Boasting bright colors, dazzling names, and glorious trumpet shapes, the hibiscus at the zoo are a fan favorite, always charming visitors this time of year. And it’s no wonder—these remarkable flowers are currently in bloom, with peak bloom arriving in August through early September. Lincoln Park Zoo’s herbaceous perennial hibiscus collection is nationally accredited…
On your next visit to Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, be sure to peer into the prehensile-tailed skink habitat and see if you can spot the newest arrival at the building. On July 21, a female prehensile-tailed skink gave birth—the first time this particular species has done so at Lincoln Park Zoo since 2003! The neonate…
Thanks to the multitude of green open spaces as well as its location along a migratory bird flyway, Chicago has tremendous biological diversity—from flying squirrels to coyotes and more. But in cities like this, large swaths of concrete, shifted food resources, light and noise pollution, traffic, and other factors can sometimes create human-wildlife conflicts. Lincoln…
To further the conservation and ecological understanding of the state-endangered black-crowned night heron, researchers at the Urban Wildlife Institute are studying the wild colony that has been nesting at Lincoln Park Zoo and the surrounding park since 2010. Now, with more than 600 individuals, the Lincoln Park Zoo colony has grown to be the largest…
There’s a new face at Pepper Family Wildlife Center! Lincoln Park Zoo has welcomed a 5-year-old female red panda from Franklin Park Zoo. The new arrival, Nisha, joins resident male Xiaobo (3 years old) as recommended by the Red Panda Species Survival Plan®. Nisha is doing well and continues to explore her new habitat. …
Summer in Chicago brings blooming flowers and sunny days, along with a spike in temperatures. What goes into caring for species at the zoo during the warmest months of the year? Every day of the year, Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes choice and control when it comes to animal welfare and high-quality care. Animals at the…
Connecting children with nature is more challenging than it has ever been, as kids spend less time outdoors than they used to and more time with digital screens. But it’s also more important, in today’s urbanizing world, to foster a love of the outdoors in the younger generations—not just for the planet’s sake, but for…
Spring and summer bring warm, sunny days and blooming flora, along with an increase in the miniscule, insect-like creature—the tick. Many common myths surround this infamous parasite, including: You can feel a tick bite you. Ticks have highly-specialized mouth parts that allow them to attach into the skin of a host in a covert manner…
Spring is well on its way to turning into a fun, active, sensational Chicago summer. At Lincoln Park Zoo, that means blooms are flourishing everywhere—thousands of different plants, mixed together to create a riot of color that beautifies the grounds in striking ways. The Horticulture staff is responsible for this glorious transformation—and if you visit,…
The African lion pride at Pepper Family Wildlife Center has grown by one! Lincoln Park Zoo is roaring with excitement to share the arrival of a healthy cub. On March 15, 3-year-old African lion Zari gave birth to a cub as part of the African Lion Species Survival Plan®. The cub has yet to be…
