Another Baby Boom at the Cincinnati Zoo!

Posted July 30, 2020

Animals didn’t stay six feet apart during quarantine

CINCINNATI, OH (July 30, 2020)  The latest baby to arrive post-quarantine is a female bonobo born to first-time mom Kesi last week.  She caps off a string of recent births that include a king penguin chick, Pocket the wallaby, a red panda cub, more flamingo chicks than any other year, a red-crowned crane chick, a colobus monkey, skunk kits, and dead-leaf mantises!

We usually celebrate Zoo Babies month in May, but we’re seeing a surprisingly-large second wave of births this year,” said Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard. “We joke about COVID quarantine being the cause, but the animals didn’t actually spend any more time than usual together during lockdown.  We did our best to keep their routines the same.”

Visitors may be able to see the new bonobo baby, the 11th of this critically endangered species to be born at the Cincinnati Zoo, outside in Jungle Trails as early as next week!  She and her mom and dad, 49-year-old Vernon, are bonding behind the scenes and doing well.  Some of the other little ones are also behind the scenes, but visitors can see crane and flamingo chicks, two-month old colobus monkey Phoebe, and the red panda cub if mom brings it out from the nest box. The Zoo will provide regular updates on all the babies via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Become a Zoo member today so you can visit often and see the babies grow up! Other member perks include Early Entry*, free parking, and discounts on food and retail. Starting tomorrow a whole new selection of goodies will be available for purchase in the NEW Mai Thai’s Market! It’s all part of your Summer Adventure at the Cincinnati Zoo, presented by Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers.

 *NOTE: Reservations are required for all guests.