Brookfield, Ill. — The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, is happy to announce the birth of a male South American tapir calf on May 22.  Beginning, May 26, zoogoers will be able to see 11-year-old mom Sorghum (pronounced SOAR-gum) and her yet-to-be-named calf indoors at the Pachyderm House. Once the weather warms a little, they will have access to their outdoor habitat, located on the north side of the building.

Credits: Lynette Kleisner/CZS-Brookfield Zoo

Following a 13-month gestation, Sorghum gave birth to the approximately 20-pound calf. Throughout her pregnancy, the zoo’s veterinary staff was able to monitor the fetus with regular ultrasounds. To accomplish this voluntary behavior from Sorghum, animal care specialists used positive reinforcement to desensitize the 550-pound mother-to-be to the sound of the ultrasound machine, the smell of rubbing alcohol and gel used on the ultrasound probe, and the feeling of the probe on her belly.

SAN DIEGO (May 20, 2022) – The San Diego Zoo celebrated another milestone as wildlife care staff welcomed the birth of a rare male golden takin—the second of this takin subspecies to be born in the Western Hemisphere and the first male. The takin calf, named Jin Tong (pronounced jean tong), and means Golden boy in Mandarin Chinese, was born on March 21 to mom, Bona. The Zoo’s wildlife care specialists performed a comprehensive first exam and confirmed Jin Tong is doing well and adjusting to life within the herd.

Oregon Zoo’s one-month-old orangutan Jolene met her dad Bob for the first time! With May sunshine finally in the forecast, Jolene and her parents are spending more time in their outdoor habitat. Visitors to the zoo should be able to catch a glimpse of the youngster on most days, though the choice is always up to her mom.

The Milwaukee County Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a Japanese macaque. The baby, whose sex is not yet known, was born May 1 to 9-year-old mom, Usagi, and 7-year-old dad, Kota. This marks the first offspring for Usagi and the fourth for Kota. Visitors can see the baby in the Macaque Island habitat. Japanese macaques are also known as snow monkeys, a terrestrial Old World monkey species native to Japan.

The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is delighted to have released two patients back into the wild after they were found with air rifle pellets lodged in their bodies; Bonnie the common brushtail possum and Cruiser the lace monitor.

In partnership with Crime Stoppers Queensland, Wildlife Warriors is working towards further protecting our native fauna, as the Wildlife Hospital continues to see a significant increase in patients who are intentionally being harmed by humans.

Their birth is important for the survival of this critically endangered big cat

(St. Louis, Mo - May 19, 2022) Two critically endangered Amur leopard cubs were born at the Saint Louis Zoo on April 21, 2022. The little females are the first cubs born at the Zoo since 2010 and their births are a significant contribution to the population of Amur leopards in North American zoos. This species is considered one of the most endangered cats in the world.

Wildcat kittens, which will likely be among the first of their species to be released into the wild in Britain, have been born in the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding for release centre at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Highland Wildlife Park.  

After 16 wildcats were paired up earlier this year, the European partnership project has welcomed eight kittens in three litters so far and the Saving Wildcats team is hopeful for more births over the coming weeks. 

Led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), Saving Wildcats is working with national and international experts to restore Scotland’s critically endangered wildcat population by breeding and releasing them into carefully selected locations in the Cairngorms National Park. 

Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo swoop in and hand-rear five adorable penguin chicks  

Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo have their hands full in the penguin nursery this month – feeding and caring for five hungry Humboldt penguin chicks, after their parents were unable to look after them.  

This giraffe calf is a female named Akacia and she was born on April 30^th.

She is the first calf for Copenhagen Zoo’s young new breeding male, but the seventh calf for her mother. Copenhagen is expecting one more calf from one of their other females very soon.

Djibril, the “adopted” chimpanzee at Spain’s BIOPARC Valencia has turned 3 years old.

His story began at BIOPARC Fuengirola where, after being rejected by his mother, the park team had to intervene to save his life.

His valuable genetics motivated an important international operation of the conservation program of this endangered species.

With this objective, Djibril moved to BIOPARC Valencia. After a long process and a lot of care, he managed to integrate into the group of chimpanzees.

At first he was shy and insecure and the technical staff remained alert because each step was a new challenge.

But soon Djibril became one of the family, and now he plays with his "brother" Coco.

It’s a happy ending for Djibril and a reason for hope for the preservation of chimpanzees.