Animals
Lincoln Children’s Zoo is home to over 400 animals including giraffes, cheetahs, tigers, giant anteaters, red pandas, Humboldt penguins, ring-tailed lemurs, and Galapagos tortoises. Learn more about each of the animals that live here by exploring the areas below.
*This is not an all inclusive list of the animals at Lincoln Children's Zoo
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Prevost's Squirrel
Callosciurus prevostiiCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The Prevost's squirrel is found in the trees of dense rain forests.DIET
IN THE WILD – Fruits, nuts, seeds, buds, flowers, insects, and bird eggs
IN THE ZOO – Fruits, vegetables, rodent blocks, and protein biscuitsFASCINATING FACTS
• Prevost's squirrels carry fruit away from trees and drop the seeds on the ground, producing new plants.
• One-year-olds can have up to thre litters of young each year.
• Each litter can have one to four young.
• They use their tails for balance when running and climbing and as a rudder when jumping.
• They communicate by trilling, whistling, or raising their tails. -
Red Panda
Ailurus fulgensCONSERVATION STATUS
EndangeredNATURAL HABITAT
The red panda prefers to live in mountainous forests with old trees and dense understories of bamboo.DIET
IN THE WILD – Bamboo, berries, nuts, eggs, flowers, and seeds
IN THE ZOO – Bamboo, apples, and specially formulated biscuitsFASCINATING FACTS
• Red pandas communicate with chipmunk-like sounds.
• Their long bushy tail helps them balance in trees and provides cover when sleeping.
• They have many nicknames- fire cat, lesser panda, common panda, and more.
• They are excellent tree climbers. -
Red-Eared Slider Turtle
Trachemys scripta elegansCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The red-eared slider turtle inhabits areas with a source of still, warm water, such as ponds, lakes, swamps, creeks, streams, or slow-flowing rivers.DIET
IN THE WILD – Omnivore, meaning they eat both plants and animals
IN THE ZOO – Turtle chowFASCINATING FACTS
• Red-eared slider turtles are excellent swimmers, and they're almost entirely aquatic.
• They like to leave water to sunbathe to regulate body temperature.
• They do not hibernate, but they brumate (become less active) in winter.
• They have webbed feet to help them swim.
• They can live up to 30 years. -
Reticulated Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis reticulataCONSERVATION STATUS
VulnerableNATURAL HABITAT
The reticulated giraffe is found in in the savannas of Africa.DIET
IN THE WILD – Leaves, fruits, and seedpods
IN THE ZOO – Grass, hay, grain, and browse (leaves)FASCINATING FACTS
• Giraffe spot patterns are completely unique to each individual.
• Giraffes are the tallest living land mammal, reaching heights up to 18 feet.
• They only have seven bones in their neck.
• Their heart can weigh up to 22 pounds and measure up to two feet.
• They sleep between three to five hours per day. -
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Lemur cattaCONSERVATION STATUS
EndangeredNATURAL HABITAT
The ring-tailed lemur is found in arid, open areas and forests. They spend their time in the trees, as well as on the floor of the forest.DIET
IN THE WILD – Leaves, flowers, insects, tree bark, and sap
IN THE ZOO – Fruits, vegetables, specially formulated fiber biscuits, and lemur gelFASCINATING FACTS
• Lemurs enjoy sunbathing.
• Females are dominant over males.
• Their tails are ringed with 13 alternating black and white bands and can measure up to two feet long.
• They groom each other with their toothcomb, six finely spaced bottom teeth. -
Scarlet Ibis
Eudocimus ruberCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The scarlet ibis lives in mudflats, estuaries, shorelines, and shallow bay areas.DIET
IN THE WILD – Crustaceans, mollusks, fish, insects, frogs, and small snakes
IN THE ZOO – Meat, fish, insects, and bird feed pelletsFASCINATING FACTS
• Scarlet ibis can live up to 20 years.
• Males and females guard the nest and help feed the chicks.
• Their curved, slender bill allows them to probe into water, mud, or grass for food.
• They fly in v-formations to decrease wind resistance for trailing birds, similar to the technique of drafting in car racing. -
Slender-tailed Meerkat
Suricata suricattaCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
Meerkats live in desert or rocky terrain in Southern Africa.DIET
IN THE WILD – Insects, small rodents, spiders, snails, and plants
IN THE ZOO – Fruit, vegetables, bird eggs, and insectsFASCINATING FACTS
• Meerkats live underground in large groups, called mobs, with the alpha male and female in charge.
• At least one meerkat always in charge of watching out for the group.
• The dark fur around their eyes protects their eyes from the sun.
• Each meerkat has a different job within its group, such as teacher, hunter, and babysitter. -
Southern Three-banded Armadillo
Tolypeutes matacusCONSERVATION STATUS
Near ThreatenedNATURAL HABITAT
The three-banded armadillo lives in savannas and shrubland in central South America.DIET
IN THE WILD – Beetle larvae, ants, termites, and fruit
IN THE ZOO – Insects, fruits, and vegetablesFASCINATING FACTS
• They are the only armadillos that can enclose themselves in their shell by rolling into a ball.
