February 22, 2013 – Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ officials will cut the ribbon and open the path to the Zoo’s newest exhibit, DinoTrek, sponsored by Bono’s, on Friday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m.  The exhibit will be open through June 30, 2013. 

The Grand Opening Celebration is March 1 through 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.  Along the way to the exhibit, you’ll enjoy a puppet show, a caricature artist and can take a family photo with Jazoo, the Zoo’s mascot-- who will be staying clear of the Dinos! Three lucky people, who post their photos taken at the DinoTrek exhibit on the Zoo’s Facebook page, will win our “Best DinoTrek Photo Contest”.  Each winner will receive a Zoo gift basket that will include an Adoption Certificate for their favorite Dinosaur or Zoo animal, a photo of the Dinosaur or animal, and a stuffed animal. The three winners will be announced on the Zoo’s Facebook page in date order on March 4, 11 and 18. Entrants may post their best photos taken while still at the DinoTrek exhibit on http://www.Facebook/JacksonvilleZooandGardens.

 The exhibit entrance is at the end of the Zooloop path across from the Komodo dragon exhibit at the Trout River Lodge.  When visitors enter DinoTrek, guests will experience a trip back in time to see 21 life-like, animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move with realistic ferocity. They’ll go through a huge iron Jurassic Park-like gate and follow the path to a foggy moat, cross the moat on a floating dock (watch out for alligators), enter a heavily wooded area where the Dinos are kept. Warning!  Enter at your own risk, because although these dinosaurs are prehistoric, they’re feisty as ever!  Inside the exhibit, young “archeologists” will have fun discovering new finds at the dig site.  Other fun and educational structures can be found throughout the path. Parents can rest nearby while watching their children in the play areas. On the way out, guests can stop and shop at the Visitors’ Center for some memorabilia from this special occasion.

 “We are so excited about DinoTrek,” said Janet Johnson, Deputy Director of Operations for Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “Dinosaur fans, both young and old, will love the natural, Jurassic Park look to the exhibit and the authenticity of the Dinosaurs.  It is truly a pleasure to watch the faces of the young Dino enthusiasts who see these animals from another world come to life before their very eyes,” Johnson concluded.

 Admission to DinoTrek is $3.50 for non-members and $3.00 for members in addition to Zoo admission.  Value ticket bands that include fees for the general admission, train, carousel rides, Stingray Bay and Butterfly Hollow, as well as DinoTrek, are also available at a discounted price.  From March 2 through Labor Day, the Zoo will extend its closing time to 6:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and ticket gates will close at 5:00 p.m. during this same time. For more information visit jacksonvillezoo.org.

JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS CELEBRATES

THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW BABY GIRAFFE

  February 22, 2013 – Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is pleased to announce the birth of a male reticulated giraffe born February 21, at 4:40 a.m. This is the first calf for the 5-year-old mother, Luna, since arriving at the Jacksonville Zoo in April 2009.  For a first time mom, Luna has impressed staff with her maternal instincts, noting that she was very attentive to her son immediately after  his birth. He stood on all four legs within an hour of his birth, then began nursing properly soon thereafter. His neo-natal or “well baby exam” was performed today.  He’s a healthy baby standing 6’2’’ and weighing 150 pounds.  “He’s the fifth giraffe calf born at Jacksonville Zoo in Gardens in the past 2.5 years and the zoo’s thirty-third.  We are thrilled to welcome another outstanding member to our extended zoo family”, said Dan Maloney, Deputy Director of Conservation and Education. Videos of the calf will be up on Jacksonvillezoo.org

“OOOO’S”AND “AAAH’S”

Galore at Jacksonville Zoo’s Lion Cub Debut

Cub’s Name Also Revealed

Wednesday, October 25, 2012 – Jacksonville, FL   The female lion cub, born on June 31, 2012, was welcomed to her new home in the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Lion Exhibit today at a special ceremony conducted by Dan Maloney, deputy director of conservation and education for the Jacksonville Zoo, and Dan Dembiec, mammal supervisor of the lions and other animals located in the Zoo’s Plains of East Africa exhibit.  The cub’s mom, Tamu accompanied the cub into the exhibit.  The name of the cub, Regina (nicknamed Gigi), was also announced at the ceremony.  Regina, which is Latin for “queen,” was an appropriate choice made by Zoo patron and donor, Mr. David Edwards, since the male lion is often referred to as “the king of the jungle”.  This is the first successful lion birth at the Zoo since 1974.

