A red panda walks along a fallen tree trunk surrounded by green foliage in a forested area.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY / April 14, 2026

MEDIA INVITATION

Seattle mayor, Washington state Commissioner of Public Lands, and special guests join ribbon-cutting and preview for all-new Forest Trailhead April 24

New home for tree kangaroos, red panda and more opens to public May 1, 2026

A red panda with reddish-brown fur and a bushy tail sits on a tree branch, surrounded by dense greenery and trees in the background.
A tree kangaroo with brown and cream fur stands on a mossy tree branch, looking downward. Its body is sturdy, and its large claws grip the branch. Sunlight highlights its fur and the green moss around it.
A Kea parrot with orange markings on its wings flies toward the camera with wings spread wide, showing its feathers in detail against a blurred natural background.

WHAT:           
Woodland Park Zoo will cut the ceremonial ribbon to the much-anticipated Forest Trailhead, an all-new exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo that will be home to tree kangaroos, red panda, kea—alpine parrots native to New Zealand—and a variety of reptiles, amphibians and fish species. Guests will be treated to an exclusive preview after comments and a ribbon cutting by the Seattle mayor, state Commissioner of Public Lands and zoo leadership on Friday, April 24, 2026. 
 
Forest Trailhead will open to the community on Friday, May 1, 2026, and zoo members will receive early access during member preview days on April 28–30, 2026. 
 
Designed by Seattle-based LMN Architects and built by Sellen Construction, the all-new, interactive and multi-sensory Forest Trailhead offers a new, hopeful view     on the future of forests and the animals and people who depend on them. Zoo-goers will be taken on a journey through forest exploration that can be experienced from multiple levels, indoors and out. From the forest floor to the treetop canopy, visitors will connect with iconic wildlife who are counting on people to protect, restore and sustain forests. Through the immersive forest exhibit and experiences in the wildlife and plant habitats of these ecosystems, guests will discover communities that are leading conservation solutions in the mountain forests of Papua New Guinea, Nepal, and here in the Pacific Northwest and how to make forest-friendly actions as a consumer and a community member to help forests thrive. 
 
WHEN:           
Friday, April 24, 2026 
Remarks and ribbon-cutting: 10:00 a.m. 
Forest Trailhead opens to invited guests: 10:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. 
 
Friday, May 1, 2026 
Forest Trailhead opens to public: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. daily 
 
WHO:             
Brief remarks: 
President and CEO Alejandro Grajal, Woodland Park Zoo       
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson
Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove, Washington State Department of Natural Resources  
Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Senior Director and Senior Conservation Scientist Lisa Dabek, Woodland Park Zoo 
 
WHERE:        
Meet PR staff at Woodland Park Zoo’s West Entrance at 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103 
 
INFO:             
Guests will begin the journey along a sky-high canopy path winding through the treetops and experience a whole new view of the zoo from the perspective of treetop-dwelling animals: Matschie’s tree kangaroos—yes, there are kangaroos that live in trees!—and red panda. This will mark the first time in a decade that guests will be able to see tree kangaroos at the zoo. The experience will share the empowering story of the Papua New Guinea communities that have been partnering with the zoo’s Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program for 30 years to save one of the last intact cloud forests of the world. 
 
A fully accessible path will lead guests to the mid-level of the building where they will encounter New Zealand’s kea—clever parrots with investigative minds and busy beaks. The lower level is a showcase of African, Asian and Australasian tree-dwelling reptiles and colorful amphibians—including four-eyed turtle, Chinese crocodile lizard, Fiji banded iguana, blue-legged mantella—and fish and invertebrates in mixed-species groups.  
 
Forest Trailhead paths leading back out to the forest through the landscape highlight the critical role of the forest floor in the health of the ecosystem. Throughout the pavilion, open plazas offer interpretive information where staff talks and special events can be hosted, and visitors are empowered to take direct action to help and be active members of the conservation community. Indigenous art further enriches the visitor experience, honoring the cultural heritage of communities that are leading global conservation efforts. 
 
A vertical metal installation and interior mural by Lummi Nation/Nooksahk artist Jason LaClair use Coast Salish art forms to represent “the love and honor for Mother Earth and all of her beings,” per the artist. Another mural contributed by Papua New Guinea artist Grim Jordan represents the tree kangaroo and per the artist’s statement, “The piece is about connection. Land, forest and sea meet through an animal that carries the identity of that region.” 
 
Woodland Park Zoo is truly grateful to the donors and members of our community whose generous philanthropy made Forest Trailhead possible. The zoo thanks the nearly 7,800 donors whose confidence in the zoo’s vision helped bring to life Forest Trailhead and its great promise to impact the future of forests.   
 
Forest Trailhead is targeting LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council. The building, habitats, and surroundings of Forest Trailhead embody the zoo’s commitment to sustainability and incorporate strategies to reduce embodied carbon, manage stormwater on site, and promote biophilic design, including bird-safe windows and solar panels. 
 
Forest Trailhead will be free with zoo admission or membership.