Jumping Junior Colobus Monkey
LaBounee and Kirby colobus monkeys are the proud parents of Bomani, born in November. Colobus monkeys are born with a white coat that gradually turns into luxurious black fur highlighted in white. Bomani resembles an African tribal warrior as he jumps around the exhibit. His fur is quickly turning black and white, but he can still be distinguished from his big brother, Obi, by his smaller size and curly coat.

Frisky Okapi Calf Also Good Nester
Manala okapi gave birth to Ann in November. Ann is a rambunctious calf but also a good nester. In order to protect young okapi from the attention of predators, their mothers leave the calves alone in a nest most of the day. The mothers return regularly to nurse and care for their babies.

New Cheetah Family at Home on The Hill
A family of cheetahs from Fossil Rim arrived at the Dallas Zoo in October. The mother, Kisutu, age 8, and her two cubs -- Bonde, a male, and Kilima, a female, both age 2 -- moved into the cheetah habitat on The Hill. Kilima has been practicing her new hunting skills and is usually the one found stalking imagined prey in the exhibit.

Giraffes Expand
The Zoo acquired two new giraffes in October in preparation for the opening of the African savanna habitat. Jade is a 2-year-old female and Jesse is a 1-year-old male. They join Kibo, age 20, in the recently expanded giraffe exhibit while all three await their new home.

The Pleasant Python
A giant albino reticulated python went on display at the Pierre A. Fontaine Bird & Reptile Building in August. It is approximately 20 feet long and weighs more than 150 pounds. Normally, reticulated pythons have a well-earned reputation for being “a little snappy,” which presents a problem when they’re 20 feet long. But this new female is very even-tempered. Keepers are diligently working with her to ensure that she remains calm and collected.

Gorilla Girls Get Settled
Tufani and Makena, female gorillas who arrived at the Jake L. Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center last April, are comfortable in their new home designed with trees to climb, rocks to sit against, and large logs and bushes. Tufani, 18, came from the Pittsburgh Zoo, and Makena, 9, arrived from Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando.

Adding Amphibians
Amphibians: Life Under the Leaf, which opened last spring, continues to evolve. New exhibits include the Panamanian golden frog, the highly endangered Houston toad, Barton Springs salamanders, and fire salamanders. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) designated 2008 as the Year of the Frog and the Dallas Zoo continues to highlight the amazing diversity of this unique group of vertebrates as well as educate the public about why they are in trouble.

Kids Love New Playscape at Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo
The newly renovated play area features a giant, bouncy spider web; crawl-through tortoise shells; an enormous bird’s nest with eggshells; a hollow tree with a slide; giant eggs for children to climb inside; and other play structures. Oversized butterflies and a flower made of nylon shade the playground, which is covered with colorful shredded rubber tires that cushion falls and provide greater protection for the giant oak tree in the center.

Little Sheep, Big Rabbits, and More
Tiny sheep and enormous rabbits were two of the newest attractions at the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo last summer. Kids love petting the babydoll sheep in the touch area, and their eyes open wide when they get their hands on the giant Flemish rabbits in the barn. Other additions include a new colony of naked mole-rats in the Underzone and white-footed deer mice at the JCPenney Discovery House.