Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma has welcomed Pretzel, a one-year-old female muskox, as a companion for Willow, another young muskox born in September 2023.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Pretzel to our Arctic Tundra family,” said Curator Jen DeGroot. “Her arrival is critical to ensuring that all of our muskoxen continue to thrive.”
Willow and her mother, Charlotte, have been bonding since Willow’s birth.
However, with Willow now weaned and growing, zoo staff are preparing to reunite Charlotte with Hudson, Willow’s father.
Hudson has been separated from Willow due to her smaller size but has maintained contact with Charlotte.
Muskoxen are highly social animals, and Pretzel’s introduction will help Willow transition as Charlotte spends more time with Hudson.
“We’re optimistic that Willow and Pretzel will quickly bond, explore their habitat, and play together on the grassy hills,” DeGroot added.
Pretzel arrived from the Large Animal Research Station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she was known for her sweet nature and love for enrichment items.
She is currently in the sideyard of the zoo’s muskoxen habitat, visible to visitors.
Zoo staff plans to gradually integrate Pretzel and Willow into a shared space and eventually reunite them with Charlotte and Hudson as they grow.
Currently, Pretzel weighs 234 pounds, while Willow is slightly larger at 350 pounds.
By comparison, Hudson weighs approximately 800 pounds, and Charlotte weighs about 600 pounds. Female muskoxen typically mature between one and three years.
Muskoxen are ancient animals that have roamed Arctic regions for thousands of years.
While their populations faced steep declines due to hunting in the early 20th century, conservation efforts have restored their numbers to around 80,000 in the wild.