Saginaw, MI — Friday, April 18, 2025 — The Saginaw Children’s Zoo is thrilled to welcome visitors back for another season of wild family fun! Opening Day, April 25, is set to be full of fresh faces, heartwarming stories, and new experiences, all designed to make 2025 the Zoo’s most exciting year yet.

New Animal Arrivals

One of the season’s biggest stars is Elton, a two-toed sloth who’s ready to hang out in his new home and charm guests with his slow-and-steady lifestyle. Elton joins the Zoo as part of its continued mission to provide engaging and educational animal experiences.

Also debuting this season is Aiden Cluckinson, a very special turkey who was officially pardoned by Governor Gretchen Whitmer during the 2024 Thanksgiving season. Aiden now calls the Zoo home in the beautifully updated area now known as “Gobble and Quack: The Fowl Shack”, where he shares space with a lively flock of chickens and ducks.

The Zoo is also proud to announce the public debut of two baby boy penguins, affectionately named Eggs Benedict and Quiche. These adorable additions to the penguin colony are ready to waddle their way into guests’ hearts and highlight the Zoo’s support in avian conservation and breeding efforts.

New Additions

Guests will also notice important accessibility upgrades, including ADA accessible enhancements to the beloved Carousel, making this classic ride more inclusive for all visitors.

In addition, the Zoo Train tunnel has been transformed into a colorful, creative experience using repurposed materials with hand-painted art by a talented Zoo staff member—showcasing our commitment to sustainability and community talent.

Looking ahead, the Zoo is set to break ground this spring on Phase 2 of its capital project, which will feature an indoor habitat for reptiles, birds, and bugs. This exciting new space will enhance educational opportunities and provide year-round access to some of the Zoo’s smallest and most fascinating residents.

“We’re so excited to share all of these updates with our community,” said Nancy Parker, Zoo Director at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo. “From new animals to major improvements and future projects, everything we do is designed to inspire curiosity, learning, and connection with wildlife.”

The Saginaw Children’s Zoo is open daily starting April 25, from 10am- 5pm. For more information on tickets, memberships, and upcoming events, visit www.saginawzoo.com or follow us on social media @SaginawZoo.

About the Saginaw Children’s Zoo

The Saginaw Children’s Zoo is a cherished destination for families, offering engaging animal encounters, educational programs, and interactive exhibits. As a 501c3 nonprofit, the Zoo is dedicated to connecting the community with wildlife and inspiring a passion for conservation. For more information, visit saginawzoo.com, or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.

Media Contact: Aimee Conversa
Manager of Development and Marketing
Saginaw Children’s Zoo
(989) 759-1408 ex 119
aimee@saginawzoo.com

Saginaw, MI — March 11, 2025 — The Saginaw Children’s Zoo is thrilled to announce the hatching of two critically endangered African Penguin chicks! Born to parents Blake and Melody shortly before Christmas, these two male chicks mark an exciting milestone for the Zoo’s penguin colony.

The Saginaw Children’s Zoo is proud to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Through the AZA’s Species Survival Plan (SSP) for African Penguins, the Zoo plays a vital role in ensuring the survival of this critically endangered species. The SSP focuses on cooperative breeding programs, habitat protection, and public education to address the threats these penguins face in the wild.

“We’re overjoyed to welcome these two chicks to our Zoo family,” said Nancy Parker, Saginaw Children’s Zoo Director. “Blake and Melody are first-time, exemplary parents, and it’s heartwarming to see them so devoted to their little ones. The African Penguin population is rapidly declining in the wild, making these chicks a vital part of global conservation efforts. They help raise
awareness about the challenges the species faces and inspire action to protect them.”

While the chicks are not yet ready for public viewing, the Zoo invites guests to stay tuned for updates on their growth and development. The Zoo is also hosting a community naming contest for the new chicks. Starting today, the public can vote for their favorite names on the Zoo’s website. This is an opportunity for the community to engage with these special additions to the Zoo family while learning more about the conservation efforts needed to protect African Penguins in the wild.

