Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

March 22, 2012 - Jacksonville, Fl -

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announces the birth of a mandrill born on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, to 16-year-old dam, Deanna, and 17-year-old sire, Douglas. The gender of the infant is not yet known. Mother and infant are doing very well, and the infant appears strong and healthy.  This marks the fourth offspring for Deanna and brings Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ mandrill collection to a total of five animals.

Deanna and her new infant will be officially introduced to the public on Friday, March 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  They will also be on exhibit Saturday, March 24 and Sunday March 25.  After that time, they will rotate on and off exhibit with Douglas and Gucci, one of Deanna’s offspring.

Kumani, another female offspring of Deanna’s, is currently sharing the living space with her mother and the new infant and is gaining valuable experience by observing maternal behavior.

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 plants. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and has the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org.