The Red River Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a female Muntjac Fawn.
Muntjac are some of the world’s oldest and smallest deer. Native to Northern China, Muntjac males have antlers and tusks which are used to fight for territory.
The Red River Zoo has successfully bred Muntjac to help create greater genetic diversity for the captive population in North America. Once old enough, the offspring are sent to other zoos to help with their breeding programs.
The female fawn was born Saturday, February 23rd and is on exhibit with her mom in the Rotary Wings over Asia Aviary. The Red River Zoo is open on weekends during the winter from 10am to 5pm. We invite you to join us in welcoming this new addition to the Zoo!
The Red River Zoo will be unveiling a new exhibit at a press conference and ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, January 3rd at 10:30 am. The new exhibit will house the Zoo’s endangered White Naped Cranes.
White naped cranes are large birds native to northern China and Mongolia. This crane is experiencing a rapid and on-going population decline in the wild primarily due to loss of their wetland habitats.
This exhibit was made possible by the generous donation of labor and materials by Lowes, the National Association of Women in Construction, and several area businesses.
To prepare for the opening of the exhibit, area school children have been learning about these rare birds through the Zoo’s education department. Approx. 40 children will be attending the press conference and will be making origami cranes with Elmo from Sesame Street Live just prior to the press conference.
Elmo will be present to help cut the ribbon on this new exhibit.
For more information, please join us at the news conference on Thursday, January 3rd at 10:30 am. The press conference will be held at the Red River Zoo’s Carousel Pavilion.
Jim Mady, the CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Red River Zoo’s executive director Lisa Tate did an interview on Prairie Public Radio on the Red River Zoo and why zoos are important.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums President and CEO, Jim Maddy, will visit the Red River Zoo in Fargo this week. Mr. Maddy is traveling to Fargo from Silver Spring, Maryland to attend the Zoo’s annual celebration, ZOOlebration on Thursday, September 20th.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is the national organization which provides accreditation for our nation’s Zoos. Accreditation is the “gold star standard” of modern zoos. Fewer than 240 Zoos meet the high standards of AZA accreditation. The Red River Zoo has been accreditated since 2006.
Jim Maddy is a nationally recognized leader in conservation policy and advocacy. Jim previously served as President of the National Park Foundation (NPF) for nine years. Prior to NPF, Jim served as President of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) through four federal election cycles and broke ground as the first Executive Director of the Western Governors' Association (WGA). At WGA, Jim developed policies and programs in the areas of natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and state governance.
Jim's service on the Board of Directors for The Center for Clean Air Policy has put him at the forefront of climate policy and air quality issues since 1985. Jim is a founding board member and serves on the executive committee of the board.
Jim holds an M.A. in Economics from West Virginia University.
The Red River Zoo will be extending its hours through September. The Zoo will be open every day the week from 10 am to 5 pm until October 1st.
The Zoo is open year round, however hours are generally reduced to weekends after Labor Day. Given the Zoo’s growth, and popularity as a tourist destination we will be open every day an extra 4 weeks this Fall.
Starting October 1, the Zoo will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Red River Zoo announces the birth of a male Red Panda cub.
Born on May 20, 2012 the red panda cub has just started emerging from his nest box area. His parents, Yukiko (dad ) and Shantou (mom) are seven years old and were imported by the Red River Zoo in 2007 from Japan to help increase the genetic diversity of the captive population in the U.S. The Red River Zoo is a leading breeder of Red Pandas and has bred one-fourth of the captive red panda species in North American zoos.
Relatives of giant (black and white) pandas and raccoons, red pandas are considered members of their own unique family - the Ailuridae. There are only an estimated 10,000 Red Pandas world wide. While protected, their numbers continue to decline in the wild mainly due to habitat loss and poaching. Red pandas spend most of their lives in trees and even sleep aloft. Their main diet is bamboo, but they also eat eggs, birds, insects, and small mammals. Red pandas are most active from dusk until dawn and tend to be reclusive by nature.
The Red River Zoo is proud to announce the opening of our new Bactrian Camel Exhibit.
Thanks to a generous contribution by Fargo West Rotary, the Red River Zoo has a new exhibit for our growing Bactrian camel herd.
The new exhibit features a large grass and sand area and includes a large pond for soaking. They also have large holding areas and an indoor barn for calving and inclement weather.
Unlike dromedary camels which have a single hump and are from southern desert climates, the Bactrian camels have two humps are native to cold, steppes of central and northern Asia including the Gobi desert in Mongolia.
Bactrian Camels are critically endangered. The Red River Zoo has successfully raised several Bactrian camel calves.
The Red River Zoo announced the construction of an exciting new exhibit today. Thanks to the generosity of donor Bob Wilm, the Zoo will soon begin construction of a North American River Otter exhibit. The new exhibit will have a naturalistic design, complete with a water feature which will incorporate a waterfall, river, and pool for swimming. The design of the indoor viewing area will give the visitor the feeling of being inside an otter's den, immersing them in the world of an otter. Underwater viewing will allow visitors to enjoy the otters in a naturalistic habitat and above ground viewing will also be available.
Planning for the exhibit began in the spring of 2011 and construction was slated to begin in spring 2013. However, this spring two displaced otter pups were found in the Sheyenne River area. The staff of the Red River Zoo has been hand-raising the pups, who are both healthy and doing very well. The acquisition of the pups has moved the project up and construction will begin this summer with an opening in the spring of 2013
The Zoo is currently working on a campaign to raise the remaining funds for the exhibit and the ongoing care of the otters. An additional $200,000+ will be raised for the project and several giving options will be available, including naming rights. The female has been named Annabell, but naming of the little boy is still available. Donations can be made online by calling the Zoo at 701-277-9240.
The Red River Zoo announces the birth of a male Sichuan takin born at approximately 7:00pm on Monday May 14th. The mother, Luan, an 11 year old female, came to the Red River Zoo in 2002. The healthy kid (Takin babies are referred to as "kids") is approximately 20 pounds and nursing well. Luan is has proven to be an excellent mother.
Sichuan takin are an endangered species found in the mountains of the Sichuan province of China. The Chinese government considers takin a national treasure along with the giant panda and the golden monkey. The mother is on permanent breeding loan from the San Diego Zoo in California. The father, Lailin was born in 1998 and was one of the oldest male Takin ever noted in captivity. He died of heart failure related to his advanced age last year.
The Zoo will be holding a naming contest for the new kid and zoo visitors may vote for their favorite name while visiting now through July 31.
Visitors to the zoo will be able to see the new calf with his family intheir exhibit. The Red River Zoo is open every day from 10 am to 7 pm.
©2012 Red River Zoological Society Privacy Policy