• They are the only mammal with a shell.
• Baby armadillos are born blind.
• Armadillos have a lifespan of 20 years. -
Spider Monkey
Ateles fusciceps robustusCONSERVATION STATUS
Critically EndangeredNATURAL HABITAT
The spider monkey is found in tropical and subtropical forests.DIET
IN THE WILD – Young leaves, nuts, buds, seeds, and invertebrates
IN THE ZOO – Fruit, vegetables, and fiber type biscuitsFASCINATING FACTS
• Spider monkeys are arboreal, meaning they're found primarily in tree tops.
• They use their prehensile tail as an additional limb.
• Their tail has a hairless patch on the underside that is used for gripping to branches.
• They are found in social groups of 3 to 30 in the wild.
• Females give birth on average every three years. -
St. Vincent Agouti
Tolypeutes matacusCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
St. Vincent agoutis are found in tropical and dry forests of Central and South America.DIET
IN THE WILD – Fruit, nuts, shoots, and leaves
IN THE ZOO – Fruit, vegetables, seeds, and nutsFASCINATING FACTS
• Thirteen different species of agoutis exist.
• They're the only mammal species within their native range that is able to open a Brazil nut husk.
• They will sometimes bury nuts underground to dig up later.
• They communicate through grunts, squeals, screams, and various postures.
• They mate for life. -
Sumatran Tigers
Panthera tigris sumatraeCONSERVATION STATUS
Critically EndangeredNATURAL HABITAT
The Sumatran tiger is found in tropical forest and grasslands.DIET
IN THE WILD – Variety of deer, wild boar, reptiles, birds, and fish
IN THE ZOO – Meat, whole prey, and large bonesFASCINATING FACTS
• Sumatran tigers are the smallest of all tiger species.
• Tigers are typically solitary cats.
• Every tiger’s stripes are unique.
• Tigers are excellent swimmers and often swim to cool off and play.
• They communicate through roaring, grunting, and chuffing as well as scent marking and scratch marks on trees. -
Tawny Frogmouth
Podargus strigoidesCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The tawny frogmouth lives in forests, woodlands, urban, and rural areas.DIET
IN THE WILD – Insects and small mammals
IN THE ZOO – Insects and rodentsFASCINATING FACTS
• Their camouflage feathers allow them to blend in with tree branches.
• They're often mistaken for an owl.
• They catch prey with their beak because their feet are weak.
• Male and females pair together for life. -
Two-toed Sloth
Choloepus didactylusCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The two-toed sloth lives in the tropical forests of Central and South America.DIET
IN THE WILD – Leaves, fruits, nuts, berries, bark, native flowers, and small rodents
IN THE ZOO – Fruits, vegetables, and hard-boiled eggsFASCINATING FACTS
• Females give birth upside down.
• They take up to one month to digest their food.
• They cannot walk, so they pull hand-over-hand to move.
• They will drop from trees into the water to swim across rivers.
• Algae grows on their fur, giving them a greenish tint. -
Violet Turaco
Musophaga violaceaCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
Violet turacos live in evergreen forests and wooded valleys.DIET
IN THE WILD – Fruit, flowers, and arthropods
IN THE ZOO – Fruit, vegetables, berries, and grainFASCINATING FACTS
• They travel in flocks of approximately 10 to 12 individuals.
• Both parents take turns sitting on eggs, and chicks leave the nest 10 to 12 days after hatching.
• They are not strong fliers but can run quickly through branches.
• They are the only living thing in the world to have red feather color due to turacin, a natural copper-based pigment.
• They release feathers when caught as survival technique. -
Vulturine Guineafowl
Acryllium vulturinumCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The vulturine guineafowl is found in a variety of habitats including jungles, forests, shrublands, grasslands and even areas of desert, depending on the abundance of food.DIET
IN THE WILD – Worms, insects, seeds, berries and small mammals
IN THE ZOO – Seeds, fruits, vegetables and various grainsFASCINATING FACTS
• Females build a nest out of twigs and leaves on the ground
• Can move up to 22 miles-per-hour
• Form flocks of 25
• Tallest and most colorful of all guineafowl
• Named for its vulture-like head and neck
Conservation
Lincoln Children’s Zoo is committed to animal conservation efforts and saving animals from extinction. Home to over 30 endangered animals, the Zoo strives to provide the highest-quality care to these near extinct species. Lincoln Children’s Zoo partners with organizations throughout the world that manage captive animals and wild animals with a goal to create a plan to ensure endangered animals are saved and protected for future generations.
The Zoo is part of the Association of Zoos & Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan, which oversees the management of select species with the goal of enhancing conservation in the wild. Species Survival Plan is led by expert advisors who work together to manage the demographic distribution and long-term sustainability of nearly 500 species.
Photo Ark Collaboration
Lincoln Children’s Zoo collaborates with National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore and his Photo Ark project. The Photo Ark is a groundbreaking effort to document species before they disappear and to get people to care while there’s still time. The Photo Ark started at Lincoln Children’s Zoo with the first photograph taken of a naked mole rat. To date the Photo Ark has documented 10,531 species. Find out more about Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark here.
