Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

August 14, 2012 - Jacksonville, Fl -

Twin Amur leopard cubs have taken on a celebrity status with visitors at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens since their public debut on July 27, 2012.  Leopard mom, Makari, watches intently as her cute but feisty twin male cubs—now weighing over eight pounds each—put on quite a show as they chase, wrestle, jump over and stalk each other.  According to cub zoo keepers the cubs are cutest when they are “attacking” the two inch high plants in the exhibit (much to the chagrin of the Zoo’s horticulture staff). The cubs are on exhibit from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day.  Their fans will also be pleased to know that the Zoo is planning a public naming contest which will be conducted through its Facebook page, facebook.com/JacksonvilleZooandGardens.  Details will be announced soon.

The next in line for Zoo stardom is an adorable female lion cub, born June 30th.  The cub had its second round of vaccinations recently and is doing very well.  In fact, she now weighs a whopping twelve pounds, which is four times her weight from just six weeks ago!  As she grows and gains confidence, her keepers will begin to introduce the lion cub to the big lion enclosure.  Zoo guests can look forward to the cub making her way on display within the next several months.  Stay tuned for details regarding the lion cub’s public debut.  In the meantime, Zoo visitors will be able to watch the lion cub’s daily activities on the TV monitor at the gazebo beginning today, August 14th.

Zoo guests have enjoyed watching another of their favorite baby animals, the six week old female giraffe, frolicking from the Giraffe Overlook since the calf was only two days old!  The Marbled Teal—the youngest of the baby boomers, are still too small to go on exhibit in the River Valley Aviary after they hatched on July 1st.  They are expected to be put on exhibit in about three months.  The three Rock pythons, hatched June 28th through 30th, are doing very well and can now be seen in the African Reptile Pavilion.

About the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
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. Started 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. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and regional, state and local awards for its botanical gardens. The Jacksonville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 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.