The Saginaw Children’s Zoo officially opens for the season on Friday, April 25! We can’t wait to welcome guests back for another exciting year of wildlife experiences, conservation education, and family fun.

About the Saginaw Children’s Zoo

The Saginaw Children’s Zoo is a cherished destination for families, offering engaging animal encounters, educational programs, and interactive exhibits. As a 501c3 nonprofit, the Zoo is dedicated to connecting the community with wildlife and inspiring a passion for conservation. For more information, visit saginawzoo.com, or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.

Media Contact: Aimee Conversa
Manager of Development and Marketing
Saginaw Children’s Zoo
(989) 759-1408 ex 119
aimee@saginawzoo.com

If you’ve been to our little Zoo, you are probably well aware of our beautiful centerpiece – the pond! It has been transformed quite a bit over the years, and some may even remember the ark and the whale that used to call the pond their home, which were both installed in 1969.

 

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At the heart of the Saginaw Children’s Zoo is our dedicated community of volunteers. They connect us to our community and are a crucial part of our existence. We know that this year has proven difficult for just about every aspect of what makes our Zoo whole, and we miss our volunteers dearly. Did you know that our volunteers give over 14,000 hours of their time to us annually?

Although we are doing the best we can as we persevere during these unprecedented times, we miss our smiling volunteers and that special something that they bring to the Zoo. We know they miss being here and we miss them, too.

With that being said, we are kicking things into high gear with plans for our Volunteer Program for next year.

Volunteer Coordinator

We would like to introduce the newest addition to the Saginaw Children’s Zoo Team, Volunteer Coordinator, Kathy McCarthy.

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We would like to welcome Dr. Shannon Cerveny DVM, Dipl ACZM to our wonderful Zoo! Dr. Cerveny joined our team as our full-time Veterinarian in January of this year. The staff and animals are delighted to have her and would like to introduce you!

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As most of you know, The Saginaw Zoo made history last year with the successful hatching of our first ever endangered African penguin, Amahle.

We are very pleased to announce that we successfully hatched our second African penguin chick just two days before Thanksgiving this year. Dad (Robben) and mom (Petey) are taking very good care of our new arrival, festively named “Gobbles.” After DNA testing, it was determined that Gobbles is a GIRL! And she has been living up to her name and eating very well and growing very quickly. Continue reading →

It’s the beginning of November, and that means we have just completed our annual crane survey! Every year around this time, we partner with the USFWS to conduct a survey on the beautiful Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. This survey provides an estimate of the size and trend of the Sandhill Crane population in the area. Before the actual survey, it’s my job to scout out exactly what parts of the refuge the cranes are using for resting, foraging and roosting during their migration south.

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The Saginaw Children’s Zoo Achieves Esteemed AZA Accreditation

Silver Spring, Maryland (September 9) – The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) has announced that the Saginaw Children’s Zoo was granted accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission.

“The Saginaw Children’s Zoo is among the outstanding aquariums and zoos that have met or exceeded our rigorous accreditation standards,” said AZA President and CEO Dan Ashe. “The hundreds of millions of annual guests to AZA-accredited facilities like the Saginaw Children’s Zoo can be assured their visit is supporting a facility that provides the highest-quality animal care and welfare and is contributing to initiatives that save animals from extinction.”

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On International Penguin Day, January 20^th the Saginaw Children’s Zoo had their own tiny celebration – the hatching of an African penguin chick! It has taken several years of careful planning, many science-guided decisions, and plenty of patience to successfully welcome this new arrival.

The chick hatched early Sunday morning and is healthy and strong.  Due to round-the-clock care and near constant feeding from its parents, Petey (mom) and Robben (dad), the chick more than tripled in size in just over a week.  Gender determination of young birds, especially penguins, is difficult without a DNA sample to be sent for testing. The DNA results determined the penguin chick is a girl!

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“Is there trash in that exhibit?”

That’s a question guests pose often to Zoo staff when they see items they’re not expecting to see in an exhibit, such as a paper bag or cardboard box. While sometimes items do unintentionally find their ways into animal exhibits, the far more likely answer is “no, that is enrichment.”

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