 The cub weighed three pounds at birth and now weighs 45 pounds. Gigi’s mom, Tamu, only five years old, wasn’t allowing the cub to nurse frequently enough for healthy growth and has been hand-reared by the Zoo staff.   Since the cub is now eating and getting around well on its own, the Zoo staff has been slowly trying to reunite the two.  Although the two were resistance first, they are now getting along well and will be on exhibit daily during the morning hours only. Guest can see the cub and mom from the Plains of East Africa boardwalk or through the Lion Exhibit’s two viewing windows on the ZooLoop main path.

Photo by Mark Sheppe

 About the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Started in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and regional, state and local awards for its botanical gardens. The Jacksonville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.  

JACKSONVILLE ZOO’S BABY BOOM CONTINUES!

NEW FLAMINGO EGG HATCHLING IS

FIRST IN ZOO’S RECORDED HISTORY

July 26, 2012 – Jacksonville, FL   Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announces the hatching of one of two Caribbean Flamingo eggs recently acquired from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.  The gender of the chick is not yet known.  This is the 13th animal to be hatched or born at the Zoo since May 31st and the first flamingo hatchling in Jacksonville Zoo’s recorded history.  

“Though flamingos have been featured at the Jacksonville Zoo for nearly 50 years, there has never been a recorded hatching,” said Dan Maloney, Deputy Director of Conservation and Education for Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “We are very excited to finally see a flamingo chick at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and hope to have many more chicks in the future as we build the flock’s numbers.”

 The two eggs arrived in Jacksonville late at on Monday, July 16th.  The first egg “pipped,” or began hatching, at approximately 9:00 a.m. July 19th and was completely out of the egg just after 7:00 a.m. July 20th.  Zoo staff assisted the emergency of the chick that had become twisted inside the shell.  The second egg is in the Zoo’s incubator and is expected to hatch around July 28th.  

Although the Jacksonville Zoo staff is very excited about its newest additions, they are closely monitoring the egg and the chick until they get through these early critical stages of life.  The Zoo brought in the new eggs to even out the ratio of males and females, which will hopefully increase the flock’s numbers and productivity.  

After both chicks are well established, they will go through a process of introduction to the Zoo’s existing flock.  During the first phase of the introduction, the chicks will live in a small “howdy” pen next to the flock’s nesting area at the flamingo exhibit.  It will be approximately eight weeks before they will be allowed to spend long periods of time next to the flock, however, there will be plenty of photo opportunities for Zoo guests throughout the various stages of their life.

Flamingos are found primarily along the coast of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.  They are gregarious animals that travel in large flocks that pick up and move as feeding grounds flood or dry out.  When the eggs they lay hatch, the chicks have white feathers that turn gray and later take their pink color from aqueous bacteria and beta-carotene obtained from their food.  

Wild Weather Forecast!

"Tons of Snow on July 21st"

Click Here for Video

July 17, 2012 – Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announces there will be 50 tons of snow at the Zoo’s first ever “Winter in July” event on Saturday, July 21st! From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. guests can ride sleds down two slippery slopes on the Zoo’s Great Lawn, and small children will enjoy a 30 foot by 30 foot Cold Play Zone, along with visits from Jazoo, the Zoo’s loveable lion mascot, and his friend Pete the Polar Bear. A DJ will be spinning tunes and taking special requests from guests for their wintery favorites.  Throughout the day, everyone will enjoy seeing some of their favorite Zoo animals beat the heat with cold enrichment treats. Kids can enjoy making some themed crafts at the Play Park area (while they last) and then cool off in the Splash Ground.  

