Friends of the Panaewa Zoo

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Friends of the Panaewa Zoo

On the "Big Island" of Hawai’i, this 12-acre zoo is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the U.S.

Located on the "Big Island" of Hawaii, this 12 acre zoo is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States. It is home to more than 80 animal species including the endangered Nene (Hawaii State Bird) and two Bengal Tiger, Tzatziki and Sriracha. The links on the left will take you to interesting information on many of the Zoo's animal exhibits.

09/09/2025

Bleptember has officially begun 🫡😛

09/04/2025

The day is used to make necessary repairs, finish some of the ongoing projects, and begin new ones without endangering zoo guests. Sometimes, heavy equipment is required in the zoo to accomplish the required results. The time is also used for maintaining walkways throughout the zoo to make them safe for our guests.

09/01/2025

Admission to the zoo begins today!

08/29/2025

Please note that admission to the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens begins this coming Monday, 01-September-2025!!

08/12/2025

📺 “The One Where Chandler Turns 2” 📺

Today, we’re celebrating Chandler Bingturong, the binturong, turning 2 years old! Like his sitcom namesake, Chandler is full of charm, a little bit awkward, and always ready to make us laugh with his antics.

Meet Chandler:
🖤 Birthplace: Belgrade Zoo, Serbia. He came to Hilo in 2024.
🖤 Favorite food: Bananas! Also figs, grapes, (anything sweet), small mammals, steamed veggies
🖤 Favorite enrichment: Anything that hides his food so he can search, sniff, and eat!
🖤 Current learned behaviors: Stand up on hind legs, spin 360 degrees, enter crate, stand on scale to be weighed, and recall. Chandler is also potty trained!
🖤 Binturong facts: Binturongs have a distinctive smell that lets members of their species know where their territory is… and it smells just like buttered popcorn. This is due to a chemical called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) in their urine, which is the same compound created in the popcorn-popping process when sugars and amino acids interact. Not only do they soak their feet when they squat to urinate, they also drag their tails through it, ensuring everything around them smells like crunchy, buttery goodness. 🍿

Catch Chandler and his companion, Keoki-Anne, perfecting the art of the nap at their “Central Perch” habitat, where high branches are usually the coziest spots to sleep. Stop by this week to wish Chandler a happy birthday and be sure to sign his card as a way to say 🎵“I’ll be there for you”.🎶

08/11/2025

We’re continuing through the weekend with another birthday celebration!! Spunky Monkey, our black-and-white colobus, turned 12 today! True to her name, Spunky’s bursts of energy really captivate attention. She is agile and graceful, making every leap or jump in her habitat look effortless.

Meet Spunky:
🖤Birthday: Spunky was born right here at the Zoo 12 years ago, today!
🤍Favorite food: Tender young leaves, sweet potatoes, browse from her favorite plants (hibiscus, mulberry, bamboo, etc), seeds
🖤Favorite toys: Miniature colobus monkey stuffed animal, forage piles and leafy branches, rippable cardboard puzzle feeders, tactile bird toys
🤍Favorite pastimes: Acrobatic leaps between perches and lounging high up in her habitat (on her back while eating or holding her stuffed animals 😂)
🖤Spunky facts: Her species has something in common with cows… their stomachs! Colobus monkeys have four-chambered stomachs which help them break down and digest the nutrients in leaves. They are strict leaf-eaters and can digest toxic leaves that would make another primate sick.

Spunky will be treated throughout her birthday week to extra novel enrichment, brand new toys, and tasty snacks. 🌿🥳

08/10/2025

We want to wish a very happy 28th birthday to Mele, the miniature horse! 🎉

While you may remember her from her Petting Zoo days, Mele now resides “behind the scenes” where she is living her best life grazing in pastures, kicking up her heels with her besties Mokihana and Mocha Latte, and soaking up plenty of sunshine.

Mele may be extra small due to dwarfism, a genetic condition sometimes found in mini horses, but she’s proven time and time again that size doesn’t measure spirit. Here’s to you, Mele, Miss Mini but Mighty. 🐎❤️

07/29/2025

🐯🌏 Happy International Tiger Day! 🌿

Today, we celebrate the power, beauty, and importance of tigers in the wild—and right here at the Pana’ewa Zoo, we’re proud to be home to two incredible Bengal Tigers: Tzatziki and Sriracha! 🐅💛
These majestic animals are ambassadors for their species, helping us raise awareness about the urgent need for tiger conservation. With fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild, every effort counts. 🧡
Come visit and learn how you can help protect these magnificent cats and ensure their roar never fades from the wild. 🐾

07/28/2025

A Roaring Mahalo to Friends of the Pana’ewa Zoo!

We genuinely appreciate your contributions—they've truly helped us bring enrichment to our beloved tigers, Tzatziki and Sriracha. Thank you so much for your support!
These toys are more than just fun—they’re vital tools that help us provide the best care for our tigers. They spark the tigers’ natural instincts, promote energetic physical activity, and stimulate their minds—all essential for their happiness and well-being. Whether it’s a Weeble that wobbles and tips when pushed or pounced but never falls, a bongo that encourages movement and natural behaviors, or a Kore roller that, with its size and 50 lb weight, offers a fun challenge that sparks problem-solving skills, these items play a big role in keeping our tigers joyful and engaged.
It's wonderful to see our tigers thriving in a brighter, more engaging environment, and we truly enjoy watching their lively behavior. By working together, we can keep caring for these incredible animals and make a meaningful difference.

Address

800 Stainback Highway
Hilo, HI
.POBOX738,KEEAU,HAWAII.96749

Telephone

+18089599233

Website

https://hilozoo.org/

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