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Zoo Babies

There is a baby boom going on at Nashville Zoo. Three clouded leopard cubs have been joined by a lorikeet chick and are awaiting the arrival of a baby anteater. Fall guests will have the unique opportunity to meet these new additions to our Zoo family."

The Three Amigos

The Zoo is beaming with pride at the May 30th birth of three rare clouded leopard cubs. Luk, Chet and Sita have been celebrated not only because of their incredible appeal, but also because their birth was a sign of hope to a species in decline. Beginning Sept. 4, the rambunctious trio will be on exhibit at Critter Encounters..

Clouded leopards are seriously endangered due to deforestation, the pet trade and poaching. Since 2002, Nashville Zoo has been a partner in the Thailand Clouded Leopard Consortium, working with other zoos and organizations to develop a multi-faceted conservation program. The cubs’ parents, Arun and Jing Jai, were one of two pairs of clouded leopards that came to the United States in 2008 as part of the Consortium’s effort to create genetic diversity among the species. The other pair went to National Zoo’s Conservation & Research Center in Front Royal, VA. In March of this year, National Zoo’s female gave birth to two males. Their birth, along with the three cubs’ birth at Nashville Zoo, introduced new genes into the American population for the first time in 20 years.

Mammal curator Karen Rice describes the threesome as energetic and active. “Male cub Luk is playful but sensitive,” she says. “Chet, the other male, is the most rambunctious of the three and was the first to start chuffing, the leopard equivalent of purring. And Sita, the lone female, is the instigator, often being the first to take a swing and paw at her brothers.”

While the cubs are interactive with each other, they are gaining more and more independence from the zookeepers. “They are straying further from us than previously, and they are playing very rough, with lots of biting and climbing,” says Rice. “This is a very important stage for the cubs, as they are really learning to become clouded leopards. This behavior will continue for several months, so Critter Encounters will be a great place for guests to see all of this interaction.”

Lightnin’ the Lorikeet

There will be a new guy flying through the trees at Lorikeet Landing. Bluehead lorikeets Simon and Emma became parents this summer to a chick named Lightnin’. He hatched on July 12 and will soon be making his first appearance in the Landing.

Simon and Emma have been great parents, providing the new chick with food and nourishment since his arrival. “We got very lucky since Simon and Emma are first-time parents that were not parent-raised,” said Laura Vague, lorikeet supervisor. “We checked on Lightnin’ in the nest several times a day and also made sure his parents were getting as much to eat as they needed. It worked out great and our little dude is growing like crazy!”

Once Lightnin’ is fully fledged, he will be taken off exhibit until zookeepers are comfortable with his ability to eat and fly on his own.

Anteater Anticipation

Giant anteaters Cezar and Praim were quite a thrill for guests this summer. They spent much of their day exploring their habitat, digging through dirt and eating – you guessed it – lots of ants. They also got to know each other quite well. As a result, Praim is pregnant with an expected due date of early to mid-September.

The newest addition to the anteater family will be the youngest anteater ever on display at the Zoo. When the baby arrives, the little guy or gal will immediately climb onto Praim’s back and stay there for up to a year. Though the baby will weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds at birth, it can end up weighing close to 90 pounds before this piggyback time is over.

Male giant anteaters are known to be aggressive towards infants, so the Zoo will be moving Cezar to an off-exhibit area until Praim delivers and is able to raise her baby. Cezar is kept busy during this time, participating in an off-exhibit diet study. Praim and her baby will be on exhibit until around November when the weather becomes too cool for their tropical preferences.