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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Goats
Capra aegagrus hircusCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
Many different goat species inhabit farmland.DIET
IN THE WILD – Leafy plants, hay, grains, and browse
IN THE ZOO – Leafy plants, hay, grains, and browseFASCINATING FACTS
• Goats are one of the oldest domesticated animals.
• Female goats typically have two offspring at a time.
• Goats are known for their incredible agility and climbing abilities.
• Domestic goats come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes.
• Some breeds of goats can jump to heights of more than 5 feet. -
Goffin's Cockatoo
Cacatua goffiniCONSERVATION STATUS
Near ThreatenedNATURAL HABITAT
Goffin's cockatoos live in the Tenimber Islands of Indonesia.DIET
IN THE WILD – Seeds and nuts
IN THE ZOO – Parrot chow, fruits, and seedsFASCINATING FACTS
• Goffin's cockatoos are social and friendly.
• Goffin's cockatoos are the smallest cockatoo species.
• They live 30+ years.
• They were introduced to the wild in Puerto Rico, Singapore, and Kai Islands.
• Deforestation and bird trade affect its population. -
Golden Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus rosaliaCONSERVATION STATUS
EndangeredNATURAL HABITAT
The Golden lion tamarin lives in a small area of the tropical rainforest in south eastern Brazil.DIET
IN THE WILD – Fruits and insects
IN THE ZOO – Fruits, vegetables, and insectsFASCINATING FACTS
• Golden lion tamarins are the largest member of the marmoset and tamarin group.
• They have claws instead of nails, enabling them to grab insects in tight spots.
• They sleep in hollow tree cavities or dense vines.
• They also sleep in different dens each day, making it harder for predators to find them. -
Great Malay Argus Pheasant
Argusianus argusCONSERVATION STATUS
VulnerableNATURAL HABITAT
The Great Malay Argus Pheasant lives in dry, lowland primary and logged forests.DIET
IN THE WILD – Fruits, ants, slugs, snails, meat, and insects
IN THE ZOO – Fruits, vegetables, greens, seeds, insects, and bird feed pelletsFASCINATING FACTS
• A male's call can travel up to a half a mile.
• Females look different from males and are easy to tell apart.
• Males have longer wing and tail feathers than females.
• Males have feathers with "eyes" on them called "ocelli." -
Greater Bushbaby
Otolemur crassicaudatusCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The greater bushbaby lives in the coastal and highland forests of Eastern Africa.DIET
IN THE WILD – Insects, sap from trees, fruit, and seeds
IN THE ZOO – Fruit, vegetables, insects, insectivore pellets, and gels packed with nutrientsFASCINATING FACTS
• Their ears can flex and fold when needed to listen for sounds and to protect them when moving through the forest.
• They have a second tongue, made of cartilage, underneath the regular tongue that's used for grooming.
• They urinate on their hands to scent mark and grip branches better.
• Newborns weigh less than half an ounce. -
Green Tree Python
Morelia viridianCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The green tree python is found in the bushes, trees, and shrubs of the rainforest.DIET
IN THE WILD – Small mammals, reptiles, and birds
IN THE ZOO – Mice and ratsFASCINATING FACTS
• Green tree pythons capture prey by striking in an s-shaped position while hanging on branches.
• They loop over branches like a saddle with their head in the middle to rest.
• Females wrap around eggs to incubate them.
• Juveniles are typically yellow, red, or dark brown. -
Hammerkop
Scopus umbrettaCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
Hammerkops live in diverse habitats, most often in savannas and woodlands.DIET
IN THE WILD – Tadpoles, insects, small fish, and occasionally small mammals
IN THE ZOO – Fish, meat, and grainFASCINATING FACTS
• They make three-tiered nests that can be strong enough to hold a human.
• They stand on hippos to look for frogs to eat.
• Hammerkops are the smallest African stork.
