NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 13, 2019

CONTACT:  
San Diego Zoo Global
Public Relations
619-685-3291

WEBSITE:   
sandiegozoo.org

NEWS RELEASE

Personality Plus: The San Diego Zoo’s Newest Babies Show Confidence, Camaraderie and a Healthy Dose of Curiosity

          If you didn’t already have enough reasons to visit the San Diego Zoo this week, three cute new arrivals may motivate you to drop everything and stop by. Over the past few months, Zoo animal care staff have welcomed three female mammal newborns—including a hamadryas baboon; a takin calf, listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species; and an Endangered siamang.

          According to Zoo staff, all three little ones are healthy, active and already showing strong personalities. Five-month-old hamadryas baboon Lisa Marie can be seen asserting her independence as she explores her spacious habitat, often prompting mom to maintain a hold on her tail to keep the baby within reach. Panda Trek’s newest resident takin just turned 2 weeks old—and while she’s yet to be named, she has established a strong bond with her mom and older sister. She can usually be seen following older females around her rocky habitat. Siamang Selamat was born prematurely early this year, and her keepers said she’s been a tough fighter, gaining strength every day and nursing well from mom. They also said she’s becoming very curious about her surroundings.

          Since 2014, more than 600 mammals have been born at the San Diego Zoo. The births of Lisa Marie, Selamat and the yet-to-be-named takin have not only increased the population of their species, they are also adding to the species’ genetic diversity—which is vital to San Diego Zoo Global’s mission of leading the fight to end extinction worldwide.

          Zoo guests can visit hamadryas baboon Lisa Marie in her habitat inside Conrad Prebys’ Africa Rocks. The takin calf is viewable with her herd along Panda Trek and Selamat can be seen with her mom, dad and orangutan exhibit mates on Monkey Trail in Lost Forest.

The San Diego Zoo is globally recognized and a San Diego icon, hosting more than 4 million guests each year. At the San Diego Zoo, visitors can watch penguins and sharks swim, observe the behavior of century-old Galápagos tortoises, enjoy the beauty of exotic orchids, marvel at the playful nature of giant pandas, explore walkthrough aviaries filled with the songs and colors of rare birds, and appreciate the power of leopards and jaguars. The San Diego Zoo is also accredited by the American Association of Museums as a Botanical Garden. As visitors discover the rare and endangered species at the San Diego Zoo, they are directly contributing, through admission and on-grounds sales, to the efforts of San Diego Zoo Global, an international nonprofit conservation organization that works to fight extinction through recovery efforts for plants and animals worldwide. To learn more, visit sandiegozoo.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.

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