Woodland Park Zoo

The Woodland Park Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization and a zoo situated in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA. It is a recipient of numerous awards across multiple categories. The zoo is a part of the western half of Woodland Park and has a rich history dating back to its establishment on the estate of Guy C. Phinney, a Canadian-born sawmill owner and real estate developer.

Landscape Immersion Exhibits

In 1975, David Hancocks, the then director of Woodland Park Zoo, revolutionized the zoo's gorilla exhibit by introducing what was called landscape immersion exhibits. In these exhibits, animals are immersed in landscapes that mimic their natural habitats as closely as possible. The habitat was designed with natural plants and rocks, with special attention given to the acoustic treatment of the exhibit to make the environment gentle and calm. Despite initial criticism, this idea has now become the standard for naturalistic exhibits, inspiring many imitators and replicas worldwide.