The Buffalo Zoo is proud to announce that Interim President and CEO/Chief Zoological officer, Lisa Smith, has been selected for the prestigious The Association of Zoos and Aquariums‘ (AZA) Executive Leadership Development Program (EDLP). The EDLP focuses on development of … Continued

On your next visit to the Buffalo Zoo, say hello to our three new female American Plains bison. Arriving earlier this week, the new ladies hail from The Wilds, a zoological safari park outside of Columbus, Ohio. Born a little … Continued

All of us at the Buffalo Zoo continue to grieve alongside the families, friends, and loved ones affected by the horrific, racially motivated shooting in our community. We stand resolved to do all we can to root out racism and … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo is implementing temporary proactive measures to protect avian species at the Zoo from highly pathogenic avian influenza. On your next visit to the Zoo, you’ll notice that many of our birds have been moved inside and that … Continued

Part of $200 million total commitment to arts & culture economic drivers in Southeast Michigan and WNY BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation announced today a $100 million commitment to transform the financial strength and long-term viability … Continued

We are deeply saddened to announce our 19-year-old African lion, Shona, was recently humanely euthanized due to deteriorating conditions from changes to her kidneys and liver that could no longer be treated medically.  Shona was born at the Como Park … Continued

On Saturday morning, at 3:29 a.m., our greater one-horned rhino Tashi gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! This is Tashi’s fifth calf but the first with our previous male George, who formerly lived here at the Zoo and now … Continued

Born to mother Lusaka and father Tiberius on March 7, 2021, the two African lion cubs finally have names. Members of the Buffalo Zoo community have selected Khari for the boy and Zahra for the girl as the names via an online … Continued

Born to mother Lusaka and father Tiberius on March 7, 2021, the two African lion cubs have been growing quickly the past two months and now it’s time to give them names. After revealing their genders to be a boy … Continued

Buffalo, N.Y. — The Buffalo Zoo is happy to announce the birth of two healthy lion cubs! Both cubs were born to mother Lusaka on March 7, 2021. The cub’s arrival day is extra special as they were born on … Continued

Buffalo, N.Y. – As the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs gear up to play in the AFC Championship game this Sunday, the Buffalo Zoo has teamed up with the Kansas City Zoo for a friendly wager to help … Continued

Buffalo N.Y. –  The Buffalo Zoo has teamed up with Zoo Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.) and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Columbus, Ohio), to form a new gorilla troop located at Zoo Atlanta. Amari, the 10-year Western lowland gorilla, born at … Continued

Buffalo, N.Y. – Starting Monday, November 16, 2020, the Buffalo Zoo will be closed to the public every Monday through Thursday and open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The new operating hours are … Continued

We are heartbroken to share that Dallas, the California sea lion, unexpectedly passed away on Sunday night. Our veterinary and animal care teams had been closely monitoring and treating Dallas for a respiratory issue, and he seemed to be improving. … Continued

Unfortunately, in a year that has already been so very difficult and taken so much, we have some more sad news to share. Sampson, the giraffe, died yesterday due to complications following a medical procedure. Recently, Sampson had developed a … Continued

The Albright-Knox’s Public Art Initiative recently announced a new mural by Buffalo-based artist James Cooper III, depicting John E. Brent, Buffalo’s first African American architect, will be installed at the Buffalo Zoo. Cooper produces colorful and evocative abstract works for … Continued

This past week, 4-year-old African lion, Roary, made his way to his new home at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio.  At the Columbus Zoo, Roary will join a female lion named Kazi and have the opportunity to … Continued

After closing in March due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Buffalo Zoo will re-open on Thursday, July 2, 2020, with enhanced health and safety measures in place to protect guests, team members, and animals alike. The Buffalo Zoo Safe … Continued

As an AZA-accredited organization, we collaborate with other zoos and aquariums to share information and incorporate best practices into our important work at the Buffalo Zoo. We also follow the guidance of several federal, state and local government agencies and … Continued

Dear Friends of the Buffalo Zoo, I hope this message finds you safe and healthy. I’m writing to share that despite these uncertain times good things are happening in our Buffalo Zoo Community. We continue to stay resilient and relish … Continued

Dear Friends of the Buffalo Zoo, So many of us are grappling with sudden changes to our everyday lives. All of us here at the Zoo hope you are staying safe, staying healthy and staying positive. Your Buffalo Zoo is … Continued

Dear Buffalo Zoo Community: Because nothing is more important than the health and safety of our guests, team members, and animals, the Buffalo Zoo is temporarily closed beginning Saturday, March 14 through Saturday, March 28, 2020. We believe this is … Continued

Dear Buffalo Zoo Community: Like you, all of us at the Buffalo Zoo is monitoring the rapidly evolving situation surrounding COVID-19, commonly known as novel coronavirus 2019. The safety of the beloved animals in our care and you, our valued … Continued

Though many of the fires have subsided, the widespread damage from the massive bushfires in Australia remains. Experts say over one billion animals, some who are only found in Australia, have died in the blazes. As recovery efforts continue, the … Continued

