Animal News

Baby capybaras born in The RainForest

The three new babies bring the Zoo’s group of capybaras up to six including mom Shoya, dad Budha, and another adult female, Bonita. They can all be seen on exhibit together on the second floor of The RainForest.

Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world. They can grow up to 4.5 feet long and weigh up to 150 pounds. They are native to South America and can be found throughout most of the continent east of the Andes Mountains.

While their appearance and natural swimming abilities might suggest they are related to the beaver, the capybara’s closest relatives in the animal kingdom are actually chinchillas and guinea pigs.

The Zoo breeds capybaras as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Program which are cooperative breeding and management groups for maintaining healthy and genetically viable zoo animal populations.

Meerkat Kits born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The Zoo’s resident meerkat mom recently gave birth to several kits in African Elephant Crossing. The kits are estimated to have been born out on exhibit August 26, 2012 and the mother has been keeping them hidden in a tunnel den.

Meerkat kits in the wild are kept hidden in the mob’s tunnel system to protect them from predators. They are tended to by several members of the mob, not just the mother, who act as baby-sitters or wet nurses. A meerkat typically gives birth to between one and five kits. The kits normally begin exploring outside the den at about 3-4 weeks old. Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are native to southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. In the wild they forage for insects are other small creatures including scorpions and spiders.

Newest Bird of Prey, a Male Steller's Sea Eagle

One of the Zoo's newest residents is a male Steller's sea eagle. You can see him in the Bird of Prey exhibits at the south end of Waterfowl Lake. Steller's sea eagles are extremely rare in captivity - less than 20 live in U.S. zoos. The Zoo's male was acquired from the Prague Zoo in March and is currently acclimating to his new home in Cleveland. Only 15 months old, he still displays juvenile plumage, and curators are hopeful that when he matures, he will breed with the Zoo's female (in the exhibit next to his). Steller's sea eagles are the largest species of eagle and are native to the rocky coastline of China, Siberia and Japan.

Trumpeter Swan Cygnets

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo welcomed six trumpeter swan cygnets that hatched over June 5 and 6, 2011. Visitors can see them at the Zoo's Waterfowl Lake.

Trumpeter swans were once native to larger portions of North America, including Ohio, prior to their being hunted by European settlers for their meat and feathers. They are now found mostly in Alaska, western Canada and Wyoming and have been reintroduced in 10 states in their historic native range.

The largest, and loudest, of the various swan species, trumpeters were listed as an endangered species from 1931-1971. In 1996 the Ohio reintroduction program was started by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. One component was the collection of eggs from wild swans in Alaska in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Each year for three years, the Zoo collected 50 eggs from Alaska, brought them to Cleveland and incubated them. When they hatched, the cygnets were raised here, and then were moved to a holding facility at The Wilds (a wildlife conservation park near Columbus) for the next 22 months. They were then released at pre-determined sites throughout the state.

The father of our new cygnets was hatched from one of the Alaskan eggs. He was injured during his holding at The Wilds and was not able to be released. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, all six of his recently hatched cygnets should eventually be released into the wild.

Check out the video at two days old.

Two More Red Ruffed Lemurs

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces the birth of two red ruffed lemurs, the second litter for mom Vari and her breeding partner Toros. Named Carina and Cassiopeia, the two females were born May 8, 2011 and are on exhibit with their mom in the Zoo's Primate, Cat & Aquatics building. Toros shares the adjacent enclosure with Vari's first litter, male Sirius and female Tallulah, born in 2010.

Vari was born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in 2005. Toros came to Cleveland in 2009 from the San Antonio Zoo. He is on breeding loan from the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, North Carolina where he was born in 1991.

Red ruffed Lemurs (Varecia rubra) are a critically endangered species native to the island nation of Madagascar. They are active throughout the day and are characterized by their loud, peculiar sounding vocalizations. In the wild, red ruffed lemurs face increasing habitat deforestation, hunting and commercial exportation. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Plan (SSP) for red ruffed lemurs. SSP programs identify population management goals and make recommendations to ensure the sustainability, health and genetic diversity of those populations.

See more photos on ZooBorns website.

Second Litter of Black Footed Cats

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces the birth of two Black-footed Cat kittens! The kittens, whose sex have yet to be determined, are healthy and doing well with mom, Godiva. They were born April 17 and currently are on exhibit in the nocturnal animal area of the Zoo’s Primate, Cat and Aquatics building.

The two kittens are the second litter for Godiva, 4, and her male breeding partner, Wyatt, also 4. Godiva’s first litter produced one kitten, a male, who is now part of a breeding pair at the Louisville Zoological Garden.

Godiva and Wyatt were the first black-footed cats to be exhibited at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo when they arrived in 2009 from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo.

Wyatt is considered a genetically valuable animal whose genes and offspring are an important contribution to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for black-footed cats. There are about 18 accredited institutions in North America with black-footed cats.

Black-footed cats are the smallest of the African cats, with adults reaching about 3.5 pounds when fully grown. Their conservation status is listed as “vulnerable” in the wild. Black-footed cats are found in the grasslands and savannas of Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

See more photos on ZooBorns website.

