Penguin Nesting Season
The first little penguin nesting season arrived at the Louisville Zoo ! Two pairs of penguins took part this year : male penguin Boost with female Broccolini , and male Eminem with female Cody . The penguin pairs made their nests in cozy nesting boxes filled with sand and nesting materials like sticks , twigs and hay . At the time of this article , each penguin pair had lain two clutches of eggs and the parents were taking turns incubating the eggs . Little penguin nesting season generally lasts through March in Australia but sometimes longer . You can see the nine little penguins on exhibit this spring during days above 50 degrees . While they are nesting , they may be off exhibit periodically .
A Rare Sight
Last year , the Louisville Zoo was proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center . Now , you can finally see North America ’ s most endangered mammal back on exhibit . Black-footed ferret Rigatoni is ready to make your acquaintance in the MetaZoo Discovery Center . Rigatoni is 5 years old and hails from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute ( SCBI ). Rigatoni ’ s new MetaZoo habitat includes a nest box ( like those in the Conservation Center ) which connects to his exhibit via a system of tubes . This nest box is only visible on the keeper side but allows him an alternative space to rest in the evening . Rigatoni , like all black-footed ferrets , enjoys sleeping during the day , sometimes burrowing into the hay in his exhibit . When he ’ s awake , you can see him playing and exploring his new habitat .
A Seal of a Different Color
Joining the California sea lions and harbor seal in Glacier Run is Rona , a gray seal . Rona is a 3-year-old female born at the Smithsonian National Zoo . Rona is steadily getting used to her new surroundings — the Louisville Zoo is a big new world for her with new places , new pools and new animals she ’ s never seen before . Rona is seeing sea lions for the first time at the Louisville Zoo . Once she ’ s ready and comfortable with her new surroundings and her new pinniped pals , you ’ ll be able to see her this spring on rotation in Glacier Run .
Origami Record
It ' s official ! You helped us break a Guinness World Record . The Louisville Zoo is now a part of the Guinness World Records™ title for the “ Largest Display of Origami Elephants .” This past summer in August , you helped us fold 1,100 origami elephants to send to the elephant conservation group 96elephants for their record attempt and to raise awareness of the plight of the African elephant . Together , participants at the Louisville Zoo alongside other zoos across the nation created 78,564 origami elephants and shattered the previous record of 33,764 . For more information about current efforts to save elephants and ways to help , please visit 96elephants . org
Louisville Zoo Trunkline • Spring 2017 • 11