Buffalo, N.Y. – On Friday, December 13, 2019, Zhanna the Amur tiger will make her public debut at the Buffalo Zoo. Zhanna is 11 years old and came to the Buffalo Zoo from the Bronx Zoo in Bronx, New York. … Continued

Through community fundraising events throughout 2019, the Buffalo Zoo has raised $13,500 to support the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) expansion of the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia. In Indonesia, fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos remain. The species is likely now … Continued

On Friday, May 24, 2019, the Buffalo Zoo will open to the public the newly renovated Donna M. Fernandes Amphibian and Reptile Center. The exhibit will feature over 40 amphibians and reptiles, including the Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard … Continued

During “APE-RIL” the Buffalo Zoo along with six community partners have joined more than 25 zoos and aquariums across the nation to collect and recycle unused cell phones, small electronic devices, and battery chargers. The Buffalo Zoo is a proud … Continued

Update 3/21/19: The Buffalo Zoo said farewell to Agnes on Thursday, March 21, 2019.  Her quality of life was in steep decline and it was determined by an expert team that euthanasia was the best course of action. It is … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo will be closed tomorrow, Sunday, January 20, 2019 as we recover from the winter storm and power outage. Please know our backup power systems are running and teams are onsite. None of this would be possible without … Continued

Two-year-old African lion, Tobias has been relocated to the Denver Zoo, where he will join three female lions. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Buffalo Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) … Continued

Norah Fletchall, Buffalo Zoo President and CEO, has been appointed to serve on the Accreditation Commission for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). As a voting Commissioner of the Accreditation Commission, Fletchall, along with 11 other leaders in the … Continued

Our top priority is to consistently give our animals the best possible care. Your support allows us to provide exceptional veterinary care to 1,000+ residents in all stages of life. On this Giving Tuesday, I’d like to tell you about … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo has accomplished another successful artificial insemination (AI) of its greater one-horned rhinoceros, Tashi who is expected to give birth in Summer 2019. In 2014, the Buffalo Zoo made history as the first organization to use artificial insemination … Continued

What elephants reside at the Audubon Zoo? Jothi (age 36) and Surapa (age 35) will join Jean (age 45) and Panya (age 54). What are the key features of the elephant exhibit at the Audubon Zoo? Watch a video here: … Continued

Our two Asian elephants Jothi (age 36) and Surapa (age 35) will be moving to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, La this Fall. The Buffalo Zoo made the decision because we have a responsibility to make sure all of … Continued

Buffalo, New York — Because the current and future welfare of the animals is the Zoo’s top priority, the Buffalo Zoo announced today that its two Asian elephants Jothi (age 36) and Surapa (age 35) will be moving to the … Continued

By Christian Dobosiewicz, Communications Manager Have you ever been in an argument with your parents or siblings? It might be difficult at times but hopefully, apologies are made, and you can forgive each other. Just like humans, our animals have … Continued

By Mindy Ussrey, Elephant Manager Well, actually, every season is spa season inside the elephant barn. Taking care of the elephants’ feet is a year-round task for the keepers. Elephants spend 90% of their day on their feet (they do … Continued

Preschool Graduation, Buffalo Zoo By Anna Ileto, Early Childhood Program Specialist On June 7th and 8th, 2018, our preschoolers proudly marched to Pomp and Circumstance at the Sunken Garden to receive their certificate of completion. The garden was beautifully decorated … Continued

With this weekend’s expected heat wave the Buffalo Zoo would like to invite guests to beat the heat and visit the Zoo with discounted admission. This weekend’s admission prices are as follows: Adult Admission: $9.00 Senior Admission: $7.00 Child Admission: … Continued

Last week the Buffalo Zoo said goodbye to Delilah the four-year-old giant anteater and later this week Nico the Zoos’ one-year-old ocelot will depart as well. Delilah, who came to Buffalo in 2015 from the Palm Beach Zoo in West … Continued

Construction is underway and this Memorial Day Weekend the Buffalo Zoo will open its newest exhibit, Boomerang Island. This temporary interactive exhibit is only here for the summer and will feature more than 300 birds native to the Australian Outback. … Continued

By Melissa King The Buffalo Zoo is home to a breeding pair of cinereous (or Eurasian black) vultures.  The male is named Vladimir and the female Czari.  They are both twenty-eight years old and have been at the zoo since … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo, joined by Senator Chris Jacobs, is proud to announce the beginning of construction on the Donna M. Fernandes Amphibian and Reptile Center (A.R.C.). This 3.7-million-dollar project, which started in 2015, is now ready to break ground and … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo is excited to announce the introduction this weekend and through winter break of two female Canada lynx to the Garman Family Arctic Edge presented by TOPS Friendly Markets.    The sisters, named Rosie and Hazel, come to the … Continued

After spending some time apart, the Buffalo Zoo has reunited polar bears, Luna and Sakari, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Luna and Sakari were separated in mid-October as the denning season started.  Although it was not expected that Luna … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo is excited to announce the addition of a new male snow leopard. With the new year off to a fast and cold start, what better time to announce the arrival of an animal that is right at … Continued

