Zoo News

For the first time in its history, the Akron Zoo has welcomed a Speke’s gazelle calf. The female calf, named Aluna, was born on Jan. 4 and is doing great.

The calf’s parents are the zoo’s two Speke’s gazelles, female Gambella and male Gondar. The calf is currently residing in the gazelle barn with her mother and will make her public debut once the weather begins to warm up.

The Akron Zoo is heartbroken to share the passing of its female jaguar, Naom. The zoo’s veterinary care team made the decision to humanely euthanize 18 ½-year-old Naom due to a recent overall decline in her health, along with complications associated with mammary cancer. The median life expectancy for jaguars is 18 years old. 

The Akron Zoo’s snow leopard cub will make her public debut on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 10 – 11 a.m. The cub and her mom, Shanti, will be together in the snow leopard habitat.

The Akron Zoo is heartbroken to share the passing of their Humboldt penguin chick, Alberto. Alberto passed away due to injuries sustained overnight from other adult penguins.

The Akron Zoo recently welcomed a Siberian musk deer fawn. The fawn, a male named Little Bucky, was born on May 22. Little Bucky is currently with mom, Anastasia, in their indoor bedroom. Father, Vlad, remains in the musk deer habitat daily. 

A snow leopard cub was recently born at the Akron Zoo. The female cub was born on April 29 and is currently in a private cubbing area with mom, Shanti.

A Humboldt penguin chick hatched at the Akron Zoo on Saturday, May 11. The penguin’s parents are Dr. Oswald Cobblepot and Big Bertha from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The egg was a high priority in terms of genetic diversity and the decision was made by the Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP) to send the egg to the Akron Zoo.

The Akron Zoo is sad to share the passing of one of their female Humboldt penguins, Emmanuelle (Emma). At age 36, Emma was the oldest, zoo-born female Humboldt penguin in any Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility. The median life expectancy for Humboldt penguins is 16.5 years. 

A male North American river otter has arrived at the Akron Zoo and is now in the river otter habitat regularly. Odie came to Akron from the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium and is 12 years old. 

The Akron Zoo has received a $1.5 million gift for its ROAR campaign from an individual donor – the largest donation in the zoo’s history. The gift supports the current expansion of the zoo, including new and innovative wildlife areas Pride of Africa. The donor has requested to remain anonymous.