Spring has barely sprung, but already Woodland Park Zoo is bursting with babies. In just six months, the zoo has welcomed nine cubs, five penguin chicks, two joeys and one porcupette (a baby porcupine)!
In November, the first birth of lion cubs in over 20 years at the zoo kicked off the baby boom with four rambunctious felines. With months of explorations behind them, the lion cubs are no strangers to their African Savanna exhibit. Have you seen them yet? The frisky foursome continues their exhibit adventures daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., depending on weather conditions.
Days before Christmas, mama sloth bear Tasha surprised us with not one but two newborn cubs. Until recently, the young family has lived in a behind-the-scenes maternity den. The sloth bear duo will make their public debut May 4 during the grand opening celebration of the first phase of the zoo's new Bamboo Forest Reserve exhibit, in addition to Asian small-clawed otters, a tropical aviary and kid's nature play area. Don't miss out! Upon completion of the second phase of the Bamboo Forest Reserve, Tasha and the two cubs will have a new home alongside a new Malayan tiger exhibit.
The zoo's cub celebrations continued into March with the rare birth of jaguar triplets, sending the cub count soaring to nine! Jaguar mother Nayla and the new trio currently live off view and may not be on exhibit until later this summer, but health updates, cub videos and news on their development are regularly posted on the zoo's baby blog at zoo.org/zoobabies.
Dennis Dow | Woodland Park Zoo Wallaby joey |
Between cub births, the zoo's young marsupials – born last summer and fall – began peeking out of their mothers' pouches. As a part of the zoo's flagship conservation program, the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, a young Matschie's tree kangaroo joey born in June 2012 finally emerged from his mother's pouch in February. With the help of a behind-the-scenes webcam, zoo-baby lovers near and far can catch a glimpse into the daily happenings of the pair at zoo.org/animalcam for a limited time. Similarly, one of the zoo's youngest wallabies left the pouch and has been spotted by visitors hopping close behind its mother around the Australasia exhibit. Make your way to the north end of the zoo to pay them a visit!
To add to the baby count, the zoo recently welcomed its first ever North American porcupette and this season's first Humboldt penguin chicks.
Together, the zoo's bundle of cubs, joeys, chicks and porcupine marks the latest members of the zoo's newest generation! For your daily zoo baby fix and to see the newest faces at the zoo, bookmark zoo.org/zoobabies. We promise, there are more to come!
Caileigh Robertson is public relations coordinator at Woodland Park Zoo.