By Dr. Kurt Volle What do ants, birds, jackfruit, leaf-nosed bats, guapote fish and triatomine bugs have in common?  They are all things that are encountered during the two weeks students spend in the biologically diverse country of Costa Rica … Continued

In the spirit of friendly competition and to celebrate the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars NFL playoff berths for the first time in many years, the Buffalo Zoo has teamed up with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens for a friendly … Continued

By Megan Monaco The Arctic fox is one of the most adorable animals that live in one of the harshest climates in the world, the Arctic tundra.  Here at the Buffalo Zoo, we have four male arctic foxes. The three … Continued

In a world of continual change, one thing that remained constant over four decades was the community involvement and support extended by M&T Bank’s Chairman and CEO, Robert G. Wilmers. His support of cultural institutions throughout the region is a … Continued

By Anna Ileto, Early Childhood Programs Specialist, and Manager of the Buffalo Zoo Preschool On October 26 and 27, the Preschoolers had a “Make Believe Day” parade and party in the Zoo.  So many people participated to help make this … Continued

By Caitlyn Bruce Here at the Buffalo Zoo, part of our mission is to be a leader in inspiring others to respect, protect and restore natural habitats for wildlife. With last week being Polar Bear Week it was a great … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo is revitalizing its cell phone recycling program and we need your help! If you have old cell phones or their accessories (chargers, earbuds, adapters) or other small electronics like GPS, hand-held gaming systems, cameras, etc, recycle them … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo is excited to once again host Trick-or-Treat Weekend at the Zoo. This family-friendly event takes place this weekend, October 14 and 15 from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. each day. The Buffalo Zoo expects thousands of families … Continued

By Anna Ileto, Early Childhood Programs Specialist, and Manager of the Buffalo Zoo Preschool The children enrolled in the Buffalo Zoo Preschool are fully aware of the many changes happening in their environment such as falling leaves and changes in … Continued

By Alice Rohauer Meet “Pumpernickel”, the Buffalo Zoo’s newest addition to the addax herd. They are a large ungulate able to reside in areas of extreme desert temperatures. Addax are listed as Critically Endangered because the total wild population is … Continued

By Emily DeTine As zookeepers, we have many different parts to our job, one of which is tracking our Japanese macaques’ estrous cycles. This is especially important with the breeding group we have. With Koji’s mom, Debbi, we kept a … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo has a new baby addax and once again we want your help in naming the little one! The female was born on May 31 to mother Kay (4) and father Bakari (8) and keepers say that she … Continued

By Christian Dobosiewicz As many members already know, the Buffalo Zoo has a new President and CEO. Norah Fletchall took over as the head of the Zoo at the end of May. She comes to Buffalo from the Indianapolis Zoo … Continued

By  Kelly Ann Brown The Buffalo Zoo often works with state and federal agencies on various projects, but this past winter we were presented with a unique opportunity. If you’ve been to the Zoo over the past few years, you … Continued

By Caitlyn Bruce Happy Zoo Keeper Day! There are many things that zoo keepers feel passionately about… the most obvious being the animals in their care. But another thing that unites keepers is the importance of preserving the planet that … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of a male Scandinavian reindeer just in time for Mother’s Day.  The Buffalo Zoo’s newest addition was born on April 18, 2017, to mother Solara (6) and father Apollo (3). This … Continued

Students from the Observational Research Methods class at Canisius College showcased their animal behavior research projects at the Buffalo Zoo this Thursday, May 4. Observational Research Methods is an upper-level elective in the animal behavior, ecology and conservation (ABEC) major at … Continued

The Zoological Society of Buffalo Inc. today named Norah B. Fletchall, COO and senior vice president of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, to succeed Donna Fernandes as the Buffalo Zoo’s next president and CEO. In February 2016, Fletchall moved into the … Continued

By Alicia DuBrava Our African lion pride has really gown in the past year! We started 2016 with Tiberius, Lelie and Lusaka and we quickly added four adorable cubs, Tobias, Asha, Amirah, and Roary. With our new additions, things have … Continued

By Lisa Thibault With great thanks to the Cullen Foundation, the Buffalo Zoo recently launched a brand new career-based program called the for teens. A group of 15 extraordinary students ages 14-18 from schools across Erie County were selected for … Continued

By Caitlyn Bruce February is the month that many of us find ourselves celebrating love. Whether it’s love that has already withstood the test of time, or new affection that is just beginning to form, Valentine’s Day is the holiday … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo is always excited when one of our animals gives birth. Our keepers become incredibly attached to our animals and feel like proud parents themselves when a new animal is born here at the Zoo. More importantly, the … Continued

Zoos from across the country work together to protect polar bears   If you have been to the Zoo recently, you may have noticed that our Arctic Edge Exhibit has a new resident! Sakari, the polar bear now calls Buffalo … Continued

The Buffalo Zoo will hold a Family Valentine’s Day event this weekend, as part of the Zooper Saturday series. Spend some quality time together and show some love to the animals during the Zoo’s Family Valentine’s Day event! The event … Continued