WEATHER ALERT
Jacksonville Zoo mourns 4th ape death from Shigella; ensures remaining primates are doing well
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens gave more insight into how it dealt with the Shigella outbreak that has claimed the lives of the four primates.
3-year-old gorilla passes away at the Jacksonville Zoo due to bacterial infection
A fourth primate at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has died after suffering from Shigella, a bacterial infection thatโs affecting apes at the zoo.
A fang-tastic event! Jacksonville Zoo announces 2024 Spooktacular dates
Hip-hop skeletons and friendly ghost guides will be ready to welcome families from Northeast Florida and beyond to the Jacksonville Zoo in October.
Dream come true: Marching my happy feet behind the scenes with the Jacksonville Zooโs penguins
As someone who is obsessed with penguins, celebrating World Penguin Day (April 25) was my in for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Jacksonville Zoo's Tuxedo Coast exhibit. Still, I almost couldnโt believe it when the zoo officials said yes!
๐Meet the penguins! How to spot all 29 penguins in the Jacksonville Zooโs colony by name
I thought it would be fun to share the list of whoโs who in the Jacksonville Zoo's Tuxedo Coast exhibit so the next time your family visits, you can really โmeetโ the penguins.
Darling debut: Malayan tiger cub triplets make main exhibit entrance Thursday at Jacksonville Zoo
Mina, Machli and Beppy have been spending the last four months mostly behind the scenes so they could bond with their mother, Cinta.
Explore the Colors of the Wild: News4JAX Insider Jacksonville Zoo Ticket Sweepstakes
Unlock the magic of Colors of the Wild at Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens with News4JAX Insider Jacksonville Zoo Ticket Sweepstakes. Enter now for a chance to win a family 4-pack and immerse yourself in a captivating lantern experience. Fill out the form below and be part of the enchantment
Penguins welcome Santa to ZOOLights holiday village
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens' Colors of the Wild holiday ZOOLights experience launched Thursday night with a special encounter between the zoo's penguins and Jolly Old St. Nick.
Jaguars president says concerns over stadium parking key takeaway after final community meeting
Even though the last Jacksonville Jaguars โHuddle Upโ to get community input was held at the Jacksonville Zoo, no one was monkeying around with questions.
JSO bodycam video shows aftermath of bear attack at Jacksonville Zoo
New details on what led up to a zoo keeper being mauled by a bear and body camera video of first responders helping the keeper that had been attacked.
Jacksonville zookeeper โviciouslyโ attacked by bear suffered lacerations on head, back, thighs: police report
The 35-year-old zookeeper who was โviciouslyโ attacked Wednesday by a 5-year-old North American black bear at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens suffered many lacerations on her head, back and thighs, according to a police report obtained Thursday by News4JAX.
Bear fatally shot after escaping exhibit, injuring keeper at Jacksonville Zoo
A 5-year-old North American black bear that escaped an exhibit behind the scenes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Wednesday evening and โengagedโ with a zookeeper was fatally shot by the zooโs lethal weapons team, officials said.
Bodycam shows what led to JSO K-9 Huk, men being shot following pursuit & crash
The Jacksonville Sheriffโs Office on Tuesday released body camera footage that recorded the events following a pursuit that began in Northwest Jacksonville and ended near the Jacksonville Zoo, where a police K-9 was shot and wounded.
JSO confirms men were killed by gunfire following pursuit that ended near zoo
News4JAX on Tuesday obtained the Jacksonville Sheriffโs Officeโs investigative report into a police pursuit that began in Northwest Jacksonville and ended near the Jacksonville Zoo, where a police K-9 was shot and wounded. A spokesperson for the Sheriffโs Office confirmed two of three men in the car were killed when shots were fired from inside the car and police returned fire.
POSITIVELY JAX: Local military families, Ukrainian families have cultural exchange
The USO and Rotary Club of Jacksonville hosted a cultural exchange day for local military families and Ukrainian refugee families at the Jacksonville Zoo Tuesday.
Dinosaur or bird? Hamerkop chick hatches at Jacksonville Zoo for 1st time in nearly 30 years
For the first time in almost 30 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens had a hamerkop chick hatch at the zoo!
Tiger fatally shot after biting arm of man near enclosure
Authorities say a sheriffโs deputy shot a Malayan tiger that grabbed the arm of a man who was either feeding or petting the animal near its enclosure at a Florida zoo.
The Jacksonville Zoo Wins โJax Best Kid Attractionโ
The Jacksonville Zoo is no stranger to winning a Jax Best Award. Last month they were crowned Jax Best Animal Encounter and now the have been awarded Jax Best Kid Attraction. The Zoo has a lot going on with the REZOOVENATION and celebrating Halloween season with Spooktacular
Jacksonvilleโs best kidโs attraction: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Thereโs much to see and much to do at the Jacksonville Zoo, which is probably why itโs found its way onto JaxBest on more than one occasion.
So cool! Jacksonville Zoo announces newly hatched penguin chick
Just in time for World Penguin Day this weekend, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced the hatching of a Magellanic penguin chick to parents Oreo and Kowalski.
