There’s been a baby boom at Chicago zoos this summer. The city’s newest residents are also some of its cutest, from rare newborn rhinos to friendly sea otter pups. Check out some adorable photos of the baby animals, then go see them for yourself at Chicago’s zoos and aquariums.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago’s oldest zoo is now home to a new crop of baby animals. Their family of western lowland gorillas, a critically endangered species, welcomed two new babies this summer. Bana, a 24-year-old gorilla, gave birth to healthy infant Djeke on June 12. That happens to be exactly one month after the arrival of another male infant, Mondika, born to Rollie on Mother’s Day. Exhibit hours may vary with the new arrivals, call ahead or check their website for viewing hours of new baby animals.
Rollie and her infant after his Mother’s Day arrival. The baby western lowland gorilla was the zoo’s 53rd gorilla birth.
Bana and her new baby at home in the Regenstein Center for African Apes. The infant gorilla doesn’t have a name yet.
Romeo, the new eastern black rhino calf, has made his outdoor debut in the Regenstein African Journey exhibit. He was born to Kapuki, 13, on May 19.
Brookfield Zoo
Located just outside Chicago, Brookfield Zoo is a great spot to see baby animals this summer. The zoo welcomed a male sea lion pup, three bat-eared fox kits, five mongoose pups, and seven common peafowl chicks this summer. Exhibit hours may vary with the new arrivals, call ahead or check their website for viewing hours of new baby animals.
A male California sea lion pup born on June 10 has a name — Charger and can now be seen at Brookfield Zoo’s Pinniped Point.
Charger, a month-old California sea lion pup made his public debut at Brookfield Zoo on July 12. He can be seen with his mom, Josephine, at the zoo’s Pinniped point.
One of three bat-eared fox kits born at Brookfield Zoo on March 23. The two females and one male—named Helen, Jane, and Edward—were born on March 23. They can be seen with the parents at the zoo’s Desert’s Edge habitat.
Five mongoose pups were born at Brookfield Zoo on May 20.
Shedd Aquarium
A leader in animal care, the Shedd has a few surprise additions this season. In expected arrivals, their beluga whale gave birth to a healthy male calf and two new Magellanic penguin chicks hatched earlier this summer. When two sea otter pups were orphaned in California, the Shedd quickly stepped up to care for the baby critters. Exhibit hours may vary with the new arrivals, call ahead or check their website for viewing hours of new baby animals.
Mauyak, a 38-year-old beluga whale gave birth to a healthy calf on Wednesday, July 3 at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.
The aquarium care team estimates the calf to be approximately 5 feet in length and to weigh approximately 150 pounds. Both mother and calf will be in the Abbott Oceanarium and programming will be adjusted to ensure bonding time for mom and calf.
Two new otter pups arrived at Shedd on Monday, July 8 and have been thriving behind the scenes, receiving around the clock care from Shedd’s animal care and veterinarian teams.
The orphaned pups were rescued by California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium and arrived in Chicago for care and rehabilitation. Both otter pups are male and only one week apart in age.
The Shedd also welcomed two new Magellanic penguin chicks following the annual breeding season that began with nesting in late March. Both eggs were laid by the same pair of penguins, Chile and JR, and hatched in mid-May.
