Conservation Archives - Animal Fact Guide

50th Bison Calf Born at Oakland Zoo!

Posted on June 29, 2026 by admin

Oakland Zoo welcomed the fourth bison calf of the season in June! The birth also marked a major milestone: the 50th bison calf born since the start of a program in 2016 to restore bison back to the wild. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Zoo welcomed an adorable baby bison earlier this month! Affectionately called a “red dog”, the calf sports a reddish-brown coat and is very playful.

This was the zoo’s fourth bison calf birth this season and the 50th bison birth since the start of Oakland Zoo’s partnership with Blackfeet Nation and Indigenous LED in 2016. The goal of the program is to restore bison to free-ranging herds roaming Blackfeet Territory and Glacier National Park in Montana.

Affectionately called “red dogs”, bison calves sport a reddish-brown coat when they’re born, and they’re very playful. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

In May, the program transported five zoo-born bison by trailer to a free-ranging herd in Montana. The additions to the herd will promote genetic diversity and will help bolster the population of bison in the wild.

The program transported five zoo-born bison by trailer in May to their natural habitat in Montana to join a free-ranging herd. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

In the early 1900s, American bison (also known as buffalo) nearly went extinct due to the surge of settlers moving west. Currently, bison numbers are improving but the populations still lack genetic diversity. The partnership of Oakland Zoo, Blackfeet Nation, and Indigenous LED aims to address that issue with captive breeding.

“With the birth of its 50th calf, the Oakland Zoo is helping bring home far more than buffalo to the Blackfeet Nation. Together, we are restoring threads that were once severed—between people and place, culture and identity, memory and future—showing what becomes possible when restoration is rooted in relationship,” says Cristina Mormorunni, Executive Director of Indigenous LED.

Bison calf and mama. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

The bison calf will eventually join a free-ranging herd in Montana. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

To learn more about the bison restoration project, see the Oakland Zoo website and the Indigenous LED website.

For more information about bison, see our article, American Bison.

VIDEO: Baby Masai Giraffe Born at Toronto Zoo

Posted on May 11, 2026 by admin

Imara, a Masai giraffe calf, was born on February 22, 2026 at Toronto Zoo. Photo credit: Toronto Zoo.

In February, the Toronto Zoo in Canada welcomed a baby who is most likely taller than you! Standing at 1.95 m (6 ft. 4 in.) a half hour after being born, the newborn Masai giraffe calf was a very happy (and very tall) addition to the zoo.

Like all giraffes, the female calf, named Imara, had a very long drop to the ground when she was born–about 2 m (6 ft.)! Watch a video of her birth here:

Imari and her mom, Mstari, are doing well and are being supervised by zoo staff.

According to Dolf DeJong, CEO, Your Toronto Zoo, “We announced Mstari’s pregnancy on Mother’s Day last year and after a 15-month pregnancy we are thrilled to have a healthy calf in our care, raising the profile of endangered Masai giraffes and inspiring our community to learn more and stand with us as Guardians of Wild.”

Imara, new baby giraffe at Toronto Zoo, with mother.

Both Imara and her mother, Mstari, are doing well. Photo credit: Toronto Zoo.

Fewer than 35,000 Masai giraffes survive in the wild, having experienced more than a 50% decline in the past 30 years. They are considered endangered by the IUCN, threatened by illegal hunting and habitat loss.

Toronto Zoo supports conservation efforts of Masai giraffes through its breeding programs and by supporting Wild Nature Institute’s Masai Giraffe Project. Learn more at Toronto Zoo’s website.

For more information about giraffes, see our article, Giraffe.

Emperor Penguins Now Considered Endangered

Posted on April 27, 2026 by admin

Emperor penguins are now considered endangered by the IUCN Red List. They are threatened by the loss of sea ice. Photo by Michel VIARD / iStock.com.

According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), emperor penguins are now considered an endangered species. They were previously classified as Near Threatened.

The cause of this decline is the rapid loss of sea ice due to global warming.

If changes in sea ice continue along the current trajectory, the emperor penguin population will decrease to half its size by the 2080s. From 2009 to 2018, the emperor penguin population decreased by 10%, or 20,000 penguins, based on satellite imagery.

Emperor penguins rely on sea ice for breeding grounds. It is a vital habitat for chicks before they get their waterproof feathers. When the sea ice breaks up early, many chicks die.

