Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo successfully breeds endangered Jaguars.

Update: January 2007. Following the successful birth of her first litter of cubs in 2002, female Evita needed a rest. Keepers used a rotation schedule in the exhibit to effect a "time share" method of abstinence for a little over two years. This approximates the time in the wild that a mother jaguar would avoid males and fully recover between births.

These beautiful kittens were born two days apart --February 10 and 12, 2002.

Evita and Diego were re-introduced for mating in the summers of 2005 and 2006, and although they appeared to have worked their magic once again, it was determined that Evita was not pregnant. The Jaguars have been reunited to try once more.

Since jaguars do not live in large families like lions do, any kittens produced are placed in new, prearranged homes. They are paired with unrelated jaguars in the hopes that someday they will produce healthy babies of their own.

Ring-tailed Lemur Family grows again

An endangered species from Madagascar, Ring-tailed Lemurs are often shy, quiet creatures. Our pair thrilled us with a new baby in fall 2005 and another early in March 2006.

In 2006, there were multiple births  in three of our primate troops:

• Grey-armed Macaques,
• Grey-cheeked Macaques and
• Black Capped Capuchins

Where are they now?

"Eostair" Sun Bear
Born February 12, 2005

Eostair and her two older sisters now share an exhibit in the renovated Grizzly Bear run. They enjoy the extra space and are frequently seen digging at the natural logs in search of insect treats.

Plains Zebra foal "Zuri Tendegu" is steadily growing into a healthy adult. In 2007, look for her in the new Zebra barn and paddock near the camels.