For immediate release
Contact:  Gina Stiles, 904-757-4463, ext. 210
Mercede New, 904-757-4463, ext. 211

New Male Mandrill Made His Debut at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

June 1, 2009 – Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is pleased to announce the arrival of a new male mandrill.  Gunnite, the male mandrill, arrived from the Milwaukee County Zoo, where he had resided for the past 10 years.  He was born in June, 1990, at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.  At 19 years of age, he is considered geriatric; however, the Zoo is very thankful for his arrival as male mandrills are in short supply in the captive population, and the present group of female mandrills have been without a breeding male for 2 ½ years.  Gunnite has been recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) to breed with the Zoo’s current adult female, and is getting along very nicely with the group of female mandrills.  He is a very impressive looking mandrill as he is exceptionally large, and can been seen in the mandrill exhibit in Great Apes.

Mandrills are in the primate family and are from the western and central portions of Africa, where they habitat in the tropical rain forest.  Female mandrills can weigh 24 to 30 pounds, while males can reach weights of 110 pounds.  They are known for the beautiful blue and red markings on their faces. 

Photos are available upon request.

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment.  Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 1,400 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Located on Jacksonville’s north side one-quarter mile off I-95, the Zoo is open year-round, 7 days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  The Zoo is open until 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays from March to Labor Day.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

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