• The long, flat crest on their head that looks like a hammer gave them their name. -
Humboldt Penguin
Spheniscus humboldtiCONSERVATION STATUS
VulnerableNATURAL HABITAT
The Humboldt penguin lives near rocky shores in the Humboldt Current of Pacific coast Chile and Peru.DIET
IN THE WILD – Fish, squid, and krill
IN THE ZOO – Trout, herring, smelt, and capelinFASCINATING FACTS
• Adults weigh approximately 8-10 pounds and are 15-18 inches tall.
• These underwater "flyers" swim up to 17 miles per hour.
• Penguins lose and replace all feathers once a year in a process called molting.
• On average, each of the Zoo's penguins eat two pounds of fish per day. -
Indian Blue Peafowl
Pavo cristatusCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
Peafowl are found in moist and dry deciduous forests and prefer sites where water is available.DIET
IN THE WILD – Seeds, insects, fruit, small mammals, and reptiles
IN THE ZOO – Fruits, vegetables, seeds, and meatFASCINATING FACTS
• Males are referred to as peacocks, females are peahens, and offspring are peachicks.
• They have 11 different calls.
• Males have an extravagant train of feathers.
• Males don’t develop the long train of feathers until age two. -
Koi Fish
Cyprinus carpioCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
Koi fish are found in freshwater ponds in Japan.DIET
IN THE WILD – Plants and shrimp
IN THE ZOO – Plants and specialized koi foodFASCINATING FACTS
• They typically live 25 to 35 years. If cared for properly, some can live up to 200 years!
• Without a good filtration system in their pond, koi would poison themselves, as they excrete ammonia.
• Koi are susceptible to sunburn. -
Leopard Gecko
Eublepharis maculariusCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
Leopard geckos live in Northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq.DIET
IN THE WILD – Insects
IN THE ZOO – InsectsFASCINATING FACTS
• Leopard geckos store fat in their tails.
• Unlike most geckos, they have movable eyelids.
• They replace their 100 teeth every three to four months. -
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalisCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The leopard tortoise lives in savannah regions.DIET
IN THE WILD – Fallen fruit, vines, grasses, wild mushrooms and leaves
IN THE ZOO – Various greens, hay and specially formulated tortoise chowFASCINATING FACTS
• Females lay up to 30 eggs in a nest 10 inches deep
• Can live 80 to 90 years
• Depend on other senses to find food and avoid predators
• Have a row of small toenails enabling them to dig
• Can go underwater for up to 10 minutes -
Matschie's Tree Kangaroo
Dendrolagus matschieiCONSERVATION STATUS
EndangeredNATURAL HABITAT
The Matschie's tree kangaroo can be found in mountainous areas of the rainforest.DIET
IN THE WILD – Leaves, nuts, and mosses
IN THE ZOO – Lettuce, fruits, vegetables, and specially formulated biscuitsFASCINATING FACTS
• Matschie's tree kangaroos spend most of their time in trees, coming down occasionally to feed.
• They lick forearms, letting the evaporation cool their bodies instead of sweating.
• Fetus-like young crawl into mother's pouch after birth.
• Babies are called joeys and stay in the mother's pouch for ten months. -
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensisCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
The North American river otter lives in lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal shorelines, marshes, and estuaries.DIET
IN THE WILD – Fish, frogs, insects, crustaceans, and small mammals
IN THE ZOO – Fish, meat, and carrotsFASCINATING FACTS
• They are members of the weasel family.
• They have waterproof fur that protects their skin and keeps it warm and dry.
• They can dive to a depth of 60 feet.
• They enjoy sliding down muddy hills, bouncing objects in their paws, playing tag, and wrestling. -
Prehensile-tailed Porcupine
Coendou prehensilisCONSERVATION STATUS
Least ConcernNATURAL HABITAT
Prehensile-tailed porcupines live in trees in South American forests.DIET
IN THE WILD – Leaves, flowers, roots, and shoots
IN THE ZOO – Fruit/vegetable mix and rodent blockFASCINATING FACTS
• DNA tests are needed to find out if the porcupine is male or female.
• Prehensile-tailed porcupines stomp their feet to scare attackers.
• They are nocturnal.
• Renzo’s favorite treat is peanuts!
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.