Guests to the event can also enter a drawing for some great prizes, including the Grand Prize: a weekend for four at Cataloochee Ski Area located high in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina! This prize pack, valued at $1,300, includes two night’s accommodations, ski lifts, lessons and rentals for four people for two days.  First prize is a gift certificate for four to one night of the Zoo’s first annual winter holiday event, ZOOLights, that will take place from December 14th through 31st from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekdays and 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. on weekends. Second prize is a bundle of goodies that are must haves for cold weather and four tickets to the Zoo. No purchase is necessary to enter or win the drawing. For more information on the drawing rules, go to www.jacksonvillezoo.org. Entries for the drawings can also be made on the Zoo’s website.  

“We are all so excited about the Holiday Lights coming to the Zoo this December that we couldn’t wait any longer”, said Tony Vecchio, executive director of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “We just had to start getting that holiday spirit going with this special event.”  

About the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Started in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and regional, state and local awards for its botanical gardens. The Jacksonville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.  

CELEBRATES A BABY BOOM!  

July 6, 2012 – Jacksonville, Fla. – Beginning with the births of two Amur leopard cubs born at the Zoo on May 31st, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ zookeepers and veterinarian staff have been very busy assisting with the care and delivery of nine additional newborns and hatchlings.  Rock pythons, a giraffe, a lion and marbled teal ducks have all been born or hatched from June 28th through July 1^st, 2012.  Add to that two penguin eggs and one more Rock Python egg that we’re anticipating will hatch within the next month, and there is good reason for a baby boom celebration at the Jacksonville Zoo.

 A female lion cub, born on June 30th at 3:00 p.m., is the most significant birth since the leopard cubs.  The cub now weighs three and one-half pounds and appears to be healthy and strong. 

 Because this is only the second offspring for Tamu, the dam (mother), she is not nursing the cub adequately.  

Therefore, the staff has been supplementing the cub’s diet with formula that is being bottle fed. The sire (father) of the cub, Mshoni, is one of the most genetically valuable lions in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ population.  That makes this birth highly significant and the cub very valuable to the health of the AZA population.  

Due to the dam’s inexperience as mother, the risk for the cub is increased.  Zookeepers and veterinarians will continue to closely monitor the cub to ensure its health.  This is first surviving lion birth at Jacksonville Zoo since 1974. 

 On May 30th, Victoria, a female Magellanic penguin, laid one egg which was followed by a second one on June 3rd.  Her mate is named Troy.  Victoria is a young mother and this is her first time with a two egg clutch, the normal clutch size for a Magellanic penguin. The eggs were found to be fertile, and when keepers observed that Victoria was not incubating them properly, they were moved to an incubator.  Victoria and Troy were given model eggs so that they could practice the art of incubation.  Since then, the original eggs were given to Oreo, a female Magellanic penguin that exhibited good brooding skills after recently laying two eggs that weren’t fertile.  The Zookeepers have since candled the eggs and found that the embryos are very active. If all continues to go well, the eggs should hatch around mid-to-late July.  The Magellanic penguin is listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCH) Red List as Threatened Species.

 Three African Rock pythons hatched on June 28th and 29^th and two more eggs are still in incubation. The eggs were produced by female python, Roxanne and her male python partner, Solomon.  Zookeepers are monitoring the eggs and hatchlings closely.  If they all survive, they will be moved to other Association of Zoos and Aquarium facilities once appropriate permits are acquired.  These are the first of this species to be hatched at the Jacksonville Zoo.  Rock pythons’ native habitat is throughout most of central Africa.  This species’ conservation status is Vulnerable and CITES II.

 The Zoo’s 32nd giraffe calf was born on June 30th at 7:40 a.m.  It weighed 132 pounds and measured five feet eleven inches tall at birth.  This was mother Zawadi’s seventh offspring and Duke’s, the calf’s father’s eighth since he arrived at the Jacksonville Zoo in April 2003.  The female calf is doing well and spends most of her time nursing and napping.  The Zoo now has 10 giraffes in its collection.  Guests riding the Zoo Train may see the calf and its mother in the outdoor holding area, pending weather conditions or healthcare requirements. 

 Four Marbled Teal species of ducks that hatched early morning on Sunday, July 1st, are being hand- raised in the bird incubation room.  Three of the ducklings are doing well and gaining weight, but one that was moved to the Zoo’s hospital for more intensive care did not survive. 

