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Neck and Neck: Update on OKC Zoo Giraffes Ellie and Julu’s Pregnancies

Two of the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s giraffes, 20-year-old, Ellie, and five-year-old, Julu, are pregnant and each due to give birth between late April and early May 2021. Caretakers have enjoyed watching the mother-daughter duo experience their pregnancies together. This will be Ellie’s sixth calf to be born at the Zoo and Julu’s first offspring. Three-year-old, Demetri, is the father of both calves, which are also his first offspring. The average gestation f... Read More

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How to Train a Baby Rhino

At just over 550 pounds, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s youngest Indian rhino is growing up quickly! Yabi was born on October 23, 2020, weighing in at approximately 154 pounds. She is the second calf born to mom, Niki, but she more closely resembles her late father, Arun. Never far from mom, Yabi gains a little more confidence and independence every day as she continues to explore her habitat in Sanctuary Asia. Guests can often find her wallowing in the mud or napping in ... Read More

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OKC ZOO BABY NEWS: OUR GIRAFFE HERD IS GROWING BY TWO!

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s gift to you this holiday season – we are excited to announce that our giraffe herd is growing by two! The Zoo’s female giraffes, Ellie, 20, and Julu, 5, are pregnant and due to give birth in May 2021. Demetri, 3, is the father of both calves, which are also his first offspring. This will be Ellie’s sixth calf to be born at the OKC Zoo and Julu’s first offspring. The OKC Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and ... Read More

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Friday, July 3, 2020

Following Fin’s Footsteps: A Momentous Milestone

Before the morning of Thursday, June 26, two-year-old Western lowland gorilla, Finyezi (Fin), had never been seen on public view by guests at the Oklahoma City Zoo, but all of that changed that sunny morning, when he explored the gorilla habitat with his family troop for the first time! While many on-looking Zoo guests may have not realized the importance of that moment in time, we (Fin’s caretakers) all watched with butterflies in our stomachs as we witnessed him reach the ultimate mi... Read More

at Friday, July 3, 2020

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Friday, May 17, 2019

Fostering Finyezi: Western Lowland Gorilla Bonds with Surrogate Mom

Finyezi, born June 15, 2018, is nearing his first birthday – a year that has been complete with many milestones met! Shortly after Fin’s birth in June 2018, it was observed that his mother, Njole, was not providing maternal care for him. Following this observation, his caretaker’s made the decision to hand raise him behind-the-scenes - a rewarding job that ‘took a village’. Because gorillas are very social and complex animals, it was important for Fin to on... Read More

at Friday, May 17, 2019

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Category: baby animals