Emperor penguins rely on sea ice for their breeding grounds. If the sea ice breaks up early, it can have deadly effects. Photo by vladsilver / iStock.com.

According to Dr. Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, “These important findings should spur us into action across all sectors and levels of society to decisively address climate change.”

What You Can Do to Help

If you would like to stop global warming, here are a few things you can do:

Write a letter or draw a picture, and send it to your government representative, asking them to do something to about climate change.
Reduce your carbon emissions by walking, biking or taking public transportation instead of driving.
Use energy saver appliances and light bulbs.
Buy locally grown produce.
Don’t buy as much new stuff. Reuse things or buy used things.

For more information, see the IUCN website.

To learn more about emperor penguins, see our article: Emperor Penguin.

Critically Endangered Rhino Born at Lincoln Park Zoo

Posted on April 20, 2026 by admin

A rare female eastern black rhinoceros calf was born in March at Lincoln Park Zoo. Photo by Cassy Kutilek / Lincoln Park Zoo.

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago welcomed a baby eastern black rhinoceros in March! This is especially happy news because eastern black rhinos are critically endangered, and every birth helps bolster their population.

The female calf weighed around 27 kg (60 lb.) at birth and took her first steps just an hour and a half after being born! She and her mother, Kapuki, are being monitored by zoo staff.

Mom and calf are doing very well and are being monitored by zoo staff. Photo by Cassy Kutilek / Lincoln Park Zoo.

According to Curator Cassy Kutilek, “Mom and calf are doing well and continue to hit their postpartum milestones, and we’re excited for when we’ll start seeing glimmers of the newborn’s personality.”

In the wild, the eastern black rhino population dropped 98% between 1960-1995 due to poaching. Due to conservation efforts, there are now around 1,000 mature individuals in the wild.

One Month Update

The calf, named Hazina, made her public debut on April 29!

At one month old, Hazina made her public debut in April! Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

Although hesitant at first, Hazina has been exploring the outdoors with her mother, Kapuki. Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

If you would like to support Lincoln Park Zoo and celebrate the rare rhino birth, you can adopt a plush rhino at the Lincoln Park Zoo website.

What’s Shakin’? Baby Rattlesnakes at Lincoln Park Zoo

Posted on April 6, 2026 by admin

Shake, shake, shake! It’s nine baby rattlesnakes at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

Rattlesnake babies are shaking things up at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago! Nine eastern massasauga rattlesnakes hatched at the zoo in February. Their birth marks a huge milestone in massasauga rattlesnake conservation: the first birth of their kind at the zoo in nearly a decade.

These baby rattlesnakes are the great grandkids of the last few remaining eastern massasauga rattlesnakes in Cook County, Illinois.

These baby rattles are the great grandkids of the last remaining eastern massasauga rattlesnakes in Cook County, Illinois. Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

Their population has faced critical threats due to persecution and habitat loss. The zoo, along with state and federal authorities, have been working together for years to conserve this often-misunderstood snake species.

“People tend to fear eastern massasauga rattlesnakes because they’re venomous, but they’re actually a rather shy species and an important part of the Great Lakes region’s ecosystem,” said Curator Dan Boehm.

“It’s always exciting to welcome new offspring of a threatened species, and the fact that this is a local animal we’re actively working to conserve out in the field makes it even more special.”

Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes can be found in wetland habitats around the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada. Measuring at about two feet long on average, this species is on the smaller side for rattlesnakes.

To learn more, visit the Lincoln Park Zoo website.

Read more about snakes in our post, 5 Cool Facts About Snakes.

Baby African Penguin at Chicago Zoo

Posted on November 12, 2025 by admin

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago welcomed a new African penguin chick in October. Photo credit: Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago announced the arrival of a new African penguin chick! After a 40-day incubation period, the baby penguin hatched on October 1.

The chick was born to parents Rosie and Cecil. However, Rosie and Cecil have not been successful in raising chicks in the past, so the Animal Care team has decided this chick will be raised by penguin pair Liam and Maria, who have strong parenting instincts.

The penguin chick remains behind-the-scenes at Lincoln Park Zoo until it grows its juvenile waterproof feathers. Photo credit: Lincoln Park Zoo.

