Zoo Atlanta

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Have you ever been to the Zoo early in the morning? It’s one of my favorite times to walk the grounds. Dewy bamboo spark...
07/11/2025

Have you ever been to the Zoo early in the morning? It’s one of my favorite times to walk the grounds. Dewy bamboo sparkles in the morning sun. Flowers in bloom bejewel the greenery. Animals around the Zoo greet the morning with roars, chuffs, and grumbles. One of my favorite performances is the duet of Zazu and Gumby, a pair of southern ground hornbills currently on an extended holiday to the Lower Zoo, though you may have historically seen them near the rhino habitat.

Beyond the Zoo, southern ground hornbills can be found in savannas and woodlands of southern Africa. While they are capable of flight, they tend to spend most of their time on the ground, hence their name. The species is known for its distinctive coloring and long, lush eyelashes. Zazu and Gumby, specifically, are known for their highly social personalities. You can often find them right at the front of their habitat, parading around with their latest snack (or a piece of mulch if they’ve already chowed down). They are incredible ambassadors, introducing Zoo guests of all ages to their species.

Southern ground hornbills are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, which means that they face a high risk of extinction in the wild. As is the case with so many endangered species, they are impacted by habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. They can also be impacted by poisoning and are intertwined in a variety of cultural beliefs within their native range, which can have both positive and negative implications. With a slow reproductive rate and prolonged maturation period, it takes populations a long time to recover from the impacts of these threats. But there is hope for them.

The Mabula Ground Hornbill Project is dedicated to slowing and reversing the decline of the southern ground hornbill. Based in Limpopo, South Africa, the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project is creating a network of custodians to lead the conservation of local resident ground hornbill groups. Their work includes monitoring wild hornbill populations, rearing chicks for release, mitigating threats, educating communities living alongside hornbills about their importance, and conducting research to better understand hornbills and their conservation.

One of my colleagues in the Education Department recently traveled to South Africa through a Mickelberg Field Conservation Grant. Stay tuned to hear from Emmy about her experience working with the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project in the next Conservation Blog. And in the meantime, be sure to stop by and visit Zazu and Gumby next to the alpacas – you never know what they might have to show you!

Sarah Hamilton
Interpretive Engagement Specialist

Our tawny frogmouth flock continues to grow! We're so excited to welcome two new chicks, Latke and Pistachio.Back in May...
07/10/2025

Our tawny frogmouth flock continues to grow! We're so excited to welcome two new chicks, Latke and Pistachio.

Back in May, the Bird Team had four new tawny frogmouth eggs laid in total. Unfortunately, both eggs from our "potato parents" Small Fry and Jabba did not survive the development process, whereas both eggs from Mama and Barkley did. To increase the likelihood of success, the Bird Team fostered one of the chicks, Latke, with Small Fry and Jabba and returned the other chick, Pistachio, to their biological parents, Mama and Barkley. Both chicks are doing very well, and getting floofier by the day! Congrats Bird Team! (photos: Bird Team)

07/09/2025

If kittens make biscuits, what do baby tenrecs make? Here is a sweet moment of Thistle nursing her babies, born on May 23. Thistle is a lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec living at Wieland Wildlife Home with her littles! -Rachael R., Ambassador Animals Team (video: Rachael R.)

Congrats to the Bird Team for successfully fledging two superb starling chicks in the Grigsby Aviary! Superb starlings a...
07/08/2025

Congrats to the Bird Team for successfully fledging two superb starling chicks in the Grigsby Aviary! Superb starlings are notorious for their sneaky and challenging nesting skills, and this pair was no different. They nested at the top of the aviary above a heat lamp that is inaccessible to the team. Even though we were highly suspicious there were chicks in the nest due to the parents' behavior, we were pleasantly surprised when not one, but two chicks fledged. You can tell the chicks apart from their parents by their muted coloration, dark eyes, and pale yellow beaks. (photo: Bird Team)

Amazing and meaningful work happening by the Golden Lion Tamarin Association, based in Brazil and one of Zoo Atlanta's s...
07/02/2025

Amazing and meaningful work happening by the Golden Lion Tamarin Association, based in Brazil and one of Zoo Atlanta's signature conservation partners. These growing trees will someday be forest in Jennifer's Forest Corridor, established in 2024 in memory of the late Dr. Jennifer Mickelberg. When mature, this tract of restored forest will provide connected habitat for more than 3,000 wild golden lion tamarins.

This is what looks like!
Carlos Alvarenga, Associação Mico Leão Dourado Forest Engineer, reports that native tree seedlings planted in Jennifer’s Forest Corridor in September 2024 are doing well. The tallest trees in the recent photo, “maricá” and “pau jacaré” are now about 3m (almost 10 ft) high. These trees are fast-growing pioneer species useful in establishing forest corridors in degraded areas. Some of the smaller trees, such as “baba de boi” are about 1m (3 ft) tall and are flowering. When mature, they will produce fruits that GLTs eat.
Thank you so much to our wonderful donors! To learn more and how you can help, please go to https://www.savetheliontamarin.org/jennifer-mickelberg-memorial

06/27/2025

Mumbles has recently been enjoying the best wallowing of his life thanks to your generous donations! We'd like to give a huge shoutout to our wonderful community for contributing to Mumbles's birthday fund back in May - we were able to purchase two truckloads of wallowing materials, and our horned prince is loving it! (video: Amy A.)

06/27/2025

Gorilla gorilla gorilla – exciting news! In April, we shared that female gorilla Merry would be traveling later this year to become part of a brand-new troop at San Antonio Zoo’s new Congo Falls, opening in late 2025. In May, we shared that Merry’s half-sister Andi will be part of this new troop, too. And today’s special update is that Anaka will make it a trio! These three half-sisters won’t be leaving Zoo Atlanta until later in the year, so there’s plenty of time to come visit. These are great examples of outstanding collaboration between organizations within the Gorilla Species Survival Plan!

06/26/2025

Found in southern Africa’s Kalahari and Namib deserts, meerkats sunbathe to absorb heat quickly, allowing them to regulate their body temperature. Warming up this way boosts their energy, making them more alert and active for foraging and keeping watch for predators! - Kirby M., Elephant Care Team (video: Kirby M.)

06/25/2025

Remy was recently due for his yearly check-up! Go behind-the-scenes for the exam at the new Rollins Animal Health Center and learn how the Orangutan Team uses training to help the orangutans participate in their own healthcare.

Say hello to the newest addition to our Ambassador Animals Team! Pancake is a 1-year-old ball python and comes to us fro...
06/24/2025

Say hello to the newest addition to our Ambassador Animals Team! Pancake is a 1-year-old ball python and comes to us from another AZA zoo. Welcome Pancake! (photo: Becky Y.)

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