Step right up, folks. The show is about to begin!
Where? Where? The Reindeer Festival, of course. Where is that? The Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah. Round up the kids, sit on Santa’s lap, give him a list. Get up close and personal with a reindeer.
Want to rent a reindeer? YOU CAN DO THAT! www.cougarmountainzoo.org Wouldn’t that be a hit at your party!
Santa is at the Zoo during the Reindeer Festival from 10:am to 4:30 pm Daily (only during the festival)……Pssssssssssssssssssssst! Santa takes a nap between 1:00pm and 1:30pm. That’s why his chair is empty here. I missed him last year because of this, so I have a really long list of things to ask for this year.
Up close and personal with Blitzen? Or is it Donner?
This is a little too up close and personal for me!
The Reindeer Festival has been an annual event since 1989. It is unique to Issaquah. Quite different from visiting the zoo in the summer. Elfs are on there best behavior and are quick to point out which reindeer is which. I don’t know how they can tell, but they can. Find out more from their website www.cougarmountainzoo.org. I wonder what Taj and Almos think about all this reindeer stuff?
www.cougarmountainzoo.org for more info.
Taj and Almos’ are the awesome young Tigers at the Issaquah Cougar Mountain Zoo. If you haven’t seen them,it’s a must.
BIRD SHOW - only on Saturdays and Sundays at the Wildlife Theater ( There are new benches for a close up look) at 1:30 pm. This Saturday is the first show. Take in a easter egg hunt for the kids and then to the Bird Show at the zoo. The birds at Cougar Mountain Zoo are extraordinary. Some talk, ALL have unique personalities. You can tell they all think they are pretty, pretty birds and they are right. Find out more about the birds at the zoo.
THAT WAS THEN, GO LOOK AT THEM NOW! TIGERS X TWO = 400 + POUNDS! You will be amazed at how these guys have grown. Both Taj and Almos now weigh over 200 pounds, but Almos is now bigger than Taj. I went to visit them but it was raining and they weren’t about to get off their comfy protected perch and come closer. They will be having a 1st birthday celebration soon. Funds are still needed for completion of their World Class Tiger Habitat………………MAYBE YOU CAN HELP?
Take a LOOK at Almos now…………Robyn can’t do this anymore! www.cougarmountainzoo.org
After all, Merlin has been at Cougar Mountain Zoo for over 14 years. He used to jump almost 18 feet high, just to show off. But now the zoo has two little tigers. Boring he says. OK you decide, these links take you to some of my favorite shots of Almos and Taj. Lar
F0r a full screen show click the button that has four arrows pointing to the corners.
Here they are at 18 and 26 pounds. We are going on another encounter in the next few days. Watch for the new updated pictures of these guys.
Here is Almos’ and Robyn, today 4 months later I am betting we won’t see her picking him up. The next pictures they weigh about 60 pounds. You must go see them. They are almost always on display and you get a close up at 1PM, Tuesday through Sunday.
A few other photos of weeks past…..
I missed a great camera shot today. The best way to see them is in the new display area. There is only glass between you and the little guys. A girl (she is in the upper left photo by the slide show), about 3 feet tall was standing at the glass. As she looked right a little, Taj made an all out assault on the girl. Running from about 20 feet away he leaped into the glass - looked twice her size - and man did she scream. We all missed the ultimate photo shoot. As she was safe the scream turned into a little giggle. Taj is a Tiger. He was just looking for fun, but thank heavens for the glass barrier. Also, thanks to the Cougar Mountain Zoo for bringing these incredible animals for us to watch grow up. If you don’t join the experience you are missing a marvelous experience. These animals are incredible. Absolutely Incredible. Again, new photos coming soon, keep dropping by…. better yet, put this site in your blog reader.
To win the prize be the first one to tell us what this is and where it is. To enter, post a comment on this post or email larry(at)RealEstateUndressed.com
We stopped into the Cougar Mountain Zoo recently and were atonished by how much Taj and ‘Almos have changed. They are much more like small tigers now instead of babies. Almos’ has gained about twelve pounds and is much more active. He still hasn’t learned to like water tubs like Taj.
Taj is almost too big for his water tub now! Do you know the difference between a Golden Bengal and a Orange Bengal Tiger? A Golden Bengal has darker golden stripes and an Orange Bengal has black stripes. Taj is a Golden Bengal.
The tigers aren’t the only baby animals that have grown. This is the same Alpaca in our post of the past. Click on the Cougar Mountain Zoo under Catagories to see the other posts. Or just click here http://www.issaquahundressed.com/tags/we-have-fun-in-issaquah/cougar-mountain-zoological-park/
Below: This is the same baby alpaca! Just much smaller and before a haircut! Also ‘Almos attacks!
Posted by Kathleen
An event like this doesn’t happen very often in Issaquah or anywhere. Bengal Tigers are very rare and are Endangered. These little guys have an important role to play, they are ambassadors to call attention to people everywhere that we need to protect them or we won’t have them around. This would be tragic. This is ‘Almos, he was born on May 3, 2007 and is a Royal White Bengal Tiger. He is shown with Robyn Barfoot, the zoo’s general curator. Royal White Bengal Tigers in the wild have been sighted only rarely and it is unknown how many there are left. The last capture in the wild was in 1951. There are only 400 in Worldwide Captive Population. In some cultures they are hunted and killed, for medicinal purposes. ‘Almos captures your heart instantly. We were very fortunate to have an experience of a lifetime, getting to be upclose and personal with ‘Almos. Both Larry and Kathleen, that’s us, got to pet a tiger! Larry even got to give him a drink! (see below) ‘Almos means “one of a dream”.
