LITTLE ROCK (December 26, 2025)— We are thrilled to share that Kayla, our sloth bear mom, gave birth to two healthy cubs at the Little Rock Zoo! This exciting milestone is the result of a collaborative effort between the Little Rock Zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo, and the Sloth Bear Species Survival Plan (SSP), an initiative focused on strengthening and sustaining the sloth bear population in human care. Kayla gave birth in the early morning hours on Sunday, December 21, before keeper staff arrived. During routine morning checks, animal care teams observed Kayla attentively caring for her cubs. She has been understandably…

LITTLE ROCK (December 19, 2025)— Great news from the Little Rock Zoo; Kayla, the sloth bear, is expecting cubs!! Zoo veterinarians confirmed pregnancy using ultrasound imaging. Kayla is expected to deliver sometime before the end of December. Sloth Bears use delayed implantation as a reproductive strategy. This means that the embryo does not immediately implant during breeding. Instead, the embryo remains dormant until something signals the embryo to implant in the female’s uterus. Sloth Bears typically breed in mid-Summer and can deliver cubs anytime between November and February. This can make it challenging for zookeepers to track pregnancy and know when…

In August 2025, Mom Kianga welcomed a baby girl chimpanzee, and we’re delighted to report that both mother and daughter continue to do well. Now, we invite you to be a part of this special moment by helping us choose the perfect name for the newest member of the chimpanzee troop. The names you’ll see were carefully chosen by her dedicated animal care team. At the Zoo, it has become a tradition to select names that carry meaning, often inspired by the animal’s parents. Her mother, Kianga, has a name that means sunshine—so our keepers chose names that reflect a…

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (July 7, 2025) – Today, the Little Rock Zoo showcased the grand opening of two extraordinary exhibits: Isle of the Dragon: Komodo Exhibit and Hidden Corners of the World: Uncommon Creatures, just in time for Hiland Dairy Dollar Day scheduled for Sat., July 12.  Komodo dragons are an exciting new species at the Zoo. “The Isle of the Dragon” exhibit is located on the west side of the reptile building and brings guests face-to-face with two awe-inspiring Komodo Dragons: one female juvenile (Tiamat) and one male juvenile (Iroh). The immersive experience offers a rare and unforgettable opportunity to observe Komodo…

LITTLE ROCK (June 26, 2025) – The Little Rock Zoo is sad to announce the passing of its youngest male orangutan, Kota, who passed earlier this week from encephalitis.   The animal care staff observed Kota showing signs of lethargy.  The Zoo veterinary staff and animal care staff worked together to administer care. Specialists were called to assist, but Kota continued to decline. Gross necropsy showed lesions on Kota’s brain indicative of diffuse encephalopathy, or widespread dysfunction of the brain and brain hemorrhaging. Lab sample results should reveal a more specific cause.  Kota was born at the Little Rock Zoo on February…