Our Animals

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Endangered

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

African grey parrots are very social, usually living in flocks of 40-50 but can gather in roosts of up to 10,000 individuals.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Sub-Saharan Africa

Keeper Notes

Guinea fowl spend most of their time on the ground, but they are very adept fliers. They roost in trees at night in large flocks for safety.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

All continents excluding Antarctica

Keeper Notes

It is commonly known that owls spit up pellets containing bones and other things they cannot digest from their last meal. However, unlike most other owls, they can also use those pellets as materials to construct their nests.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Originally from the Netherlands but now found all over

Keeper Notes

Chickens have better color vision than humans. They also have great memory and can recognize over 100 faces.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

North America

Keeper Notes

"Barred Owls mate for life, and they usually have a single clutch of two or three white eggs each year."

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Australia and New Zealand

Keeper Notes

Black swans are known to be very territorial. Each pair at the Hattiesburg Zoo has an established area of its own that they protect fiercely.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

Blue and gold macaws can live upwards of 70 years.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Originally from Spain but now found all over

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Near Threatened

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

Our flamingos have individual names and personalities. Kiki is the most social, and Ronald is the best behaved. Soraya is the biggest biter!

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Mongolia, Northern China, and Southeastern Russia

Keeper Notes

Chinese geese lay more eggs than most other goose species, producing up to 100 eggs per year.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Critically Endangered

Where I Live

Indonesia

Keeper Notes

As babies, most parrots experiment their "handedness" until they decide on a dominant foot. Contrary to humans, majority of cockatoos are left-footed.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

North America

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Endangered

Where I Live

Congo and Uganda

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Central and South Africa

Keeper Notes

Despite their widely accepted name and some goose-like characteristics, Egyptian Geese are actually shelducks.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Australia

Keeper Notes

While wild emus have a lifespan of 5-10 years, Hattiesburg Zoo's resident emu, George, is 32 years old and has lived here since 1990.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Originally from China and England but now found all over

Keeper Notes

Chickens have better color vision than humans. They also have great memory and can recognize over 100 faces.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

North America

Keeper Notes

Chickens have better color vision than humans. They also have great memory and can recognize over 100 faces.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

North America, Europe, Asia, and Russia

Keeper Notes

Typically working in pairs, golden eagles can take down prey as large as deer. They can reach maximum speeds of 200 miles per hour when needed!

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

North America and parts of South America

Keeper Notes

"It is a myth that owls can turn their head all the way around. Owls have 14 neck vertebrae, allowing them to move their head 270 degrees."

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Native to India and Sri Lanka

Keeper Notes

While they are most well-known for the males' ornate tail feathers, peafowl have a very loud and distinct call. They are quick to alert the flock to danger.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Indonesian Islands

Keeper Notes

Living up to their name, runner ducks do not fly and spend much of their time on land.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Australia

Keeper Notes

The Kookaburra is called the Laughing Bird due to its distinctive call.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Northern Hemisphere

Keeper Notes

Mallard ducks can fly great distances to migrate in the winter, but the Hattiesburg Zoo's mallards prefer to stay for the free food.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Originally from Belgium

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Europe to West Asia

Keeper Notes

Mute swans are often a symbol of romanticism because they mate for life and maintain strong pair-bonds.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

Ostrich eggs weigh about 3 pounds, making them the largest eggs currently on the planet!

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

North and Central Americas

Keeper Notes

Red-tailed hawks are the voice actors of all the bald eagles you see in movies. The eagles actually make a peeping noise that may not seem as majestic as producers would like.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Originally from France but found all over

Keeper Notes

Chickens have better color vision than humans. They also have great memory and can recognize over 100 faces.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Originally from China but now found all over

Keeper Notes

Chickens have better color vision than humans. They also have great memory and can recognize over 100 faces.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Threatened

Where I Live

Originally from Sweden but now found all over

Keeper Notes

Chickens have better color vision than humans. They also have great memory and can recognize over 100 faces.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Vulnerable

Where I Live

Southern Africa

Keeper Notes

Due to their large size and loud calls, southern ground hornbills have found themselves at the center of many traditional African cultures and practices.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Americas

Keeper Notes

"Turkey vultures average 2 1/2 feet tall with a 6-foot wingspan. In spite of their large size, they only weigh about 3 pounds."

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

East Africa

Keeper Notes

Males have bright orange beaks, and females have deep black bills.

Diet

Omnivores

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

Genets are omnivores though they tend to favor animal prey. Foods consumed include small mammals, birds, eggs, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Not evaluated

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

There are no such things as wild alpacas. They are only domesticated versions of the vicuña.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Critically Endangered

Where I Live

Madagascar

Keeper Notes

The Black and White Ruffed Lemur is the "World's Largest Pollinator."