 Lastly –but not at all least- the Zoo’s two leopard cubs are thriving!  If you look closely at the back right hand corner of the Leopard Exhibit the next time you come to the Zoo, you may see the cubs outdoors in a screened-in enclosure.  They are as feisty as kittens can be and appear to be having a wonderful time.  Look for them to be officially on exhibit soon!  Amur leopards are the most northern subspecies of leopard and come from parts of Russia, China and North Korea.  Although estimates vary, all suggest less than 50 specimens surviving in the wild, resulting in their classification as a critically-endangered species—and perhaps even the most endangered large cat on earth.

 About the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Started in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and regional, state and local awards for its botanical gardens. The Jacksonville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org. 

New 4-D Ride Theatre

at the
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
is Now Open  

May 31, 2012 - Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announces the opening of a new 4-D ride theatre! Guests will love the thrills, chills, and excitement of this all new, all-senses experience that is fun for kids of all ages. Visit the Jacksonville Zoo to check out the latest attraction currently featuring Happy Feet Mumble’s Wild Ride! Join Mumble and his hilarious penguin friends for a thrilling 4-D ride as they race down frozen cliffs of Antarctica and reach chilling speeds in this breathtaking icy adventure. Don’t miss this action packed 4-D ride that promises to be cool for the whole family.

“Since the opening of our penguin exhibit two years ago, penguins have become one of the most popular attractions at the Zoo,” said the Zoo’s executive director, Tony Vecchio. “It is great that our penguins are able to welcome Mumble and his friends here this summer. As our visitors have made it clear – you cannot have too many penguin experiences!”

The 4-D theatre will now be open from 9:30 a.m. to half hour prior to closing each day. The ride can fit up to 18 people per ride. Cost per ride is $3.00 for Zoo members and $4.00 for general public. Guests must be at least 42” tall to ride. For more information and to watch a trailer of the current ride please visit jacksonvillezoo.org.

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 plants. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and has the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.  

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Celebrates 31^st Birthday
of
Silverback Gorilla, Quito

June 2, 2012

May 29, 2012 – Jacksonville, FL –   The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is celebrating the 31^st birthday of Quito, a silverback gorilla, on Saturday, June 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be an information booth at the Great Ape Exhibit with fun facts about Quito, as well as conservation information on gorillas. Guests are invited to come at 10:00 a.m. and sing ‘happy birthday’ to Quito, where he will also be given his birthday cake. Stop by the Great Ape exhibit to sign his birthday card, experience gorilla enrichment and enjoy a visit from Jazoo, the Zoo mascot. There will be keeper chats at 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. from Quito’s zoo keepers and chance drawings for paintings done by our gorillas. All proceeds from the paintings will be donated to gorilla conservation.  This event is free with general admission to the Zoo.   

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 plants. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and has the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.  

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Butterfly Hollow

First Day of Spring Brings New Baby
to
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens!

March 22, 2012 – Jacksonville, Fl – The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announces the birth of a mandrill born on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, to 16-year-old dam, Deanna, and 17-year-old sire, Douglas. The gender of the infant is not yet known. Mother and infant are doing very well, and the infant appears strong and healthy.  This marks the fourth offspring for Deanna and brings Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ mandrill collection to a total of five animals.  

Deanna and her new infant will be officially introduced to the public on Friday, March 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  They will also be on exhibit Saturday, March 24 and Sunday March 25.   After that time, they will rotate on and off exhibit with Douglas and Gucci, one of Deanna’s offspring.

Kumani, another female offspring of Deanna’s, is currently sharing the living space with her mother and the new infant and is gaining valuable experience by observing maternal behavior. 

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 plants. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and has the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org. 

JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS
CELEBRATES

THE ARRIVAL OF ITS 31^st BABY GIRAFFE

January 13, 2012 – Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announces the birth of a male reticulated giraffe on January 11 at 12:10 p.m.  The calf weighs approximately 145 pounds, is six feet tall and doing well.  Guests riding the Zoo Train may see the calf and its mother in the outdoor holding area, pending weather conditions or feeding or healthcare requirements. The naming rights for the calf will be auctioned off on April 28^th at ExZOOberation, the Zoo’s largest evening adult fundraiser.  

