Category — News

The Night Hunters exhibit opening was a success! We had great weather last Friday night for Members Night. The Zoo was packed and, judging from the line to get into the new exhibit, everyone was eager to walk through it. I even waited in line with my family so they could see it, even though I had just been in the building working on some last minute preparations just a couple of hours before. My kids loved it (they are 2 and 4 years old).

Night Hunters entrance sign

Shhh! sign leading to the entry door

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The three manatees that arrived at the Cincinnati Zoo on November 3, in a “sea cow shuffle” that involved six institutions and nine manatees, are adjusting well to their new home.

Wooten and Betsy. The largest and the smallest!

For those of you who may not have been introduced to our new sea cow trio, here is a quick run-down of who’s who.  Betsy is our 1,800-lb female who came from Homosassa Springs State Park and is 20 years old.  Illusion and Wooten both were living at Miami Seaquarium before arriving here, and formed a friendship while there.

Illusion was rescued in March 2010 after being struck by a boat, and her injuries from the propeller are very obvious.  Wooten, our little guy, was found as an orphan in February and is just about a year old.

Illusion is very curious, especially with our divers when they are cleaning.  She loves to roll in the hoses that they use, and also seems to enjoy when the keepers are treating her wounds.  The keepers are keeping a close eye on Illusion’s injuries, making sure that they are healing properly so that she will be ready for release next year.

Illusion came to us from the Miami Seaquarium

Wooten is our eating machine, though he would rather steal a head of lettuce from one of the girls than go get one of his own.  Like any youngster, he likes to investigate new things but will quickly swim back to his buddy, Illusion, if he is unsure of things.  If he continues to eat like he does now, he may hit the 600 lbs. mark needed to be released next year.

Betsy is a very typical manatee, laid back and timid while taking her napping and snacking very seriously.  She seems to be a magnet for the smaller two, especially at naptime when they all usually huddle together near one of the logs in the exhibit.

Illusion, Betsy & Wooten in Manatee Springs.

We are very excited to have these three be the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth manatees to call the Cincinnati Zoo their temporary home.

I shot some underwater video of their first hours in Manatee Springs…

It doesn’t get any cuter than this!

Two eight-week-old Cougar Cubs are now on display in our Children’s Zoo Nursery.  The brothers, named “Joseph” and “Tecumseh” are here to help the Zoo tell a great story about this legendary cat that once lived in all our back yards.

The brothers, born September 19, 2010, will soon join the Cat Ambassador Program in preparation for roles as Animal Ambassadors in the future Night Hunters exhibit.

They weigh approximately 8.5 pounds and are eating meat, four to five times a day, for a total of roughly four pounds daily.  As adults these two males will weigh anywhere from 140 to 200 pounds. Also known as a Mountain Lion, Puma, or Panther, the cougar is the largest of the small cats.

You can see them in the Children’s Zoo now and throughout the PNC Festival of Lights.