You otter see โem: 3 endangered otter pups at Jacksonville Zoo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Three giant otter pups made their much-anticipated public debut at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The first few months after birth are a critical time for vulnerable otter pups, so staff have been monitoring the family behind the scenes. Buddy is blind and the most genetically-valuable animal of the Giant Otter Species Survival Plan in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. McTurk decided to send Buddy to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens where he joined the SSP to be matched up with a potential mate. Tickets at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens must be purchased online, in advance at JacksonvilleZoo.org.
Due in part to cold stress, 5 manatees in rehab at Jacksonville Zoo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Because of the cold temperatures during winter, some manatees have become cold-stressed. Itโs resulted in a record number of mammals in rehab at the Jacksonville Zoo. โItโs the first time โฆ weโre rehabbing five animals,โ said Craig Miller, with the Jacksonville Zoo. โThey can be, you know, even longer -- four to five, six months depending on, even potentially longer, depending on how severe that cold stress is.โAs a result of the cold winter, the Jacksonville Zoo isnโt the only spot with a record number of rehab patients. โWeโre just trying to make sure weโre available to help out if if needed.โAdThe zoo will release the manatees when theyโre healthy enough to survive on their own.
FWC preliminary report finds 619 manatee deaths in Florida during 2020
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Weโre a week into 2021, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has released its preliminary report for manatee deaths in the state during 2020. The preliminary report stated that there were 619 manatee deaths around the state. The Jacksonville Zoo is part of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, which includes zoos, aquariums, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal agencies. โMost common cause of admittance to the critical care here has been cold stress in 2020,โ said Jafarey. The main cases seen in this area that go to the critical care center are boat strikes and cold stress.
Jacksonville Zoo releases manatee in Daytona Beach
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ A female manatee named Lusia was released near Halifax Harbor Marina on Thursday after her rehabilitation at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Manatee Critical Care Center. The manatee was rescued on Aug. 22, 2020, with injuries that indicated a boat strike. After some care from the critical care team and some rest, staff was ready to send her home. RELATED | Manatee on the mend at Jacksonville ZooThe manateeโs final weight was 713 pounds upon load-in on Thursday. She also had a couple of fractures of her ribs, and the reason that they picked her up is because she had some air in her thorax that made her buoyant on one side,โ Allison Peterson, a veterinarian at the Jacksonville Zoo, said.
$1M and a few more years: Plans in the works to rebuild Jacksonville Zoo docks
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Itโs been three years since Hurricane Irma caused destruction in our area and the Jacksonville Zoo is still feeling the effects. Its' docks were destroyed in the storm, but its' now submitted plans to rebuild. Did you know Jax Zoo was the only zoo in the country that had an admission gate on the water? The Jacksonville Zoo told News4Jax itโs about a $1 million project and it could take a few more years to rebuild the docks. โThat was a heartbreaking storm for us,โ said Tony Vecchio, Jacksonville Zoo Executive Director.
Why turning off your lights at night can save a birdโs life
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Did you know that leaving your outside lights on at night during the fall and spring season can impact a birdโs migration journey? Billions of birds migrate south for the winter and north for the summer ever year, and 70-80% of those birds migrate at night. Migrating at night comes with challenge -- one of the biggest being artificial lights from cities. Northeast Florida is part of the Atlantic Flyway, a predetermined path that birds migrate along the East Coast. โBut we understand that there are some safety concerns with turning out your lights at night, people feel a little bit safer with lights on.โJacksonville isnโt the only place working to help the birds.
Jacksonville Zoo announces 2020 Spooktacular dates
The 33rd annual Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, presented by Aquafina, will run between Oct. 23-31 from 5-8 p.m. Additional time slots will be available select nights from 7-10 p.m. The Zoo claims it will be โas wicked as you wish.โFor safety purposes, the Zoo will be following its COVID-19 guidelines each night of Spooktacular. Themed Spooktacular treats will be available to satisfy the frightening hunger and thirst of kids and adults alike. DATES: October 23-31 TIMED SESSIONS: 5-8 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. (select nights only)Admission is $12 for members and $15 for non-members (children 2 and under are free). Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is preparing to host its annual Spooktacular event with new guidelines and protocols for the safety of guests, staff, volunteers, and animals.
Manatee on the mend at Jacksonville Zoo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A female manatee was rescued Aug. 22 in Daytona Beach after an apparent boat strike. The marine mammal was brought to the Manatee Critical Care Center at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to recover from her injuries. The zoo staff is cautiously optimistic that she will recover within a few weeks and theyre continuing a daily treatment plan to help her heal. Our treatment plan includes some pain medication. Its also important to remember that come fall, its likely that youll see a manatee in the water since theyll be on the move for warmer waters.
Jacksonville Zoo closes to protect animals from Dorian
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will be closed Monday through Wednesday due to Hurricane Dorian. Hundreds of animals at the Jacksonville Zoo will be protected inside facilities. They will be kept in or near their night houses for their safety as the storm approaches, zoo officials said. "We are taking every factor into account to ensure the safety of our patrons, employees and their families, and our animals," Vecchio added. He said the zoo has a full supply of food stocked up for both the animals and staff in its storage facilities.