Valentine’s Day is this Sunday, and even if you care enough to send the very best, a card simply won’t do for zoo animals.  Instead, Woodland Park Zoo is showering their loved ones with special heart-shaped treats in a celebration open to zoo visitors on Saturday, February 13. 

(Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo)

The special treats are part of the zoo’s enrichment program to keep their animals mentally and physically stimulated through natural animal behavior like playing and foraging.  What better way to say ”I Love You” to a couple of river otters than with ice pops made of fruit juice and smelt and sprinkled with carrots (see photo above). 

Saturday’s Valentine’s Day celebration takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The schedule is as follows:

• 10:00 a.m.  Golden lion tamarins
• 10:30 a.m.  Snow leopards, Otters
• 11:00 a.m.  Orangutans, Goats, Pigs
• 11:30 a.m.  Willawong Station, Sloth bear 
• 1:00 p.m.    Jaguar
• 1:20 p.m.    Gorillas
• 1:30 p.m.    Penguins, Lemurs, Keas
• 2:00 p.m.    Tigers, Elephants
• 3:00 p.m.    Red pandas

For information on admission fees and zoo hours, visit the zoo’s website here.