.

As someone who grew up visiting the zoo, Paul knows how essential it is to provide children with opportunities for engagement and today, he has a real knack for getting them excited about wildlife. He reminisces about interacting with a child who mentioned having a pet cat and showing him one of tiger, Azul’s, whiskers from his conservation cart. He spoke about witnessing the child’s amazement at seeing a big cat’s whisker up close and how special that was. Paul also attends holiday events held for the zoo’s Wild at Heart donors as Santa Claus and says seeing a child light up as they talk with Santa about animals never gets old.

Through their years of support, Paul and Karen have been excited to experience feeding animals including the tapirs and Lola, the aplomado falcon from the zoo’s ambassador animals team. The couple wants to help make opportunities like these more accessible for the community and ask themselves, “What can we do as donors to get more people involved?”

They believe fostering children's connections with animals is essential to ensuring that future generations make conservation a priority in their lives.

“Your troubles are away when you’re visiting the animals,” Karen says, and they want as many people as possible to experience that joy.

She appreciates being able to support a local organization they frequent often and remarks, “We all need animals to maintain a balance of life on Earth, and the zoo works to support that.”

Paul noted the zoo’s importance as a green space in the community and admires how the exhibits closely resemble a variety of species’ natural habitats, making visiting the zoo all the more impactful and immersive.

Thank you so much to Karen and Paul Hogle for their generous support of Woodland Park Zoo and their dedication to helping others feel empowered to help save wildlife.

 

“You have people that really care. Nobody works there that doesn’t love their job”

If you have ever felt amazed by the brightly colored flock of flamingos at Woodland Park Zoo, you can thank DeEtte Johnson and her late husband, Nick.

DeEtte’s love for birds began when she was just a child. As a young girl, she remembers being enamored with her grandmother’s pet canary. Her fondness for the animal was so great that DeEtte’s mom gifted her with her own pet bird -- a parakeet. This would be the first of many birds she would care for throughout her life.

When DeEtte met her husband, Nick, she found a partner with whom she could share this joy.

“Our passion was birds. We just love birds,” she says when speaking about the two of them.

Having both grown up in a city, DeEtte and Nick took a leap when they bought a farm in Auburn. While exploring their new land, they were pleasantly surprised to discover a pond on the property. Overgrown with plants, it needed a lot of care and maintenance but once cleared, it became a popular spot for wild birds in the area. The Johnsons knew they had a treasure and began searching for other birds in need of a home.

As bird enthusiasts, DeEtte and Nick would often peruse magazines about the winged animals. In one such magazine, they came across an ad for five Chilean flamingos and decided to buy the small flock. A few years later, they came across another ad for a large Chilean flamingo flock (also fittingly called a “flamboyance”) living in Long Island, New York. By that point they were confident this species could thrive on their farm and made the decision to travel across the country to add 36 new members to their flamingo family.

Eventually, their farm flock was home to ducks, swans, flamingos, storks, African cranes and peacocks. This was in addition to the 150 or so wild wood ducks who would visit of their own accord.

When the time came to sell their farm, the Johnsons began the search to find good homes for their birds, including their large flamboyance of flamingos.

Having visited the zoo many times as a child, Woodland Park Zoo came to mind for DeEtte as an ideal new home for their birds. When she called to ask if they were interested in providing a habitat for their flamingos, zoo staff did not hesitate and made a trip to visit their farm two days later.

DeEtte spoke about the love and care they had put into their avian collection and how hard it was to part with all the birds. Understanding the difficulty, zoo staff were extremely kind and thoughtful throughout the process of rehoming the Johnsons’ beloved flamingos.

“Everyone at Woodland Park Zoo has been beyond nice,” DeEtte says.

Before the Johnsons donated their flock of flamingos in 2006, these birds had been absent from the zoo for nearly 15 years. In addition to gifting the birds, the Johnsons also funded the construction of their exhibit, providing a home that enables them to thrive while also allowing zoo visitors to observe and form connections with these beautiful animals.

Today, DeEtte is very happy that her flamingos have a home at the zoo, and she is grateful to be able to bring her family to visit them. On one such family visit, her granddaughter had the opportunity to hold and help exercise a flamingo chick. She tells DeEtte she will never forget that special experience.

Her love for the flamingos and all birds motivates DeEtte’s continued involvement with the zoo. Having grown up believing birds to be delicate creatures, her life spent forming bonds with them has taught her otherwise, and she now knows them to be extremely strong and resilient.

