Cougar Mountain Zoo

Cougar Mountain Zoo is an 11acre zoological park located in Issaquah, Washington, on the north slope of Cougar Mountain about 15 miles southeast of Seattle. The zoo focuses on endangered species including lemurs from Madagascar, Bengal tigers, and endangered birds from various parts of the world. It was founded in 1972 by Peter and Marcie Rittler who operated it admission-free for its first 15 years. In 1987, the founders donated it to the Zoological Society of Washington which assumed the zoo's management and fundraising endeavors. As of 2009, Peter Rittler continued as director of development at the zoo.ExhibitsThe zoo collection features 32 exhibits of animal habitats concentrating on endangered species such as tigers, lemurs, wolves, reindeer, cranes, wallabies, macaws, and cougars. On June 16, 2007, the zoo acquired two male Bengal tiger cubs, a royal white and a golden, who were born eight weeks apart in a Florida tiger preserve. The zoo added an additional two cubs in 2009. A glass-walled tunnel called the "Tiger Tunnel" enables visitors to view tigers in close proximity. In 2011, a 370-pound tiger was photographed holding his paw up to the glass wall to meet the hand of a small child, appearing to play patty cake, resulting in an interesting picture which was picked up by news services. In 2016, a pack of four male gray wolves was acquired. In 2013, a new Siberian Reindeer was born to parents who are part of a herd of reindeer living at the zoo.