Animal News

Lemur Twins are First for the Zoo in Five Years

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo celebrates the birth of its first lemur offspring in five years. Two red ruffed lemurs (Lemur variegatus rubra), a male and a female, were born on June 7, 2010. The births continue the Zoo's long history of success with the species, which is managed by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' (AZA's) Species Survival Plan. The babies are the first offspring of father Toros and mother Vari, who was born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in May 2005. The babies are on exhibit in the Zoo's Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building. They are gaining strength quickly and have already been seen jumping and climbing throughout their enclosure. Red ruffed lemurs are native to Madagascar and critically endangered in the wild.

Watch a video of the Zoo's baby red ruffed lemurs.

Two-of-a-Kind Cuteness Overload

In summer 2010, GumLeaf Hideout is home to two male koala joeys, the offspring of mothers Midgee and Colliet and father Bulkee. The koala joeys are births 13 and 14 in the Zoo's highly-successful koala breeding program. The breeding recommendation came from AZA's Species Survival Plan, which manages the koala population at zoos nationwide.

Colliet's joey peeks out.	Midgee's joey rides on her back.

It's Not a Two-headed Orange Monkey

The Zoo welcomed a baby golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia rosalia) on March 30, 2010. The baby, whose sex has not yet been determined, is the first offspring at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for mother "Brie" and father "Cumin," who arrived in Cleveland in 2009 from the Audubon Zoo and the Bronx Zoo, respectively. The baby was named "Orolito" which means "Little Golden One" in Spanish. On exhibit in The RainForest, the infant spends most of its time clinging to the back of its mother or father. Golden lion tamarins are native to Brazil and are endangered mostly due to habitat loss.

Baby Only Has Two Toes

And that's because it's a two-toed sloth! This little one was born January 15 and can be seen clinging to its mother, "Greenie," on exhibit in the Zoo's Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building. It is the fifth offspring for mom and father "Riley." Two-toed sloths (Choloepus didactylus) are native to Central and northern South America and spend most of their lives hanging from trees.

Baby Allen's Swamp Monkey

On August 1, a male Allen's swamp monkey (Cercopithecus nigroviridis) was born to the Zoo's breeding pair: mother, "Fern," and father, "Zongo." The baby, named "Fen," joins his brother, "Peat," in their exhibit in the Zoo's Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building. The Zoo's Allen's swamp monkeys are often seen diving for treats in a special pool in their exhibit.

Red Panda-monium!

On June 28, three rare red panda cubs were born at the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building. Rarely born in threes, the triplets are only the fourth, fifth and sixth of their subspecies (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) born to the Zoo's breeding pair: mother "Ruth," and father, "Gordi." The cubs will ensure a strong captive population in AZA-accredited zoos and serve as ambassadors for the few red pandas remaining in the wild. Read more in the news release.

New Wolf Pack in Northern Trek Features Rare Mexican Gray Wolves

Six young Mexican gray wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) are taking up residence at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's Wolf Wilderness, having arrived in January 2009 from the Wild Canid Survival and Research Center near St. Louis. As of this writing, the 3-year-old sisters are actively exploring their snowy new surroundings and interacting well with one another.

The wolves -- named "Catori," "Sarita," "Una," "Aprecia," "Nancita" and "Mitzi" -- are on exhibit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Zoo. Mexican wolves are the rarest and most genetically distinct of all the gray wolves in North America.

By taking in the young pack, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo joins an international effort to save Mexican wolves, which neared extinction in the 1970s. Now, the species has a renewed chance at long-term survival thanks to a captive-breeding program that aims to reintroduce Mexican wolves to the wild.

Read the news release for more information.

Second Masai Giraffe in Less than Two Months

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is in the midst of a giraffe baby boom. In less than two months, the Zoo has witnessed the births of two female Masai giraffes. The two babies mark the 41st and 42nd of their species born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo since 1959. The Zoo's herd of seven females is one of the largest in the country (read the news release).

This second calf, named "Lily," was born on September 18 and is the 7th for mother "Lindi" and 13th for father "Walker" who now resides at the Louisville Zoo. Both babies are on exhibit in the Zoo's African Savanna. You will often see them playing together and with herdmates Jada, Jhasmin and Shirley under the watchful eyes of their mothers.