Hattiesburg Zoo Hattiesburg Zoo News

Pili the spotted hyena is pregnant. Rick Taylor of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission revealed this bit of news in an interview:

"There was a hyaena [named Niru] that had just been brought to New Jersey from Spain. He had not clicked with the pack and was having some difficulties. But he was critically important, as a new bloodline for the system in North America, so they sent him to us. A female [named Pili] came about a year later, and they now have a cub [named Kito], and she is expecting another, so we’re excited to now be a part of that."

His remark in the interview/article below about the Sumatran tiger brothers they previously had is inaccurate. Hattiesburg didn't trade the brothers with Dallas, they traded one brother, Kuasa, with Dallas in 2019 and received Kipling (who passed away on 5/3/23) in return. The other brother, Cinta, passed away on 5/7/17 from leukemia while he still lived at the Hattiesburg Zoo.

Serengeti Springs & the transformation of Hattiesburg Zoo
 
Piece of 2023 News Not Mentioned:

On July 10th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.0.2) capybaras named Antonio and Felix which are now on exhibit.

Hattiesburg Zoo - It’s Capybara Appreciation Day and we...

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On September 5th, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) eastern bongo named Klaus from the Montgomery Zoo in Alabama which is now on exhibit in the African Veldt area.

Also on September 5th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.0.3) Geoffroy's? spider monkeys from the now-closed Mayagüez Zoo in Puerto Rico.

Hattiesburg Zoo - The Hattiesburg Zoo is pleased to...
 
The zoo announced today that Kito, the spotted hyena cub born on October 17, 2022, will be moving to Rolling Hills Zoo. He will be on exhibit with his parents in Hattiesburg through October 1.

Hattiesburg Zoo on Instagram: "Hattiesburg Zoo’s young male hyena, Kito is relocating to Rolling Hills Zoo in Kansas. Kito is being moved as a part of the Species Survival Plan as he is nearing breeding age and will hopefully mate with a female at his new home. Kito was born October 17, 2022 at the Hattiesburg Zoo as a single cub to mother Pili and father Niru. Kito was the only hyena born at a Zoo in the United States in 2022. “Though we are sad that Kito will be leaving us, we are proud to be a part of the Species Survival Plan program,” said Kristen Moore, Animal Curator for the Hattiesburg Zoo. “The fact that the Hattiesburg Zoo added to the hyena population with the birth of Kito and that hopefully he will also be successful in breeding is a really big accomplishment and speaks to the quality of our facilities and expertise of our animal care team.” The Species Survival Plan (SSP) is a program developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums. The program focuses on animals that are near threatened, threatened, endangered or otherwise in danger of extinction in the wild. The SSP program began in 1981 and has been met with widespread success in ensuring that a viable population exists within a zoological setting. “Conservation is a vital part of our mission at the Hattiesburg Zoo,” said Jeremy Cumpton, Director of Conservation, Education and Wildlife. “It is important for us at the Hattiesburg Zoo to assist with promoting the growth of the hyena population, and I am proud for our role in that effort.” Kito will be on exhibit in his habitat at the Hattiesburg Zoo along with parents Niru and Pili through Sunday, October 1st. Get to the Zoo this week to visit Kito before he leaves us!"
 
Milwaukee Man said:
The smaller of the two hyena cubs has died from major wounds from its more dominant sibling.

Hyena cub killed by sibling at Hattiesburg Zoo - SuperTalk Mississippi
Click to expand...

On January 13th, 2024, the zoo announced that the remaining hyena cub was sexed as (0.1). On February 10th, the zoo announced the hyena's name, Cazi.

Hattiesburg Zoo
Hattiesburg Zoo

Milwaukee Man said:
New projects for 2023: expanded raptor area (featuring three new birds), new flamingo pool, a new alligator exhibit, and a water park.

Additions, upgrades revealed for Hattiesburg Zoo
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On May 25th, the zoo officially opened the new 3.5-acre waterpark, called Serengeti Springs, to the public*.

Hattiesburg Zoo
$10.5 million water park Serengeti Springs opens in Mississippi’s Hattiesburg Zoo

On June 14th, the zoo announced that their (0.1) Chilean rose-haired tarantula named Leggs will be retired from the zoo's ambassador program after June 16th.

Hattiesburg Zoo

*According to the article, there are some unspecified exhibits holding "tropical animals" inside the waterpark.
 
On August 6th, the zoo announced they acquired 2 Alpine x Nigerian dwarf goat hybrids named Eloise and Violet which are on exhibit.

Hattiesburg Zoo

On September 27th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.2) emus named Daphne and Velma which are on display in the Wallaby Walkabout area.

Hattiesburg Zoo
Hattiesburg Zoo
 
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