Toledo Zoo

Did you know the Toledo Zoo has almost a 30-year history of studying wildlife and supporting conservation efforts on the island of Aruba?

A great deal has been accomplished in that period, performing crucial research and supporting island-wide conservation planning. However, perhaps the greatest contributions to date are the development of technical expertise on the island. In conservation terms, this is called ‘capacity building,’ the transfer of knowledge and critical skills to local residences so that they are better capable to participate in conservation work. Toledo Zoo staff and collaborating university partners have performed formal and informal training programs during field trips to Aruba. Above, Andy Odum, Curator of Herpetology, leads a local group in Aruba through one of these ‘capacity building’ sessions.

To learn more about the Toledo Zoo’s conservation initiatives, click here.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

There’s still time to join the Toledo Zoo for the 2017 edition of the holiday tradition, Lights Before Christmas presented by KeyBank. Past favorites are back again this year like the Ice Slide and Bumper Cars on Ice in the Winter Village presented by Kroger, with new attractions to enjoy including the Northern Dancing Lights display presented by St. Luke’s Hospital and Scenes of Wonder, a 3-D holiday scene set to music and projected on the side of the Carnivore Cafe. Stop in the Aquarium to see Santa Claus dive in the 90,000 gallon reef tank at 3:15 and 4:15 daily. Join us!

To learn more and buy tickets, please visit toledozoo.org/lights.

This bird is non-migratory, makes a thundering noise when taking flight and its wings produce a whistling sound when flying. What is it? The Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus).

Capercaillies are largest member of the grouse family with the male being twice the size of the female. Males average nine pounds and a wingspan of 35-49 inches and striking markings, while the female is only about four pounds and much plainer with brown feathers and silver barring. Interestingly, both sexes have feathered legs to help insulate from the cold. Capercaillies are found in shady forests with dense, damp undergrowth across Europe and Russia. They eat berries, shoots, stems and pine needles.

A breeding pair of capercaillies are on exhibit outdoors at the Toledo Zoo between the vultures and Great Apes.

Let’s be honest; midnight is just too late for the younger party-hat wearers. To provide the same fun festivities during day-light hours for our pint-sized guests, the Toledo Zoo will celebrate Noon Year’s Eve sponsored by Meijer.

This family-friendly event, focusing on making 2018 a greener year, will take place Sunday, December 31 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Celebrate the stroke of noon with the rising of our recycling ball, a cascade of biodegradable confetti, apple juice toast and a chorus of ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ Enjoy making conservation reZOOlutions, craft time, an ice carving demonstration, animal feeds/enrichment, as well as the Ice Slide and Bumper Cars on Ice in the Winter Village sponsored by Kroger.

This is the perfect way for the whole family to send out 2017 with a bang!

Saturday, June 2

Look for more details here:  https://www.toledozoo.org/lucas-birthday 

Lucas the elephant calf is fun to watch as he continues to grow up, and you can join us for his 7th birthday party! Free with your Zoo admission.  

Why is his name Lucas, you may ask?  This big little guy was name in honor of the residents of Lucas County for all of their support of the Toledo Zoo!

Join us for our next wine tasting and dinner on Saturday, February 10 in our beautiful Malawi Event Center, boasting an 73 foot long Aquarium filled with colorful endangered fish!

At each event you will enjoy a delectable mix of wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, live music and socializing. Bring your friends for a fun evening for all, or make it a romantic couples’ night out. You deserve it!

Make your reservation and learn more here.

Toledo Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a male Western lowland gorilla born late November 2017. Mokonzi, (Moh-khan-see) which means governor in Swahili, is baby number three for 23 year old mother, Kitani, and baby number five for 29 year old father, Kwisha. Mokonzi is healthy and bonding well with his parents.

The new family is on exhibit indoors at Kingdom of the Apes. Adult western lowland gorillas are the largest of all great apes at four to six feet tall and anywhere from 150 – 500 pounds depending on sex. They live in the heavy rainforests of west central Africa and eat a vegetarian diet of roots, fruits and plants. Western lowland gorillas live in troops consisting of four to eight animals, with one silverback male, a few females, young offspring and occasionally a few young males. Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered and declining on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species due to three main interconnected threats: habitat loss, bushmeat hunting and human encroachment.