“As a critically endangered species, each new African penguin chick represents an immense amount of hope for the species’ future,” said Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds Nicole Finch-Mason.

At this point, the chick remains behind-the-scenes. Soon it will begin exploring outside its nest box. It currently weighs 1.9 kg (4.2 lb.) and has downy feathers.

Once it grows its juvenile waterproof feathers in a few weeks, it will join the other African penguins in the zoo’s colony on exhibit. After 1-2 years, the chick will molt into its adult black and white plumage.

African penguins are critically endangered. Lincoln Park Zoo participates in the African Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP), which helps conserve the species. Photo credit: Lincoln Park Zoo.

To learn more about the African penguin chick, visit the Lincoln Park Zoo website.

For more information about African penguins, see our article, African Penguin.

Fat Bear Week 2025

Posted on September 22, 2025 by admin

It’s Fat Bear Week! It’s the week where you can vote on the fattest brown bears of Katmai National Park in Alaska.

During the warmer months, brown bears must eat a massive amount of food so they can live off body fat during the winter, when food is scarce. Katmai National Park boasts some of the largest brown bears in the world.

The Fat Bear Week 2023 Champion. Photo by NPS Photo/F. Jimenez.

Fat Bear Week is a celebration of the bears’ success in putting on ample weight in preparation for winter.

Vote for your favorites at Explore.org.

Bottlenose Dolphin at Brookfield Zoo Chicago is Pregnant!

Posted on January 23, 2025 by admin

Allie, a pregnant bottlenose dolphin at Brookfield Zoo Chicago.

Happy news! Allie, a 37-year-old dolphin at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, is pregnant! Photo credit: Brookfield Zoo Chicago.

The Brookfield Zoo in Chicago announced that Allie, a 37-year-old bottlenose dolphin in its care, is pregnant!

Allie is currently in her second trimester, and the zoo expects a calf to be born as early as May. Dolphin pregnancies last 12 months altogether. This is the first dolphin pregnancy at the zoo in 10 years!

Allie has been participating in voluntary medical check-ups, including routine ultrasound examinations and blood tests. Ultrasound exams allow the veterinary staff to see inside Allie’s womb.

Veterinary staff at Brookfield Zoo Chicago perform a voluntary ultrasound exam on Allie. Photo credit: Brookfield Zoo Chicago.

In addition to ensuring the health of Allie and her calf, these check-ups build on scientific knowledge of dolphin gestation.

Vets look at an image of the calf inside Allie’s womb during the ultrasound exam. Photo credit: Brookfield Zoo Chicago.

In the wild, many bottlenose calves do not survive their first year. With this current research, Brookfield Zoo aims to improve upon care practices for dolphin calves, as well as to promote conservation efforts for marine mammals, both at zoos and in the wild.

For more information about Allie, see the Brookfield Zoo website.

To learn more about bottlenose dolphins, see our article, Bottlenose Dolphin.

Baby Tree Monitor Lizards at Lincoln Park Zoo

Posted on December 19, 2024 by admin

Five baby black tree monitor lizards hatched at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago in October and November. Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago welcomed five baby black tree monitor lizards between October 27 and November 2.

“This is the first time in 20 years that we’ve had black tree monitor hatchlings at Lincoln Park Zoo, so their arrivals were quite exciting,” said Lincoln Park Zoo Curator Dan Boehm.

The tree monitor hatchlings are thriving behind the scenes at Lincoln Park Zoo. When they become adults, they will lose their yellow-green spots and become all black. They will grow to about 90-120 cm (3-4 ft.) long. Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

The hatchlings are thriving behind the scenes. They are currently eating insects, waxworms, and mice.

Typically, when black tree monitors first hatch, they go weeks before eating. So the fact that these hatchlings have started to eat is an important milestone in their development.

In the wild, black tree monitor lizards are found only on the Aru Islands, off the coast of New Guinea. Although their conservation status is unknown, researchers believe their populations are declining.

This black tree monitor hatchling looks like it’s hatching a plan. Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

These hatchlings at Lincoln Park Zoo are part of the Black Tree Monitor Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative population management effort among the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) institutions.

With these five new additions, there are now approximately 70 black tree monitors at 29 accredited institutions across the country.

Learn more about the black tree monitor hatchlings at the Lincoln Park Zoo website.