Celebrate Holiday Magic at the Sacramento Zoo

Watch as the animals open their holiday gifts!

WHAT’S HAPPENING: The holidays are here and it’s time to enjoy the season! Bundle up the family for Holiday Magic at the Sacramento Zoo on Saturday, December 14th. Throughout the day, special gifts will be delivered to the animals. See them pounce, tear and stomp into their one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.

New this year will be a special holiday feast with all the fixings for the Black and White Ruffed Lemurs, including the four young ones born this past spring.

WHERE: Sacramento Zoo, near the corner of Land Park Drive and Sutterville Road in William Land Park.

WHEN: Saturday, December 14th from 10 am to 4 pm. The special Black and White Ruffed Lemur holiday feast will happen at 11:30 am.


Schedule of Enrichments
All enrichments will happen at the animals’ exhibits.

10:30 am

Orangutans: Fabric stocking with fruit, nuts & pumpkin

11:00 am

Bongos & Red River Hogs: Pumpkin bowls with fruit & vegetables, Christmas trees decorated with hay, carrots and lettuce

11:30 am

Black & White Ruffed Lemurs: Black & White Ruffed Lemurs Christmas feast with a paper turkey pinata, plates of food on a festive table and a cardboard gingerbread house

12:00 pm

Sumatran Tigers: Wrapped presents with spices, a Christmas tree, ice & a holiday-themed pinata

12:30 pm

Kangaroo & Emu: Christmas tree decorated with carrots, lettuce, greens & squash stars

1:00 pm

Anteaters: Toys with avocado & boxes with oranges

1:30 pm

Lions: Large boxes with scent & spice, ice & small pumpkins

2:00 pm

River Otters: Frozen ice ornaments & ice with treats

2:30 pm

Giraffes: Wreaths of browse, fruit & vegetables, Christmas tree & pinata

3:00 pm

Ground Hornbills: Holiday-themed pinata with crickets inside

Visitors’ Tip: Keep an eye out for off-schedule enrichments throughout the day.

Bring a new, unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item and receive $1 off your Zoo admission. Toy donations will go to Toys for Tots and food donations go to the River City Food Bank.

Searching for great holiday gift ideas? Sacramento Zoo has something for everyone on your holiday list, including Zoo memberships, Zoo Parent packages and unique items from the Zoofari Market. Visit saczoo.org to find out more.

Black & White Ruffed Lemurs  
Sacramento Zoo – Widly Inspiring!

Open since 1927, the Sacramento Zoo is home to more than 500 native, rare and endangered animals and is one of over 200 accredited institutions of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Located near the corner of Land Park Drive and Sutterville Road in William Land Park, the Zoo is wholly managed by the non-profit Sacramento Zoological Society. This Sacramento treasure inspires conservation awareness through education and recreation. Open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, general admission is $11.25; children ages 2-11 are $7.25 and one and under are admitted free.  Parking is free throughout the park or ride Regional Transit bus #6. For information, call 916-808-5888 or visit saczoo.org.

Sumatran Tiger Cub Born at the Sacramento Zoo

Sacramento, California - WHAT’S HAPPENING: A male Sumatran Tiger cub was born at the Sacramento Zoo.

WHERE: Sacramento Zoo, at the corner of Land Park Dr. and Sutterville Rd. in William Land Park.

WHEN: The cub was born at 2:55 am, Sunday, March 3, 2013. Mother and cub will be in a den off-exhibit while the cub develops and learns to follow his mother.

WHAT’S GOING ON: A three pound (1.38 Kg) male Sumatran Tiger cub was born at 2:55 am, Sunday, March 3, 2013. The mother Bahagia and baby appear healthy at this early point in the cub’s life.

Tiger cubs are usually about two pounds (1 Kg) at birth, born with eyes closed and rely entirely on their mother for the first three months.  Mother and baby will be inside the den, away from public view, while the baby gains strength and coordination during the first few months. Both should be on exhibit by late May or early June, in the meantime guest can check the blog for updates, photos and video.

“The birth of any Sumatran Tiger is a great contribution to this critically endangered species,” said Mary Healy, Zoo Director. “We are especially excited for this birth because it is the first time we have had a camera in the den, allowing zookeepers and veterinarians to keep a close eye on Bahagia and her cub.”

Castro, the father was diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of cancer, in early February. He and Bahagia now have five living offspring, one of which just fathered a cub at the San Francisco Zoo.

Sumatran Tigers are critically endangered and found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra off the Malaysian Peninsula.  Fewer than 500 Sumatran Tigers are believed to exist in the wild and approximately 200 live in zoos around the world. The Zoo participates in the Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan® (SSP), coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SSPs are cooperative breeding and conservation programs designed to maintain genetically viable populations of animals in captivity, and to organize zoo and aquarium-based efforts to preserve the species in nature.

For updates including video and photos visit the Sacramento Zoo’s blog at www.saczooblog.com.