John Ball Zoo

We've got some new parents in the JBZ family! Snow leopards, Mylo and Yuki, welcomed their cub on Thursday, June 6. Yuki is a first-time mother and she and her female cub are doing well.Yuki and the cub will remain behind the scenes at the Zoo. Yuki has been a diligent mother and the cub is recei...

Happy Father's Day from our Zoo family to yours! There is a new dad at John Ball Zoo, can you guess who that is? Be sure to check back in tomorrow to see if your guess was right!

Have you seen the chicks on the penguin deck?! All penguin parents have been caring dilligently for their babies. The chicks grow bigger every day! The next time you're at the Zoo, be sure to try and spot the babies on the deck.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our beloved North American porcupine, Barbara.A few weeks ago, Barbara's keepers noticed a reluctance to consume her meals. After trying supportive treatment in her habitat, it became apparent that more intensive care was needed and she was re...

Happy National Cougar Day to Eli and Elsa! Cougars play a very important role in the ecological balance of their habitats. Through their role as predators, they influence species diversity, nutrient cycling, and vegetation patterns. National Cougar Day is a day to raise awareness and encourage co...

All dates for the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival are officially sold out! All tickets, both walk-up and digital, to the Lantern Festival have been purchased. Be sure to join us next year for a brand new 2025 display! Thank you for your continued support of wildlife conservation around the world an...

Happy Caturday! You know what that means; it's time for a kit update! Behind the scenes, the kits are spending lots of their time asleep with their mom, Becca. Becca has been the ever attentive momma. She spends lots of time nursing and snuggling with her kits. There has been lots of big yawns, b...

The cubs are not cubs anymore! Red pandas mature in about 18-20 months. Nima and Dawa are now considered full-grown red pandas.

We have recently welcomed some new aquatic family to JBZ! Say hello to the new residents of the aquarium, Arctic grayling. Arctic grayling is a species native to North America. They are freshwater fish in the salmon family. These grayling have come to retire at John Ball Zoo after being a part of...

Good things come in threes! We are excited to announce the addition of three new Magellanic penguin chicks to the JBZ family. Born in the last three weeks, these fluffy newcomers were born to two pairs of parents: one chick to Rio (mom, 19 years old) and Quffy (dad, 24 years old) and two chicks t...

Do you love breakfast? What about animals? If you answered yes to both questions, then we have an event for you! Join us for Breakfast with the Animals, Wednesday, June 19. Enjoy sunrise breakfast on the South American Boardwalk, followed by a guided tour to two animal habitats of your choosing. ...

GIVEAWAY CLOSED Celebrate saving wildlife and wild places at John Ball Zoo for the wildest party in town, RendeZoo! We are starting the festivities early with a GIVEAWAY. Here's your chance to win two tickets to RendeZoo. Follow these steps to win: Follow our page Tag two friends committed to co...