“They’re unbelievable,” she remarks.

After caring for so many animals on her farm, DeEtte has a unique appreciation for the zoo’s work to provide individualized care for every animal across every species.

“You have people that really care. Nobody works there that doesn’t love their job,” DeEtte notes.

Wanting to ensure that her and Nick’s support extends into the future, DeEtte has generously made plans to leave a legacy gift for the zoo as a member of the Lionhearts Society. Her kindness works to secure the zoo’s ability to help visitors discover wildlife and drive species-saving action for decades to come.

“I love the zoo. I love what they do,” she says.

Thank you to DeEtte Johnson for entrusting Woodland Park Zoo with her beautiful flamingo flock 18 years ago and for sharing her present intention to make a substantial gift to the zoo upon her passing. She helps ensure a sustainable future for the zoo and our efforts to continue saving wildlife while also engaging future generations about the importance of protecting the diversity of life on Earth.

 

“ As Snoqualmie People, it’s our teachings and ancestral duty to care for the land and animals that do not have a voice.”

Why is supporting efforts to protect Pacific Northwest species and habitats, as well as promoting the importance of coexistence between people and wildlife, important to the Snoqualmie Tribe?

The Tribe’s ancestral lands have been heavily consumed, extracted, and manipulated in the last 200 or so years. As Snoqualmie People, it’s our teachings and ancestral duty to care for the land and animals that do not have a voice. It’s our responsibility to speak up for them and help educate others on how their actions and decisions impact these lands and the plants and animals that call this place home.

Can you tell us a little bit about the history or motivation behind your other philanthropic priorities?

In the Snoqualmie Tribe, you are taught at an early age to give generously and to take care of one another. Snoqualmie is fortunate enough to be in a position to provide to the community not only monetary donations but also educational resources, knowledge, and so much more. Giving is deeply rooted in our culture and is something we see as a Tribal value. 

When deciding which organizations to give our charitable donations to, we look at those with projects, goals and values that align with the Tribe’s. Values and missions include taking care of and restoring lands and the animals that inhabit them, and taking care of our people, especially youth, elders and veterans.

Can you tell us a little bit about the Ancestral Lands Movement? Do you see alignment between that initiative and work happening at Woodland Park Zoo, and if so, in what way?

People look to Woodland Park Zoo as a leader in environmental education, especially for topics involving wildlife and habitat. Likewise, the Tribe is actively sharing information through the Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Lands Movement about how individuals can practice mindfulness and respect while recreating, living, and working on our ancestral lands, where many of the zoo’s visitors reside. It made sense to align in this mission of sharing public education about how to peacefully co-exist with wildlife in urban areas, and to do so in a way that reminded individuals that these lands were home to these plants, animals, and the Snoqualmie People, long before the settlers arrived. We carry these teachings and values of peaceful co-existence because it’s what our ancestors practiced since time immemorial.

Is there anything else you want readers to know about the Snoqualmie Tribe’s charitable giving or work with the community?

The Tribe receives hundreds of applications a year for charitable giving and there are so many great projects and initiatives and organizations that need support to achieve their missions. We truly appreciate all the work carried out by organizations like Woodland Park Zoo that aligns with the Snoqualmie Tribe’s core values and initiatives. There is so much work to be done to care for our planet, and it’s going to require collective action.

In your opinion, what is the most important work that the zoo does?

Woodland Park Zoo is leading in their critical work encompassing education, and the need to foster empathetic, respectful connections between animals and humans. By educating visitors about the significant impact humans have on wildlife and their habitats, WPZ plays a pivotal role in raising awareness and advocating for conservation efforts. It serves as a vital platform where children and adults alike can nurture their excitement and curiosity about the natural world, encouraging a deeper understanding and respect for the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems. This blend of education, connection, and conservation is fundamental in shaping a future where both wildlife and humans can thrive together.

What stood out to you or excites you about the zoo’s most recent grant to engage more people in carnivore coexistence efforts through educational materials translated into multiple languages? 

The recent development and collaboration on the wildlife co-existence signage is meaningful. It’s taking the zoo and that educational work outside of the zoo’s outside walls and into the community, and people need those reminders wherever they are traveling. It’s one thing to read signage about wildlife while you’re at the zoo and the animals are at a safe distance. It’s another thing to see signage from the zoo in your own neighborhood reminding you of the duty and responsibility you have to take actions or make decisions that support urban species, even when it’s not convenient to you. People need reminders of the need to decenter ourselves and make sure we are considering how our actions are impacting others (and not just other humans). 

