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ZOO - MANN MUSEUM

ELEPHANT AND RHINO BIRTHS AT MONTGOMERY ZOO!

NEWSFLASH
GIRAFFE CALF BORN AT MONTGOMERY ZOO June 10, 2008: Montgomery, Alabama, The City of Montgomery Zoo.

The Montgomery Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a giraffe calf born June 10, 2008. The female calf is the third offspring for the adult female at the Montgomery Zoo. At birth the calf weighed in at 127 pounds and reaching heights of 6 feet. After some one-on-one bonding time with mom, the calf made her public debut on Friday, June 20. Mom, calf and siblings are all bonding and on display together from 9:00am to 1:00pm daily.

NEWSFLASH
FEMALE ELEPHANT CALF OFFICIALLY NAMED April 30, 2008: Montgomery, Alabama, The City of Montgomery Zoo.

The Montgomery Zoo is proud to announce the elephant calf born November 9, 2007 has been named. The elephant calf’s beautiful name is Makena, which means “happy one” in Swahili, an African language.

The name was selected through an election held during Zoo Weekend. The names on the ballot were: Tongie submitted by the elephant keepers; Makena submitted by the Montgomery Area Zoological Society; and Sapo and Makuzi submitted by Lowry Park Zoo. The sire elephant is on loan to the Montgomery Zoo from Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, FL.

Makena was announced to public with members of the regional press, Board members, Zoo staff and the public on hand. Thank you to all those that participated in the name selection committee and election process.

NEWSFLASH
MALE RHINO CALF OFFICIALLY NAMED December 29, 2007: Montgomery, Alabama, The City of Montgomery Zoo.

In front of a crowd of over 200 visitors, invited guests, Board members, Zoo staff and local media, the Montgomery Zoo announced the name of the male Rhino calf born October 1, 2007. His name was selected from over 4,000 entries provided by local students and ballot boxes located at the Zoo. The entries resulted in 1,800 individual names and 70 entries of the same name. The Montgomery Area Zoological Board finalized the selection and announced it on December 29, 2007. The name is Rocky.

All entry winners and guests were treated to a day at the Zoo, a behind the scenes tour of the Rhino and Elephant barns and a birthday party honoring Rocky. Entry winners also received a LIMITED EDITION plush Rhino toy as a keepsake of the event and in appreciation for their participation. These limited edition toys may be purchased at the Montgomery Zoo gift shop while supplies last.

Baby Elephant Born Friday, November 9, 2007
Birth announcement! November 9, 2007: Montgomery, Alabama, The City of Montgomery Zoo.

Stop by the Elephant Habitat, the new female calf and mother can be viewed from the side glass viewing station at the elephant habitat. You can see them from 10:00am until 4:30pm pending any health or husbandry concerns. The calf weighed in at 247lbs and is the first African elephant born in the state of Alabama.

On Friday, November 9, 2007 at approximately 8:00pm, a female African elephant was born at the Montgomery Zoo. The calf weighed in at 247lbs. This birth marks the first African elephant born in the state of Alabama, ever; and the third known birth this year to a US Zoological facility. The gestation period was around 21 months. Both the dam (Tina) and sire (Sdudla) currently reside at the Montgomery Zoo. Sdudla is at the Montgomery Zoo on a breeding loan with Lowry Park in Tampa, FL. Montgomery Zoo opened the elephant habitat on November 11, 2005 with plans to establish a successful elephant breeding program.

Zoo officials are excited about this successful elephant birth. The new female calf and her mother can be seen through the inside glass viewing station at the elephant habitat beginning at 10:00am on November 11, 2007. They will be available for the public to view pending any health or husbandry concerns. Zoo officials are allowing the new calf and her mother to bond by keeping them inside the building. At the appropriate time, the calf will be introduced to the other elephants and finally introduced to the outside exhibit area. Stay tuned to the media to find out the latest happenings with the elephant program at the Montgomery Zoo.

Other interesting facts about African elephants.
- Calves will nurse for two years.
- Our new female calf has hair, a long tail and a short trunk. Since they use their mouths to drink its mother's milk, it doesn't need a long trunk to feed.
- Calves are clumsy with their trunks at first, but they learn to use them as they grow older.
- The Montgomery Zoo has a total of three elephant cows (females), one bull (male) and one female calf.

Baby Rhino Born
Birth announcement! October 02, 2007: Montgomery, Alabama, The City of Montgomery Zoo.

The staff and supporters of the Montgomery Zoo are proud to announce the birth of an Indian Rhino. Mother and calf are bonding well with each other. Both are happy and well. The two will be placed on display when deemed appropriate, safe and healthy for both mother and calf.

Please join us in celebrating this monumental event in the history of the Montgomery Zoo. This is the very first indian Rhino born at the Montgomery Zoo.

AVAILABLE IN MONTGOMERY ZOO AND MANN MUSEUM GIFT SHOPS

Images of Oak Park and the Montgomery Zoo
By Heather S. Trevino and Linda E. Pastorello

Available at the Montgomery Zoo and Mann Museum gift shops, this new release features historical imagery of the history of the Montgomery Zoo, from 1935 to 1991. This image-filled folio unfolds the Montgomery Zoo’s history from its conception at Oak Park as a small petting zoo nestled into the City’s largest mid-town park to the premiere educational zoological facility it is today. What a great addition to any home library or great coffee table book.
Paperback, $19.99 (20% discount for all Montgomery Zoo Members).

OUR DEPARTMENT

The Montgomery Zoo was established in 1920 as part of Oak Park. It grew and thrived there until the 1960s. Eleven years later, the Zoo was re-established and moved to its current located in north Montgomery. In 1989, the Zoo underwent a major expansion encompassing over 48 acres and 700 different species of animals. In 1991, the Montgomery Zoo became an independent City department thus leaving the supervision of the Parks and Recreation Department. The Zoo reports directly to Mayor Bobby Bright. We are comprised of administrators, animal care specialists, conservation and preservation specialists, veterinarians and animal care technicians, education curators, trainers, museum staff and curators, merchandisers, concessions and catering staff, maintenance and operation engineers, customer service and volunteers. The Department and staff all work in one accord to maintain and accomplish the goals and the mission set forth by the Montgomery Zoo.

MISSION

The mission of the Montgomery Zoo is to improve the future for wildlife by exhibiting animals and plants while providing education and conservation programs which encourage respect and stewardship of the natural world and a better understanding of our place within it.

Goals
> The Zoo will provide for the health and well-being of the animals in its care.
> The Zoo will be a leader and innovator in wildlife conservation.
> The Zoo will be an enjoyable year-around facility for all ages and incomes.
> The Zoo will have a high quality and diverse conservation/education program.
> The Zoo’s plant and animal collection will be available and utilized for study and research which creates better understanding of our natural environment.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this Department, please click on one of the links on the left.