Just as adorable is Taj, a Golden Bengal Tiger. We didn’t get quite as close to Taj and after we observed him at the play area (open to the public at 1:00pm and at 4:00pm Wednesday - Sunday) we thought that was probably good, since he is already stalking and pouncing! He was born on April 11, 2007 and is quite a bit bigger and much more active. His teeth and claws already look pretty big! We met Taj only in his nursery area and in the play area. Golden Bengal Tigers are even more rare than the Royal Whites. The last capture in the wild was in 1932. Only 100 of these exist in captivity and sightings in the wild exist but are rare. The most common color of Bengal tigers both in the wild and in captivity is the Orange Bengal Tiger and there are more of these but they are all endangered! The cubs ‘Almos and Taj are the only Bengal Tigers in the state of Washington. Taj means “crown or jewel”.
Taj, my what big teeth you have!
Taj and ‘Almos in the play area. This where you can come and see ‘Almos and Taj. Don’t miss this opportunity. The kids love it.
Baby People Watching Baby Tigers!
Oooooooooooooooh, that feels so good!
‘Almos on top of the mountain
Taj wants to explore
‘Almos and Taj will grow very fast. We decided the best way to watch them was to get a Zoo membership as then we can pop in any time as we want to keep up on their progress. It saves money, is very reasonable and all the funds go to support the Zoo and the animals. We recommend it to you and your family. There are many other benefits as well. The Cougar Mountain Zoo is not supported by the city or state or taxes and all monies collected for admission and memberships and adopting an animal, and any donations go to the animals and their habitats. As the tigers grow they will need additional improvements to their habitat, which is about an acre in size. Funds will be needed.
If you haven’t been to this zoo ever or maybe you visited it in the 70’s and thought it was still a small farm petting zoo, you will be pleasantly surprised. It is a different kind of zoo. It is committed “to increasing the understanding and appreciation of the earth’s wildlife and the role of humanity in nature through education, research, captive breeding, conservation, exhibition and recreation.” For their complete mission statement and other information click http://cougarmountainzoo.org.
They are very interested in providing the public information about endangered species and are committed to saving these animals for all of us. Even though in a perfect world we may not like to see animals in captivity, in our world, if we don’t see them and know them and love them, we seem to forget to care. And then they are gone.
This is a perfect zoo to take younger children, it is delightfully well done, clean, enjoyable and it isn’t so big it takes all day. All the animals have names, even all the Crown Cranes that all look alike to me, but Sasha, their keeper can tell them all apart. It is a labor of love for those who work there and you can tell. You can have birthday parties there and even a special encounter with one of the animals.
We have a few half price coupons for admission to the zoo. If you have never been to the Cougar Mountain Zoo, we will send you one as long as the supply lasts. email kathleenlea_crag@hotmail.com with your name and address. First come, first served! Please note: The cubs are only in their play area for viewing at 1:00pm and at 4:00pm Wednesday - Sunday. Offer not open to our friends and family. Sorry guys, it wouldn’t be fair.
Posted by Kathleen
It was a nice, somewhat sunny spring day. Just the kind of day for going to the zoo. Our Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah was beckoning. Our grandaughter Sarah is only 18 months old and this zoo is perfect for younger children and grandparents who don’t want to walk a hundred miles. Merlin was in fine form this day. We can’t resist showing off his pictures, taken by our daughter Ashley Kyser of Irresistible Photography. Sure beats the pictures we take.
Did you notice the size of Merlin’s paw? I was glad he was behind bars, especially when I found out that cougars can jump about 18 feet, vertically! I’ll bet this pretty bird is glad he is behind bars too! There are many of the parrots that are sitting on their perches without any bars and you can go right up to them. Some are quite chatty. We will do a post about them soon, with photos by Ashley of course. Zoo website is www.cougarmountainzoo.org.
Issaquah’s Cougar Mountain Zoo has a very unique Holiday event, the Issaquah Reindeer Festival. This is a very charming, just the right size zoo. It is thoroughly enjoyable to spend a few hours with the kids and not be drop dead exhausted. Here are a few things that will charm kids and adults alike: Meet Santa, See Santa’s reindeer, Stop by his post office and Put a letter into Santa’s mailbox, Sit in his sleigh, Hear a story from an elf, Wander through the Magic Forest. Bring your camera’s. You can even get treats to feed the animals. There are tables and chairs to sit and have your lunch. Hot chocolate and cider and snacks are available.
A close up of Blitzen and another reindeer that has fallen asleep during lunch!
One of Santa’s elves gets a reindeer harnessed for the sleigh.
Another of Santa’s elves and a very strange reindeer. I was told (on good authority) this kind fly a little lower than the others.
Sasha tends to the Crown Cranes. They love to untie things. I think they love Sasha.
Wow, The animals at this zoo even have a view! Click www.cougarmountainzoo.org for more info.
Cougar Mountain Zoo’s Reindeer Festival, all proceeds help the animals
Latest Real Estate Blog Articles Issaquah Sports News
Issaquah Merchants
Real Estate Undressed by Larry The Latest From The Issaquah Press