One of the core tenets of the Snoqualmie Tribe’s Ancestral Lands Movement has been to be more inclusive of Tribal narratives. It’s especially meaningful to have that signage include Lushootseed names for those animals—it's part of reminding people of where they are, the history of that place, and the need to listen to, and respect, Tribal voices in caring for these animals.

What do you hope the zoo will achieve in the near future? In the long term?

In the near future, we hope Woodland Park Zoo will continue to acknowledge and deepen their integration of the cultural and environmental heritage of the Coast Salish people, including the Snoqualmie, on whose land it stands, by promoting indigenous conservation methods and educating visitors on the historical significance of this land. Long-term, we envision Woodland Park Zoo becoming a model for collaborative efforts between indigenous communities and conservation entities, by leading initiatives that respect and incorporate traditional ecological knowledge to protect wildlife and habitats, thus ensuring the preservation of our shared natural heritage for future generations.

 

“When you learn, other people learn along with you, and it keeps interest alive. Curiosity is fun!”

True to its name, the Wildlife Forever Fund supports the protection of wildlife and wild places. As co-presidents of their foundation, Anne Kroeker and Richard Leeds are motivated to give back to the community and hope to further efforts and initiatives working towards a better world for nature.

Through their charitable giving, their primary focus is always, “How do you keep wildlife forever?”

Anne and Richard moved to the Puget Sound region in 1981, when the area was beginning to grow as a technology hub and become what they call “Silicon Northwest.” They fell in love with the region’s natural environment and recognized the need to protect Washington’s native species and old growth forests. They also frequented Woodland Park Zoo for family trips with their kids during this time.

Richard says, “Over the years, we have been proud to see and support the progress made by the dedicated and forward-thinking teams at the zoo.”

In 1997, they formalized their dedication to protecting nature by creating the Wildlife Forever Fund, which has since partnered with dozens of conservation organizations to preserve wildlife habitat and provide experiential environmental education.

Their partnership with Woodland Park Zoo first began in 2005, and they have been supporting the zoo’s mission to save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives ever since.

“Hands down, Woodland Park Zoo has been one of the beacons for Washington,” Richard remarks.

“We’re leveraging a vibrant organization in the area that we’re interested in advancing. The wave is going. Let’s get on and ride it as far as we can go,” Anne says.

They recognize that conservation and education go hand in hand and for that reason, community engagement serves as an additional significant motivation behind most of the Wildlife Forever Fund’s philanthropic priorities.

“The more people know and understand, the more they can all be on the same page when it comes to deciding what to do next,” notes Anne.

They are passionate about supporting the zoo’s efforts to get local people involved and inspired to act for nature conservation.

Anne continues, “We believe Woodland Park Zoo is in a unique position to do this work given the zoo’s long history as a source of learning and enjoyment for a large and diverse audience of people.”

For several years, the Wildlife Forever Fund has been a dedicated partner, helping the zoo create opportunities for education and connection between people and wildlife. The foundation has awarded multiple grants to the zoo, and in 2013 began their long history of support to the Living Northwest Conservation Program funding efforts to monitor vulnerable carnivores in the Pacific Northwest. As one of the zoo’s two signature conservation programs, Living Northwest helps recover native wildlife populations and build resilient Washington landscapes. The program also plays an essential role in promoting long-term coexistence with carnivores by engaging volunteers in community science projects.

Richard believes opportunities like these, which encourage people to go outside and experience nature, “are critical to their appreciation for the environment and, in turn, their desire to protect it.”

Most recently, the Wildlife Forever Fund awarded the Living Northwest Program’s Seattle Urban Carnivore Project with a generous grant to help fund data collection on carnivores sighted within urban landscapes in our region and provide resources that enable community scientists to gather this vital information.

“When you learn, other people learn along with you, and it keeps interest alive. Curiosity is fun!” Anne says.

Community participation has been central to this project's success and each year has seen an increase in the number of community members, including local youth, volunteering to help manage camera stations that capture images and data on local carnivores. Grant support from the Wildlife Forever Fund has helped the zoo enhance outreach to encourage involvement from people across the community in furthering project efforts to understand the ecology of the carnivore species with whom we all share this beautiful region.

Thank you to Anne Kroeker and Richard Leeds for their years of generous support through the Wildlife Forever Fund. Woodland Park Zoo is proud to be a grantee, and we look forward to continuing to work together in saving native wildlife species and engaging the community to make conservation a priority in their lives.