This is the second offspring for the mother, Naomi, a five-year-old, since she arrived at Jacksonville Zoo in October 2006.  The calf’s father is Duke, the 14-year-old patriarch of the giraffe herd, who has now sired a total of seven offspring since he came to the Jacksonville Zoo in April of 2003.  The Zoo now has nine giraffes in its collection. This is the 31st giraffe born at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  

“The neonatal or ‘well baby’ exam has been completed, and the calf is off to a good start,” said Tony Vecchio, executive director of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “The calf was standing on all fours within one hour of the birth and is now walking, sitting, standing and nursing properly.  The keepers and animal healthcare staff will continue to monitor the newborn closely,” he concluded.

 For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 1,500 rare and exotic animals and 2,000 plants. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and has the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Christmas Day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

May 24, 2011 – Jacksonville, FL – The trees in the Plains of East Africa at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens are once again alive with the chirping of wood stork chicks.  The wood storks have been building their nests annually at the Zoo since 1999.  The Zoo’s bird staff collects data on each chick, including size and health information, then bands and returns them safely to their nests each year.  

Wood storks are the only stork to breed in the United States.  They also breed in Central and South America from Mexico to Argentina.  The populations in the Southeastern United States are endangered, most likely because of the loss of optimal feeding habitat – easy access to shallow water where they have ready access to small fish.  The Zoo’s monitoring and banding data is reported to the United States Department of Interior’s bird banding laboratory.  The numbered bands allow researchers to identify individual storks as they move throughout the state and across their range.  The data is used for research purposes and to compare with other sites across the range of the species to determine how well the recovery effort is going.

“The sights and sounds of the large wood stork rookery at our Zoo make for a uniquely incredible experience,” said Tony Vecchio, executive director of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “We’re very pleased that these wonderful Florida natives have chosen to allow our guests a glimpse of this spectacle of nature. It’s almost like they sense that they will be safe and protected by those who are dedicated to conservation.”

The wood stork rookery at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has had the highest productivity rate of all the colonies in Florida since 2003. Since 1999, 1,241 endangered wood storks have fledged, and another 260 are expected to fledge this year at the Zoo’s colony.  The rookery has grown from seven nests the first year to more than 116 nests this season.  

Wood storks are tall, white denizens of freshwater or brackish wetlands and swamps.  They can be identified by their long legs, featherless heads and prominent bills.  They fish with an unusual but effective method:  Opening their bills underwater, they wait for a fish to pass by then snap – like a mousetrap, the bill is closed.                                    

For more than 96 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment.  Since its beginning in 1914, with an animal collection that consisted of only one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has become one of the top zoos in the nation.  It now features more than 1,800 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. Preservation of sustainable biodiversity is a key mission of the Zoo.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  It is open year-round, seven-days-a-week, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information, go to jacksonvillezoo.org.

 April 26, 2011 – Jacksonville , FL – Officials at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced the birth of a rare female bonobo in the Zoo’s Great Apes night house the morning of April 19, 2011.   Lorel, the newborn’s mother and the matriarch of the bonobo group, was born April 17, 1969, at the San Diego Zoo and first came to the Jacksonville Zoo from the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta in 1998.  At the age of 42, she is the oldest bonobo to give birth to a viable offspring in North America and the third oldest living bonobo in the nation. DNA paternity testing with hair samples will be used to certify the identity of the youngster’s father. Mother and infant are doing very well and will rotate on exhibit opposite other groups as needed.  The newborn’s name, Baker, was selected by Sarah and Brooks Watkins.  The couple, which won the auction at the Zoo’s popular fundraiser, ExZOOberation, outbid all others to help support ape care.  They named the bonobo after their son.

 Bonobos were the last of the great apes, which also includes gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans, to be scientifically described, around 1929.  They are among the most threatened primate species, with as few as 20,000 surviving in a single dwindling region of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa .  There are only about 290 living in less than 20 zoos worldwide.

