Travelocity and ZooBorns Name the 15 Must-Visit Zoo and Aquarium Newborns

Zoos and aquariums are two of the best ways for people, young or old, to experience animals in a fun, safe environment. These destinations can also inspire a lifelong interest in wildlife conservation.

One of the most exciting parts of a zoo visit is the opportunity to see a baby animal, and this summer, baby animals of all species have been born at some of North America’s favorite zoos. Travelocity and ZooBorns have teamed up to present the 15 must-see zoo babies in the United States and Canada. Each city is also a fantastic destination for a last-minute summer trip.

“Whether you’re on a family vacation or a first date, zoos and aquariums make for an exciting and educational travel adventure sure to leave you smiling,” explains Courtney Scott, senior editor at Travelocity. “Witnessing rare baby animals is one of the most unforgettable parts of the zoo experience and creates a travel memory that will last a lifetime.”

Andrew Bleiman, co-founder of ZooBorns, adds, “Of course baby animals tug on our heart-strings, but they are more than just cute, furry faces. These little guys are ambassadors for their species in the wild. These zoo babies help educate while they entertain and the exhibits showcase conservation challenges faced by their wild cousins.”

For a slideshow of all 15 of the animals and more travel tips visit, www.windowseatblog.com.

1. Reticulated giraffe calf born at Binder Park Zoo, Battle Creek, MI. Mosi, a 113 pound, 5 foot giraffe is the newest addition to the Binder Park Zoo. Visitors can feed the lanky calf at the zoo’s Twiga Overlook, a one-of-a-kind experience where you can closely interact with the giraffes.
2. Fur seal pup rescued by the New England Aquarium, Boston, MA. The New England aquarium rescued this little guy after finding him tangled in seaweed, underweight and alone along a California beach. As their name might suggest, fur seals are the second furriest animals on the planet with 300,000 hairs per square inch!
3. Two new lemurs at the Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY. One of four Wildlife Conservation Society institutions, the Bronx Zoo recently welcomed a Conquerel’s sifaka and a collared lemur to their animal family. Acrobatic tree-dwellers, lemurs are threatened by deforestation for timber and agriculture in their native Madagascar.
4. Macaroni penguin chicks born at the Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, TN. Adult penguins, Hercules and Shamrock, are proving to be attentive parents and the chicks are maturing quickly. Macaroni penguin chicks are the most populous of all penguin species with an estimated 18 million found across cold subarctic waters.
5. Pacific white-sided dolphin calf born at the Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL. The 3-foot long, 25-pound baby calf is spending lots of time with its mom, Piquet, while it learns to swim, eat and socialize with the other dolphins. The playful calf can easily be observed from Shedd’s Underwater Viewing Level.
6. Grévy’s zebra foal born at the Cincinnati Zoo, Cincinnati, OH. Baby Savanna was born on May 23 and stood up within minutes of birth! Savanna has been able to spend some time bonding with her Mom and can now be seen by the public. Grévy’s zebras are both the largest and most endangered species of zebra.
7. Amur leopard cub born at the Denver Zoo, Denver, CO. The zoo welcomed a male leopard cub, Makar, in April. This species is critically endangered, making Makar’s entrance extra special. Makar is growing fast and can now be seen inside the zoo’s Feline Building.
8. African lion cub born at Jacksonville Zoo, Jacksonville, FL. A tiny female lion was born at the Jacksonville Zoo, making this the first successful lion birth at the zoo since 1974. The little lady is growing up nicely and can now be viewed along with her parents, Tamu and Mshoni.
9. Warthog hoglets born at ZOO Miami, Miami, FL. A new litter of African warthogs has arrived at ZOO Miami. Warthogs are distinguished by their tusks and lumpy growths on the side of their heads. For the first few weeks, the litter stayed behind the scenes bonding with mom, but they are now in their exhibit with both parents.
10. The Canada lynx kitten born at the Montréal Biodome, Montréal, QC. Having just opened its eyes in July, this little kitten immediately began curiously exploring its environment on its over-sized paws. The lynx’s thick fur keeps it warm in harsh winters but also makes it a target for poaching.
11. Triplet snow leopard cubs born at the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA. Adult snow leopards Helen and Tom welcomed their second litter of cubs on May 2. Snow leopards are an endangered species due to poaching and habitat destruction, making these babies a true gift.
12. Red wolf pups born at the Great Plains Zoo, Sioux Falls, SD. The Great Plains Zoo recently welcomed three red wolf pups to their zoo family. These two sisters and brother are a rare sight these days. With only 110-130 red wolves left in the wild, this species is considered critically endangered.
13. Fennec fox kits born at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse, NY. Newborn fennec fox kits Todd and Vixey were the first fox kits born at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in 21 years. This species is challenging to breed, so these critters are a sight to see. The rambunctious kits are now on exhibit along with their parents Rhiona and Copper.
14. Harbour seal pups rescued by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, Vancouver BC. The Vancouver Aquarium has been involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals for almost 50 years. In that time, the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre has grown from admitting one or two animals in a season, to admitting over 150 in recent years. Animals receive expert veterinary treatment and supportive care to recuperate before they are released. These two recent arrivals are named Fern and Sasquatch Socks.
15. Cheetah cubs hand-raised by the Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington D.C. These two cheetah cubs were cared for by National Zoo keepers after mom proved inattentive. Cheetahs, the fastest animals on land, are struggling to outpace threats to their survival in the wild. Due to human conflict, hunting and habitat loss, there are only an estimated 7,500 to 10,000 Cheetahs left in the wild.