Cougar Mountain Zoo, Wildlife conservation facility in Issaquah, United States.
Cougar Mountain Zoo is an 11-acre (4.5 ha) non-profit zoological park on the north slope of Cougar Mountain in Issaquah, Washington, about 15 miles east of Seattle. It borders the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and focuses on endangered species such as Bengal tigers, lemurs from Madagascar, wolves, reindeer, cranes, wallabies, and macaws. A glass-walled Tiger Tunnel lets visitors view tigers up close.
Peter and Marcie Rittler founded the zoo in 1972 and operated it without admission fees for the first fifteen years. The couple later donated it to the Zoological Society of Washington.
The zoo's name comes from Cougar Mountain, on whose north slope it sits. The Magnani Nature Gallery, established in 1989 on zoo property, shows nature art in various forms, keeps a permanent exhibit and sells art; it is a for-profit endeavor that contributes annually to zoological education programs.
Visitors can explore the grounds on foot using well-marked trails that connect the various enclosures and viewing stations. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended because the terrain is uneven with sloping pathways throughout the hillside location.
The Tiger Tunnel is a glass-walled passage that lets visitors stand inches from the tigers. In 2011 a 370-pound tiger pressed its paw to the glass against a child's hand, and the photo was carried by news services. The zoo received two male Bengal cubs, one royal white and one golden, on June 16, 2007.
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