Golden Twins

Less than a year after giving birth to baby Orolito, a pair of golden lion tamarins at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo welcomed two more little tufts of orange hair on December 27, 2010. The Zoo is fortunate to have had three golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) born last year, as they are among the most endangered mammals on earth. Deforestation and habitat loss have relegated the golden lion tamarin to a small region in eastern Brazil. In fact, almost all golden lion tamarins found in U.S. zoos are actually considered to be on loan from the Brazilian government.

Golden lion tamarins are brilliantly orange-colored monkeys that live in small family groups. The large amount of hair around the face resembles a lion's mane and accounts for this subspecies' name. All members of the group, including the adult males and adolescents, cooperate in raising the young. Golden lion tamarins are born weighing around 2 ounces, with their eyes open and all of their hair.

Read more in the news release.

Francois' Langur

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces the birth of a baby Francois' langur on January 25, 2011. The baby, whose sex is yet to be determined, is currently on exhibit in The RainForest with mother Petunia, father Ike and brother Maynard, who was born in April 2009. The baby is the second offspring of 13-year-old Ike and 11-year-old Petunia, both born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The pair has been recommended for breeding by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Plan.

Baby Francois' langurs have bright orange fur in contrast to the silky black coat of adults. The Zoo's langur infant is often seen clinging to his mom or nursing. Two other adult females in the Zoo's langur group -- Mei Mei and Leilu -- share in the parenting duties as they would in the wild.

Francois' langurs are native to Vietnam, southeastern China and Laos. They are arboreal leaf-eaters with very long tails that live in groups of three to 12 individuals with a single adult male. Francois' langurs are endangered due to habitat loss and illegal hunting. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is one of just about a dozen zoos across the country to participate in the Francois' langur breeding program.

Tiny Tamarin

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces the birth of a pied bare-faced tamarin (Saguinus bicolor bicolor). The baby, of yet-undetermined sex, was born October 7, 2010 and is on exhibit with its mother and father on the lower floor of The RainForest near the entrance to the gift shop.

The infant's mother, "Zafra," and father, "Trapper" were both born at the Philadelphia Zoo on February 8, 2008 and October 26, 1996, respectively. It is the first offspring for Zafra. First-time tamarin mothers often do poorly, but Zafra has cared for her first offspring extremely well. The baby, which is yet to be named, is often seen riding on her back (in the photo to right, however, father Trapper is doing the carrying).

Pied bare-faced, or bicolor, tamarins have one of the smallest native home ranges of any primate. The species is considered endangered in the wild due to decreasing land and population.

Another Primate Species Added to Zoo's Collection: White-fronted Marmosets

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has added yet another primate species to its already-huge collection. The newest primates are white-fronted, or Geoffroy's, marmosets (Callithrix Geoffroyi).

The Zoo's white-fronted marmosets are a breeding pair: male "Henry," born August 7, 2006 at Charles Paddock Zoo and female "Tulip" born April 8, 2008, at San Diego Wild Animal Park. They both came to Cleveland in August 2010 and are currently on exhibit together on the lower floor of The RainForest.

Marmoset females give birth to large babies that can weigh up to 20 percent of their body weight (imagine a woman giving birth to a 20-pound human baby!)

An interesting fact about marmosets is that they are sap eaters. While other animals will eat sap if its available, marmosets will actually gouge through tree bark with their teeth to start the sap flowing. The sap has a number of nutrients and fiber that the marmosets benefit from. (Compare this to humans who collect maple tree sap and boil it down to make maple syrup.)

Baby Grant's Zebra

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces the birth of a Grant's Zebra (Equus burchellii boehmi). The baby, a female, was born on September 22, 2010 and weighed close to 70 pounds at birth.

The baby is the first offspring for mother "Nettie" and father "Zeke." Nettie is five years old and was born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in May 2005. Zeke is an eleven-year-old male who was born at Cape May County Park & Zoo in New Jersey. He came to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in July 2009.

Grant's Zebras are native to regions from Ethiopia and Somalia to northern South Africa. They live in family herds of mares grouped together by a lead stallion.

Zebras are actually black animals with white stripes. Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern, just as humans have unique fingerprints.

A Regal Pair: Crowned Lemurs now in Zoo's Primate Collection

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo recently became the new home of two crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus), a male and a female.

Crowned lemurs get their name from their most-distinguishing feature -- a bright orange crescent of fur centered on the forehead. The males and females are distinctly different colors: females have an overall gray color with a dull orange back and males are orange overall with a chocolate-colored back. In the photo to left, the male is on the left and the female is on the right. Crowned lemurs are native to Madagascar.

The Zoo's crowned lemurs are a breeding pair and are currently on exhibit in the Primate, Cat & Aquatics building.

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 (Varecia 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.

Cuteness Overload

In summer 2010, GumLeaf Hideout became home to a male koala joey, the offspring of mother Colliet and father Bulkee. The koala joey is birth 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.

The joey's name, "Kookoora," was chosen in a poll sponsored by Outback Steakhouse. The name means "very sweet."

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.