John Ball Zoo

02/14/2025

Roses are red, violets are blue, here's a special Valentine from your favorite Boo(boo) ❤️

02/12/2025

Our second hiring party is tomorrow (2/13)! 🎉

Join us from 4PM-7PM and meet with hiring managers from various departments and explore unique opportunities across seven departments, from Food and Beverage, Retail, to Guest Experiences & Admissions, each offering valuable skill development and memorable experiences.

Benefits for team members include:
🪪 Zoo Membership – during employment ($135 Value)
🚌 Free Bus Passes
🥪 Free Lunches ($100 Value)
🐧 Incentive Opportunities for Close Encounters like Penguin feeding, Brown Bear encounter, etc.
🎟️ Tickets to special events like Lantern Festival, Locked Zoo, etc.
- and more!

Click to learn more: John Ball Zoo Hiring Party

Can't make it? We have one more hiring party next Saturday, Feb. 22nd from 10AM-2PM.

02/12/2025

🚨 Paws for a quick sniff test from Mera and Yuki 🚨

02/10/2025

Looking for an exciting job opportunity this spring/summer? 🌞

Immerse yourself in wildlife conservation and guest experiences at John Ball Zoo! Join us at one of our upcoming hiring parties and meet with hiring managers from various departments and explore a variety of positions suited to your skills and interests.

Dates:
Thursday, February 13th from 4PM-7PM
Saturday, February 22nd from 10AM-2PM

Potential job opportunities in areas such as:
🥤 Food and Beverage
🎟️ Guest Experiences & Admissions
👕 Retail
🎨 Face Painting
🌳 Buildings & Grounds
- and more!

Click to learn more: facebook.com/events/1351551952695705/

Want to learn more, interview, and get hired on the spot? Attend one of our upcoming Hiring Parties at John Ball Zoo:

02/09/2025

A preview of Michiganders watching the Super Bowl knowing the Lions aren't in it 🙄

02/07/2025

Looking for an exciting job opportunity this spring/summer? 🌞

Step into the world of wildlife conservation and guest experiences at John Ball Zoo. Join us for our first of three hiring parties tomorrow (2/08) from 10AM to 1PM. This is an 18+ event. Meet hiring managers from several different departments offering a wide range of positions tailored to your interests and skills.

Potential job opportunities in areas such as:
🥤 Food and Beverage
🎟️ Guest Experiences & Admissions
👕 Retail
🎨 Face Painting
🌳 Buildings & Grounds
- and more!

Click to learn more: facebook.com/events/604997728843213/

02/06/2025

Wishing happy birthday to a bear-y special brown bear 🎉

Booboo is celebrating her birthday the only way she knows how—by staying half-asleep. 💤 At 31 years old, she’s mastered the fine art of torpor: not quite hibernating, not quite awake, just vibing somewhere between dreaming of snacks and ignoring all responsibilities.

02/04/2025

Waddle you know about penguin wellness? 🐧

Our 26 Magellanic penguin residents received their annual health exams last week to make sure they’re happy, healthy, and ready to waddle into another great season. From beak to belly, every penguin gets a full check-up, including a weight check, beak and nail trimming, and a full physical exam. 🩺

02/02/2025

When you order a groundhog from Wish and get a meerkat instead ✨

02/01/2025

Hey parents, registration is open for our ZooLittles Nature-Play Program! 🐞 ZooLittles offers young children hands-on learning opportunities centered around nature and exploration, aimed at inspiring their hearts and enriching their minds. 🌳

Interested in registering your child for ZooLittles? Visit our website to learn more: jbzoo.org/education/zoolittles/

01/31/2025

Pack your virtual bags and join Conservation Manager Bill on an epic adventure in Nepal with Red Panda Network. From misty Himalayan treks to spotting the dashing (and very photogenic) red panda, his blog is bursting with unforgettable moments and epic selfies. 📸

Learn how tree planting, fuel-efficient stoves, and local heroes are making a big impact for communities and endangered species alike. 🐾🌳

Click the link to read about Bill's awe-inspiring journey: jbzoo.org/zoo-news/

01/29/2025

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Peggy, the ~55-year-old female chimpanzee. In the last several days our animal care team had noticed a deterioration in Peggy's health and had been treating her with new medications and monitoring her closely.

Peggy joined John Ball Zoo on April 18, 2001, after 17 years at Cleveland Zoo and 12 at Detroit Zoo. She was the sassy elder of our chimpanzee troop, known for her sweet faces and signature screams. Peggy left a lasting impact on her fellow chimps and those who cared for her. With female chimpanzees living around 40 years in AZA-accredited institutions, we feel incredibly fortunate to have shared 24 of Peggy’s remarkable 55 years with her.

Please take a moment to offer your condolences to all who are feeling this loss. We thank you for your support during this difficult time.

01/27/2025

Monday's amirite? 🥱

📸: Enya deFeijter

01/25/2025

Snow leopard cuddle puddle ❄️

7-month-old Mera may be getting older, but she still enjoys playing, snuggling, and pouncing on her mom, Yuki.

01/23/2025

Eyes so cool, who needs eyelids? 👀

Leaf-tailed geckos have "eye-conic" sight. With vertical pupils featuring pinholes that expand at night to maximize light intake, these geckos have exceptional night vision.

📸: Enya deFeijter

01/21/2025

Bone appétit 🦴

The lynx kits weren’t quite sure what to make of the bones they received the other day, and it was pretty "humerus" watching them figure it out.

01/16/2025

Wallaby friends forever? ☃️

Jackie and the wallabies enjoyed a frosty feast with this extra-special snowman decked out in lettuce, apples, and carrots. A winter snack and a friend all in one—talk about snowman goals.

📸: Curator Dan