“Baker is a wonderful addition to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ family and a valuable asset to the conservation of the species,” said Deputy Director of Conservation and Education Dan Maloney.  “Bonobos are very special creatures, highly intelligent, highly endangered and thoroughly engaging.  We are very proud to be one of the few zoos to feature this amazing animal.”
 

April 29, 2011 – Jacksonville , FL – Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ female warthog, named Tale, gave birth to her first litter of four piglets on April 5, 2011. Tale was born in April 2007 and came to the Jacksonville Zoo in October 2008.  The infants’ one-year-old father, named Lenny, was born in April 2009 and arrived in Jacksonville in August 2010.  The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Yellow Species Survival Plan recommended the warthogs for breeding.  These four births bring the total number of warthogs born at Jacksonville Zoo to 15.  The mother and her piglets are doing very well and are now officially on exhibit in the Plains of East Africa at the Zoo.  

Names for the piglets were selected by the winners of a silent auction at ExZOOberation, the Zoo’s popular evening fundraiser, held this past April 16.  They are as follows:  

                        Idwal – named by Hugh and Mary Owen

                        Bodie & Chico – named by Katie Buckley

                        Frenchy – named by the Barrow family  

“Baby warthogs are a zoo director’s dream-come-true,” said Tony Vecchio, executive director of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “They are so cute and so active they can’t help but draw a crowd of happy zoo visitors.” 

Although warthogs look fierce, they are actually herbivores who prefer to flee rather than fight.  Members of the same family as the domestic pig, warthogs present a much different appearance.  They have large, flat heads covered with “warts,” which are actually protective bumps, and four sharp tusks. They eat grasses and plants and use their snouts to dig or “root” for roots or bulbs.  When startled or threatened, warthogs can run surprisingly fast at speeds of up to 30 miles an hour!  

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has become one of the top zoos in the nation.  It now features more than 1,800 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. Preservation of sustainable biodiversity is a key mission of the Zoo.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  It is open year-round, seven-days-a-week, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located on Jacksonville ’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway , one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information, go to jacksonvillezoo.org.

March 15, 2011 – Jacksonville, FL – A male Grevy’s zebra was born at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Saturday, February 26. Eclipse, the 17-year-old mother of the foal, came to the Jacksonville Zoo from White Oak Conservation Center, where she was bred in January 2010.   Officials from White Oak advised that the father of the foal is an unnamed resident stallion born in 1999.  This is Eclipse’s sixth birth.  The foal weighed 108 pounds and stood at three and a half feet tall at the shoulders at birth.  Guests can see the foal frolicking after his mother in the Zoo’s Plains of East Africa exhibit.  Naming rights will be auctioned off at the Zoo’s annual ExZOOberation evening fundraiser on April 16, 2011. 

Unlike other types of zebras, Grevy’s zebras face a dire extinction crisis.  More than 15,000 of these animals roamed the savannas of Africa in the 1970s, but scientists estimate only 2,200 remain in the wild today.  The Zoo supports conservation efforts to save the Grevy’s zebra, including participation in a Species Survival Plan (SSP) through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  This SSP allows the Zoo to work with other AZA-accredited organizations to help ensure the survivability of the Grevy’s zebra for future generations.  

 “It’s great to have a healthy foal because of the important contribution it makes to the conservation of the species,” said Craig Miller, curator of mammals at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “We look forward to following the next breeding recommendation from the SSP for pairing Eclipse with Mosi, our resident stallion.”

 The Grevy’s zebra is the largest of the three zebra species and originates from parts of northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia.  Although foals are born with brown stripes and fuzzy coats, they grow into their notorious black-and-white stripes by one year of age.  The stripe pattern is unique to each animal, much like fingerprints are unique to each human. They provide an important adaptation for the species that allows them to blend into their natural surroundings. 

 Foals weigh 80 to 125 pounds at birth, but can grow to be over 900 pounds as adults.   

Bring your still and video cameras as it also is a great place for pictures and videos to remember for a lifetime!

Take friends or a business client and their family for a laid back and educational day at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens!