Woodland Park Zoo Blog

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Goodbye beautiful Nayla: Zoo mourns the loss of its geriatric jaguar

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Woodland Park Zoo is mourning the loss of its only female jaguar, Nayla. The big cat was humanely euthanized due to age-related degenerative decline in mobility. Nayla in 2021. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Nayla, who celebrated her 19th birthday last week, was born at Akron Zoo in Ohio and lived at Woodland Park Zoo since 2006. The life expectancy of jaguars in zoos is 18 years. Nayla in 2019. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo As a geriatric big cat, Nayla’s welfare and chronic medical conditions, including degenerative joint disease, have been closely managed by her animal caregivers and veterinary staff. This summer Nayla had an episode of neurologic deficits that caused a severe head tilt and loss of balance. After diagnostics, including an MRI and treatment, Nayla recovered from this neurologic episode and returned to the habitat, Jaguar Cove. “Recently Nayla began to display increased weakness and incoordination of h

First-time expectant orangutan, Batu, on 24-hour birth watch as she nears end of pregnancy

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications An orangutan at Woodland Park Zoo, 14-year-old Batu, is expected to give birth soon and is nearing the end of her pregnancy, which for orangutans is nearly nine months. The birth will mark the first orangutan born at the zoo in 35 years. Birth window calculations are based on estrus cycle, physical changes including weight gain, timing of mating and positive pregnancy test results. As a result, it is not possible to accurately predict a specific birth date, but recent changes indicate it is approaching. A pregnant Batu, photo by Laura McComesky/Woodland Park Zoo The birth management plan tailored for orangutans at the zoo includes a pre- and post-natal care program which includes regular veterinary check-ups in consultation with an obstetrician gynecologist, ultrasound procedures to track fetal development, a diet created by a nutritionist, and supplemental vitamins to help Batu maintain a healthy weight for a delivery without challenges. Just

Get to know our toco toucans—A fun Q & A with our amazing animal keepers!

Posted by Hattie Potter, Development Editor's Note: Thank you to animal keepers Erin and Kayla for answering our questions and helping us get to know Woodland Park Zoo's toucans. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo How much do you know about toucans other than they have big beaks and are often "associated" with a fruity, sugary cereal? These beautiful and colorful birds are native to the tropical rain forests of Central and South America. They spend most of their lives high up in the trees where they nest in tree cavities and find many of their food sources. Woodland Park Zoo's toco toucans—one of the larger of the many species of this bird—can be found in our Tropical Rain Forest exhibit and their long, vibrant bills make them almost impossible to miss! Let's get to know more, with the help of animal keepers Erin and Kayla: What are the names and ages of our toucans? There are currently two toucans living at the zoo – one male and a female. Our m

Baby gorilla is accepted by foster mom at Louisville Zoo: Baby Abeo makes his debut to the public

Post by Gigi Allianic, Communications Woodland Park Zoo is overjoyed to share the heartwarming news about baby boy gorilla Abeo (ah-BAY-oh), who was born at the zoo in June. To ensure his long-term benefits of growing as a gorilla, the zoo made a critical decision and moved him last month to Louisville Zoo in Kentucky where he could be socialized with a foster gorilla mom and multigenerational family of gorillas. Abeo with Kewli, Photo by Kyle Shepherd/Louisville Zoo Today, Abeo and his foster mom, Kweli (kway-lee), made their public debut together in Louisville Zoo’s award-winning Gorilla Forest. Kweli, 40 years old, was selected due to her successful experience fostering Kindi, Louisville Zoo’s now 8-year-old female gorilla, who was orphaned shortly after birth. Abeo was born June 28 at Woodland Park Zoo to Akenji, a first-time mom, and dad Kwame. Because Akenji hadn’t shown any interest in caring for her newborn, Abeo was placed under round-the-clock care; moreover, progress wasn’

Remembering Maggie: Zoo mourns loss of beloved female pudu

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Pudu Maggie with the fawn she had in 2022 Woodland Park Zoo is mourning the loss of its female pudu, Maggie. The 7-year-old animal passed away while recovering from anesthesia following a routine tooth extraction at the zoo’s veterinary hospital. Pudu are the smallest deer species in the world and are native to South America. The small deer stands only 14 to 18 inches high at the shoulder and weighs between 14 and 30 pounds. The median life expectancy for pudus in zoos is 8 years old; pudus can live 8 to 10 years old in the wild. Maggie was barely bigger than a pumpkin. Adult pudu are only 12" - 18" high at the shoulder and weigh between 14 - 30lbs. “The tooth was extracted without complications and Maggie did well under anesthesia. She was being closely monitored as she began to recover,” said Dr. Yousuf Jafarey, an associate veterinarian at Woodland Park Zoo. “As her recovery progressed,

Zoo finds new home for its last hippo, Lupe: Final day to see Lupe will be September 24

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications For more than 50 years, hippos have been a popular pachyderm and one of the most adored animals at Woodland Park Zoo. For the long-term benefits and well-being of its only hippo, female Lupe, the zoo will bid farewell and move her to a new home where she can thrive in the company of other hippos. Lupe in the pool. Photo by Brit Powers/Woodland Park Zoo Lupe, 24, currently lives in the hippo habitat in the African Savanna. Tuesday, September 24, will be the last day to see and wish her well on her new adventure. Guadalupe, fondly called Lupe by her friends and fans, was born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and moved to Woodland Park Zoo in 2003. Lupe became Woodland Park Zoo’s last remaining hippo when its beloved geriatric hippo Lily was humanely euthanized in April due to declining health and quality of life following a cancer diagnosis. The zoo has been working with the Hippo Species Survival Plan to identify a new home. She will be moved to a zo