Zoo Atlanta

12/18/2025

Just in time for the holidays, several new animals are now exploring their habitats at Zoo Atlanta. Look for recent arrivals exploring their new homes, from The Ford African Rain Forest to the contact yard to the African Savanna.

Nafis the Schmidt’s guenon: Nafis, a 10-year-old male Schmidt’s guenon who arrived in November from another Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) organization, recently joined his new family group in the mixed-species monkey habitat in The Ford African Rain Forest. The AZA Species Survival Plan® (SSP) recommended his move to Zoo Atlanta to join adult female Bam and her offspring, Flynn and Jack.

Native to woodlands, rainforests, deciduous forests, and swamplands in middle Africa, Schmidt’s guenons are distinguished by their long, chestnut-colored tails and their distinctive heart-shaped noses. Look for the Schmidt’s guenon family and their habitat mates the Angolan colobus monkeys on days when temperatures reach 50 or above.

Barbie, Carmen, Cruz, and Ella the LaMancha goats:
Four new kids are the newest members of the herd of goats and sheep in the Zoo’s contact yard, where the active youngsters have begun meeting Members and guests.

An American goat first bred in California, LaMancha goats are known for their exceptionally short ear pinnae, giving them an “earless” appearance.

Olive the ostrich and Neighomi the zebra:
Female ostrich Olive, who joined Zoo Atlanta in October, can now be seen with her new companion, female ostrich Purple, in the mixed-species African Savanna habitat. Another fall new arrival, female plains zebra Neighomi, has likewise met her new companions, male zebra Wembe and female Imara.

Integrating individual animals in a mixed-species habitat – the African Savanna is also home to giraffes Calvin and Lennard – is a gradual process based on the animals’ comfort levels. During this time, not all animals may be in the African Savanna habitat all day on any given day.

Plan a visit at zooatlanta.org.

12/16/2025

If you happen to have a talent for coming up with adorable names, today is a BIG day for you! We're delighted to be accepting name submissions for Nutella's baby ONLY through our Countdown to Slothmas calendar at the link. Check it out, and be sure to check back daily for exclusive sloth content and the big name reveal on December 23! (photo: Channing M.)
https://zooatlanta.org/countdown-to-slothmas/

12/12/2025

Meet Babu, a west African slender-snouted crocodile! Our Curator of Herpetology shared this photo and an interesting backstory.

What's cool about this photo is that normally, following a pool cleaning or a physical (of which Babu got BOTH the day before), he normally stays in the far side of his habitat wanting nothing to do with us primates, sometimes for weeks.

However, this time, the very next day he came up onto his beach to check us out while we were above the habitat checking on some things. This was the very next day after a disruption to his daily routine, so for him to show interest in what us humans were doing shortly after is a huge step and a testament to the work our keepers do to not only train, but build some resiliency in our animals to bounce back from disturbances. (photo: Robert H.)

12/11/2025

Have you experienced IllumiNights presented by Georgia Power yet? Our winter lantern festival is an all-ages hit, with something to delight every member of your family. Grab your tickets at the link below - IllumiNights runs select nights through January 18!
https://zooatlanta.org/event/illuminights/

12/10/2025

This holiday season, we’re excited to introduce a brand-new festivity: December 23 is hereby declared Slothmas!

In celebration of Nutella and Cocoa’s new baby, born on October 13, we’re doing a calendar countdown to Slothmas with two weeks of sloth-centered surprises! New doors open every day at midnight with exclusive videos, photos, milestones, and more.

You won’t want to miss a single day, but be sure to check back December 16 for a special opportunity and December 23 for the big event.

*The calendar is ONLY available* at the link below, and the first door is now open. Merry Slothmas to all!

December 10 - 23

12/09/2025

Exciting news from the Bird Team! Three new white-faced whistling ducks, Greta, Gracie, and Gary, have joined Gregory in The Living Treehouse. Like most ducks, this species is very social, so when Gregory's companion, Gertrude, passed away last year, the Bird Team immediately started searching for new friends for him. Greta, Gracie, and Gary are all siblings that hatched at Mesker Park Zoo in Indiana. So far, the ducks are all getting along swimmingly! (photo: Bird Team)

12/08/2025

We’re excited to share the joy, twice – once with your Gift Membership recipient and with a patient at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

From December 8–14, when you add a plush to your Gift Membership purchase, you keep your plush, and Zoo Atlanta will donate a second plush to a patient at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Give your loved ones the gift of memories, adventure and education with a Zoo Atlanta Gift Membership. Click the link to purchase now and spread some extra joy this holiday season!

https://zooatlanta.org/membership/gift-membership/

12/03/2025

You may have heard a lot about our new La Mancha kids lately, but Ponyo would like to remind you that she's still just a baby too! Look how tiny she is in her bucket! (photo: Becky Y.)

12/02/2025

The Bird Team is excited to announce a successful white-headed buffalo weaver chick! White-headed buffalo weavers are declining in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and the Species Survival Plan (SSP) Coordinator has requested chicks be hand reared to increase the population. Two years ago, Zoo Atlanta's Bird Team started hand raising chicks. One of those individuals, Dyson, is currently paired with a female, Didi, in the Living Treehouse on an SSP breeding recommendation. After several unsuccessful attempts, we're happy to report that they've successfully hatched and fledged their first chick all on their own! This is a huge win for the Bird Team and for the population! - Lauren W., Curator of Birds (photo: Bird Team)

11/27/2025

Wishing our wonderful community a very happy Thanksgiving! As a reminder, we are closed for the holiday today, but we look forward to seeing you tomorrow. In the meantime, get festive with our binturongs and some fall-themed enrichment! (videos: Carnivore Team)

11/26/2025

Three female gorillas, Andi, Merry, and Anaka, recently completed the move to San Antonio Zoo as part of the Gorilla Species Survival Plan® (SSP) and for the much anticipated opening of Congo Falls. This collaboration marks an important milestone in both institutions' shared commitment to the conservation of western lowland gorillas, and the return of gorillas to San Antonio Zoo for the first time in 35 years. In total Congo Falls will open with 7 western lowland gorillas.

San Antonio Zoo is honored to be participating in this impactful collaboration with Zoo Atlanta, which will bolster conservation efforts for critically endangered western lowland gorillas and support the opening of the zoo’s newest habitat, Congo Falls .

Opening to the public on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10:00am San Antonio Zoo’s brand new Congo Falls is a world-class habitat, setting the stage for a transformative new era in innovative habitat design, wildlife conservation, education, and animal care.

At Congo Falls, guests will immerse themselves in a two-acre lush environment, featuring three distinct habitats (Lowland Basin, Indoor Rainforest, and Gorilla Gorge), which will be home to seven Western Lowland gorillas. The habitats will blend lush natural landscapes, dynamic water features, enrichment areas, and expansive viewing opportunities for both guests and gorillas to foster a deeper connection between guests and these incredible animals.

(photos: Karin K.)

11/25/2025

Last week, Hondo, Hatari and Azizi celebrated their 12th birthday! Check it out and leave a birthday note below.