The Newest, Cutest Baby Animals from the World's Zoos & Aquariums

  • Immaculate Epaulette Shark Conception!

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    Female shark pup born through parthenogenesis (without fertilization)

    Brookfield, Ill. — On August 23, an epaulette shark pup hatched at Brookfield Zoo. The hatching wasn’t unusual, but what is, is the way the shark embryo developed. The adult female shark had not been housed with a male since arriving at the Zoo in 2019. At that time, she was only 3 years old, and the species reaches sexual maturity around 7 years of age. Under these circumstances, animal care staff believe the female produced a fertile egg without needing to be fertilized by a male’s genetic material. This reproductive process known as parthenogenesis is when an embryo develops from an unfertilized egg cell.

    DSC_3905-Epaulette Shark Pup

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  • Roarsome News for Conservation at Dubbo Zoo

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    Lion keepers at Taronga Western Plains Zoo received the best gift for International Zookeeper Day, with a trio of lion cubs born late in the evening on Wednesday 4 October 2023.

    This is the second litter for breeding pair Marion and Lwazi, after three bouncing baby girls were born on 7 April 2022.

    “The cubs are doing really well, they’re hitting all their milestones and Marion is an absolute superstar mum,” said Senior Keeper Melanie Friedman.

    20231030_113456. Credit MEGAN LEWIS

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  • Endangered Reticulated giraffe Born at Zoo Overloon

    Overloon, November 2, 2023 – A reticulated giraffe was born in ZooParc this week. It is the first giraffe ever born in the zoo in Overloon.

    The reticulated giraffe is found in lightly vegetated savannas and grasslands south of the Sahara, including North Kenya, Somalia, and South Ethiopia. This species is threatened because its habitat is shrinking, primarily due to deforestation. Additionally, reticulated giraffes are hunted.

    Giraffe 1

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  • Trick or Treat

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    Lionesses, Penguins and Pygmy Goats Tear into Spooky Pumpkin Treats at Whipsnade Zoo 

    Spirited lionesses Waka and Winta were amongst the many youngsters sinking their teeth into Halloween at Whipsnade Zoo today (Monday 30 October) as zookeepers treated animals across the zoo to a spook-tacular surprise.  

    Zookeepers carved petrifying pumpkins for many of the 11,000 animals at the UK’s largest zoo, using the spooky squashes to put the animals' foraging and hunting skills to the test. 

    Endangered African peguins have fishy snacks out of Halloween pumpkins (c) Whipsnade Zoo

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  • Surprise: Critically Endangered Chimpanzee Born at Beekse Bergen

    Hilvarenbeek, October 30, 2023 – A West African chimpanzee has been born at Beekse Bergen. The gender of the newborn is not yet known. Mother and the young one are doing well.

    Caregivers at the safari park were not certain if mother Nadine was pregnant, as the latest pregnancy tests turned out negative after earlier positive results. The same pregnancy tests used for humans are employed for great apes.

    Pasgeboren chimpansee (5)

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  • The Love Story Continues: Zoo’s ‘Cappy’ Couple Welcome Triplets One Year After their First Baby in Over a Decade

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    What’s cuter than a capybara baby? Three capybara babies! One year after lovey-dovey capy couple Augustus and Clementine welcomed their first baby, Satsuma, they’ve become proud parents to three bundles of joy – and Drusillas Park zookeepers couldn’t be happier.

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  • Two Rare Rhinos, Persian Onager are Latest Births at The Wilds

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    Bottle-fed greater one-horned rhino calf thriving at conservation center

    CUMBERLAND, Ohio — Births at The Wilds are always cause for celebration, but this fall the reward is triple-fold as a southern white rhino, a greater one-horned rhino – who required hand-rearing to thrive – and a Persian onager are garnering the attention of visitors and staff at the 10,000-acre conservation center.

    The yet-to-be-named female greater one-horned rhino was born on September 22, 2023—just in time for World Rhino Day. She took immediately to the bottle and already weighs more than 150 pounds. The hand-rearing of a rhino calf is a first for The Wilds’ Animal Management team, who acted quickly when they noticed Anna, a first-time mother born at the Bronx Zoo in 2013, was unable to care for her newborn and both required medical interventions. Anna came to The Wilds in 2021.

    Greater One-horned Rhino Calf 1480 - Amanda Carberry Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

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  • Sloth Day: Schönbrunn Zoo Celebrates with Newborns

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    In the birdhouse of Schönbrunn Zoo, sloths are undoubtedly the big favorites among the audience. Those who visit them tomorrow, on the occasion of Sloth Day, will experience a small furry surprise. "For the 13th time, we have had offspring among our sloths. A young one was born on August 20th. Initially, it was hidden in the protective fur of the mother, but by now, you can observe the little one well," announces Simone Haderthauer, zoological department head, with joy. The young one lies on its mother like in a hammock. It will only start hanging independently on branches at about six months old.

    Photos by Daniel Zupanc

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  • Hold Onto Your Stripes!!!

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    We've got paw-sitively exciting news.

    On July 20, Toledo Zoo welcomed twin Amur tigers!

    The cubs were born to mom, Talya, and dad, Titan. Talya and Titan had also welcomed twins in 2021.

    At their last exam earlier in September, the twins were 15 and 16 pounds. Talya and the playful cubs are doing well off-exhibit.

    TigerDen-1

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  • Spiky Bundle of Joy 

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    Baby Cape Porcupine born at Whipsnade Zoo 

    A tiny baby porcupette has been caught on camera tucking into carrots and tomatoes and exploring its new home, as Whipsnade zookeepers share behind the scenes videos of the spiky new addition – which was born at the conservation Zoo last month.  

    Cape Porcupine baby and Mum Kimya enjoying some snacks during the day at Whipsnade Zoo (c) Whipsnade Zoo

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