Potawatomi Zoo

Hornbill investigates pumpkin

A hornbill-carved pumpkin for a southern ground hornbill! Our youngest hornbill male, Cyrus, was very curious about this fascinating new thing! The spooky season may be over, but that doesn’t mean our animals don’t still like to eat pumpkin. Pumpkins are a great source of vitamins, fiber, and nutrients for a wide range of animals at the Zoo, and even domesticated animals! Thanks to Keeper Lisa for sharing!

Baby marmosets learning to play

Teeny little marmoset kisses! If you haven’t seen the baby white-fronted marmosets in the Learning Center, please know that they’re a) tiny and b) cute!

Giraffe Zindzhi gives birth

It's something incredible to see a giraffe calf born! Thanks to cameras throughout the giraffe barn, animal care and vet staff were able to watch Zindzhi give birth without disturbing the natural process. Our preference is to be hands-off, and thankfully, this birth went as smoothly as possible. We think it's especially sweet that the male Masai giraffes were so interested in the process. Giraffes are herd animals, so this kind of curiosity is completely natural for them.

Sand Cats Get Fed

It’s the best time of day! Breakfast! At least…the best time until dinner. The sand cats get mice twice per day, and they’re working on target training. The zoo keeper asks them to go to a specific spot before they get their food. Training like this helps with caring for the cats, and it ensures each animal is getting the right amount of nutrition.

Andean bear brothers debut at the Potawatomi Zoo

We can BEARLY contain our excitement! The Zoo's new Andean bear brothers, Ian and Sean, are out and about in the Andean bear habitat next to The Lodge! Ian and Sean are only two years old, and they recently moved to the Potawatomi Zoo from another Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoo. Although Andean bears are solitary in the wild by nature, Ian and Sean will stay together in the habitat and behind-the-scenes, separate from Muniri, the Zoo’s first Andean bear. Muniri will continue to live at the Zoo, and visitors will see either him or Ian and Sean when they visit the Zoo. We're so lucky to have this unusual, vulnerable species of bear living at the Zoo. We get to share the conservation story of this species and their native region (the Tropical Andes), and we look forward to the opportunity to contribute to species preservation through a future breeding recommendation. Check out our website for more information and pictures. potawatomizoo.org/new-andean-bear-brothers/

Snow leopard versus treat ball

Sometimes you get the treats, and sometimes the treats fight back! It's International Snow Leopard Day, and we love to celebrate this fascinating species of cat. Native to central Asia, scientists estimate there are only around 4000-6000 snow leopards left in the wild. Although they're endangered, wildlife conservation organizations like Snow Leopard Trust are working to preserve snow leopard habitat and conserve the species. Don't worry, Dian did eventually succeed at eating the meatball hidden in this treat ball. Even with one eye, he's very good at getting food! Curious about his missing eye? He was born with a genetic abnormality found in snow leopards called multiple ocular coloboma syndrome, which caused chronic discomfort. After multiple surgeries to try and fix the problem, in 2019, his ophthalmologist and vet decided removing the eye would be the best plan for controlling his pain. It was a success, and Dian has done so well without it!

Giraffe calf born at the Potawatomi Zoo

We don't have words for how excited we are for this announcement! We are THRILLED to share that our female Masai giraffe, Zindzhi, had a healthy female calf last week! The calf has already been checked by veterinarian and animal care staff, and both she and Zindzhi seem to be healthy and thriving. The calf weighed around 135 pounds at birth and she's about six feet tall. (Zindzhi was already pregnant when she arrived at the Potawatomi Zoo last year. The father is a male Masai giraffe from her previous residence, another Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facility.) This is an incredible opportunity for us to educate our visitors about giraffes in the wild, which is at the heart of our mission. But not only that, it’s also an incredible opportunity for the community, who has supported the Zoo and its giraffes every step of the way, to watch our first calf grow up. She's still a little shy, but the calf may be visible to the public in the giraffe barn or outside, weather permitting. While she's still a baby access outside will be limited to sunny and at least 60 degrees.

Bear Eats Pumpkin

Muniri loves pumpkins, and so do we! The Zoo’s Pumpkin Patch is open through November 2, including during Zoo Boo! This Friday and Saturday, the hours are 2-5 pm and Sunday, the hours are 10 am to 5 pm. For $8, you get a small pumpkin, a train ride, and an edible craft! Thanks to Keeper Emily for sharing Muniri the Andean bear absolutely destroying this big pumpkin. With gusto!

Potawatomi Zoo Boo 2024

👻 Zoo Boo is coming up this weekend! October 18-20, the Zoo will ONLY be open for Zoo Boo. Friday and Saturday hours are 2-9 and Sunday is 10-5. Tickets for this event are $14 per person for non-Zoo Members and $6 per person for Zoo Members. Babies 2 and under are free. The Treat Trail is included with all tickets! 🚂 The Haunted Train is $3 per person and the carousel is $3 per seated rider. Please note, the Haunted Train WILL be scarier after 5 pm, so please plan accordingly. 🍕 We'll have food trucks, plus our own concessions open. 😎 The weather looks gorgeous, and we can't wait to see you! 🎃 Visit potawatomizoo.org/zooboo for more details.

African Painted Dogs Turn 1

Happy birthday to our African painted dog pups, Apollo, Ares, and Artemis! We're so proud of our vet staff and animal care staff for fighting to keep these three boys alive and thriving, and we're thrilled that they're a year old today. If you're at the Zoo today, check out enrichment at noon and 3 pm. If you come at noon, you might also get to meet the painted dog pups' surrogate dog mom, Kassy! Kassy the golden retriever helped us raise the boys until they were weaned, and while she was living at the Zoo, our General Curator Jami fell in love with her. It took a little time, but Jami was able to adopt Kassy. "She was our hero," Jami says, "and now we get to be her hero for the rest of her life."

Porcupine up close

We’re a little biased, but we’re pretty sure Humvee is the cutest North American porcupine we’ve ever seen. Did you know he got his name from the humming sound he makes when he would drink milk as a baby? He still hums sometimes when he’s eating!

Smiley the alligator is on the move! Check out the way he uses his tail to propel himself through the water. Alligators can swim as fast as 20 mph and run in bursts of 35 mph! This handsome guy is about 45 years old. Did you grow up visiting Smiley or have you gotten to know him more recently? Thanks to zoo visitor Kirbea for capturing Smiley swimming.