Zoos with Amazing Baby Animals to Visit this Summer
By Amy Zerello | July 09 2011
Photo by Lisa Ware, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Smithsonian National Zoo
These 5 baby cheetah cubs, born May 28, just got a clean bill of health following their first veterinarian exam on July 12. All of the babies received vaccinations for respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses, both of which commonly affect cheetahs.
Learn more about visiting the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Photo courtesy Smithsonian's National Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoo
History was made at the Smithsonian Zoo’s Bird House in mid-June when its 50th kori bustard chick emerged from its shell. The zoo has bred kori bustards, the world's heaviest flying bird, since 1997. Learn more about visiting the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Photo by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Wûshi, a sichuan takin is seen here climbing to the highest point of his exhibit at just 2 weeks of age. His name means 50 in Mandarin, as he’s the 50th takin to call the zoo his home. Takins are an endangered species from the bamboo forests of China and the eastern Himalayan Mountains of Asia. Learn more about visiting the San Diego Zoo.
Photo courtesy of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
One of two African penguin chicks recently hatched at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. In the wild, these cool little creatures live in colonies among the 24 islands between Namibia and South Africa. The black spots on their chests are unique to their bearer, just as fingerprints are to humans. Learn more about visiting Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.
Photo courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
Rani (pronounced RAH-nee), the Zoo's 15-year-old Asian elephant, gave birth at 1:13 p.m. on June 24, 2011 to this big bundle of joy, who four days later, weighed in at 297 pounds.
On July 4, the zoo announced her name: Kenzi. The name was chosen after a public poll was issued on June 28. Kenzi is Rani's second baby. An elephant's gestation period is 22 months.
The Saint Louis Zoo is actively involved with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for Asian elephants, an endangered species sadly facing extinction.
You can learn more about Species Survival Plan® Programs by visiting the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Learn more about visiting the Saint Louis Zoo.
Photo by Dave Parkinson
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
Kenyan impala calves, born eight days apart in June 2011. Impala are considered a dominant species in many savannas. Frightened or startled impala herds leap about in unison to confuse predators. Their strong legs help them leap distances of 30 feet and jump up to 8 feet high.
Learn more about visiting Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.
Photo by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Reptile keepers at the San Diego Zoo were thrilled with the hatching of this Satanic leaf-tailed gecko on New Year’s Day. The rarely-bred gecko weighs less than a gram and is smaller than a dime.
Learn more about visiting the San Diego Zoo.
Photo courtesy of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
Yellow-footed rock wallabies with joeys, born late 2010, emerged from their pouches this past spring. No other wallaby has the barred tail you see pictured here, which is unique to the species. At birth, a joey is merely ½ to ¾ of an inch long. The new joey climbs its mother's fur to pull its way into her pouch headfirst and stays with its legs and tail hanging out as it grows. At about 8 months, a joey is too big to stay in the pouch but remains with its mom and is considered a "joey at heel."
Learn more about visiting Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.
Photo courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
This young Black rhino calf, named Ruka, was born January 14, 2011, and is certainly no longer a newborn. At birth, he weighed 120.5 pounds. He's the first of his species to be born at the zoo in 20 years. The zoo reports that Black rhinos have experienced the most drastic decline of any rhino species. About 65,000 black rhinos were surviving in Africa in 1970. By 1993, that number dropped to only 2,300. Sadly, these rhinos are heavily poached for their horns, which many Asian cultures believe have medicinal uses. Learn more about visiting the Saint Louis Zoo.
Photo courtesy of the Phoenix Zoo
The Phoenix Zoo
Meet O'Neill, a Kirk's dik dik born April 12 at the Phoenix Zoo. O'Neill was raised by the zoo's staff because his mom experienced difficulty nursing him.
Dik dik were named after their alarm cry. When startled, dik dik dash for cover, quickly leaping in zig zag patterns while making a call that resembles "zik-zik" or "dik-dik." Dik dik, found primarily in East Africa, are very small, growing approximately 14-18 inches tall. The Phoenix Zoo notes that this small antelope's most interesting feature is its elongated, prehensile nose.
Learn more about visiting the Phoenix Zoo.
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