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

The black howler is the largest monkey in the Latin American rainforests and only species of howler that is sexually dimorphic. Both sexes are born blonde, but the males turn black as they mature.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

North America

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

The blue duikers are the smallest of the 22 species of duiker.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Critically Endangered

Where I Live

Central and East Africa

Keeper Notes

Klaus is sweet and a little nosy. He likes to be involved in everything his keepers are doing.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Central and Southern Africa

Keeper Notes

Sebastian enjoys spending time with his keepers, digging in the dirt, and being mischievous.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

The capybara is the largest rodent in the world.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Endangered

Where I Live

Arid Plains of South America

Keeper Notes

Our three peccaries are brothers. They can often be found cuddling together in wallows and rubbing against each other in greeting.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Kenya

Keeper Notes

The name "Colobus" is from the Greek word for "mutilated" due to the colobus monkey not having a thumb on its hands.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Central Africa

Keeper Notes

The DeBrazza's monkeys are able to store food in their cheek pouches, similar to what chipmunks do. The pouches are estimated to be roughly the same size as their stomach.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Originally found in Sardinia but found all over

Keeper Notes

Throughout history, it has been said that Sardinian donkey milk had great benefits for human skin. Some people claim that royals such as Cleopatra bathed in donkeys' milk to maintain beauty and youth.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

North Africa

Keeper Notes

While fennec foxes love their veggies, the Hattiesburg Zoo's foxes' favorite activity is chasing and hunting live worms and crickets.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Vulnerable

Where I Live

Northern part of South America and Central America

Keeper Notes

On most mornings, Fred can be found sleeping with his tail draped over his face.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Central Africa

Keeper Notes

If hedgehogs find a smell that they like, they will create a foam saliva and rub it all over the smelly thing. Then, they lick up the foam and rub it on their bodies.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Not evaluated but is considered a rare breed

Where I Live

Thought to be originally from Asia, introduced to New Zealand in the 1800’s

Keeper Notes

Our resident pigs, Kevin Bacon and Lindsay Loham, spend most of their free time grazing and looking for extra snacks.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Critically Endangered

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

Chinchillas are just as soft as they look. With 50-75 hairs per follicle, chinchillas have the highest fur density of all land mammals.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Vulnerable

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

The lowland tapir might look like a pig, but it is actually related to horses and rhinoceroses. Baby tapirs have stripes and spots, and they are nicknamed watermelons due to their coloration.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Domesticated

Where I Live

Sub-Sahara Africa and Asia

Keeper Notes

Miranda's favorite toys are large balls that she can roll around in her exhibit space.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Domesticated, but the breed is considered rare

Where I Live

West Africa, found worldwide

Keeper Notes

While they may not faint when frightened, the Hattiesburg Zoo's Nigerian Dwarf Goats are very wary of unfamiliar sights and sounds.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Near Threatened

Where I Live

Southeastern Africa

Keeper Notes

Dolly is the matriarchal leader of our zebra herd at Hattiesburg Zoo. Both males, Ziggy and Bakari, follow her lead.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

Porcupines communicate a lot through scent marking. In Prissy's case, she has a very smelly way of letting her keepers know she is upset.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Endangered

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

Adult giraffe have a heart that is about 2 feet long and weighs about 25 pounds.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Endangered

Where I Live

Madagascar

Keeper Notes

Unlike most lemurs, the Ring-Tailed Lemurs spend about 40% of their time on the ground instead of up in trees.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

When threatened, the Screaming Hairy Armadillo will curl into a ball and emit a loud squeal, giving them their name. 

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

Because of their very long legs, servals can jump approximately 12 feet into the air to catch prey as it flies by them.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Critically Endangered

Where I Live

Central and South America

Keeper Notes

Margot is the bravest and friendliest of the trio. Rico can hold a grudge, but warms up and becomes friendly once he is comfortable with his surroundings. Rosita is cautious, but does like to explore new environments.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

Spotted hyenas are a female-dominant species. A single female is typically in charge of the entire clan! In addition, spotted hyena genders are very difficult to tell apart from each other.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Central and South America

Keeper Notes

Sloths poop an average of once a week, producing up to a gallon of urine at a time. They also love to poop on Christmas morning.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Australia

Keeper Notes

Wallabies are constantly napping during zoo hours because they are a crepuscular mammal and are most active at dawn and dusk.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Vulnerable

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

In the wild, African spurred tortoises can go weeks without food or water. Upon finding a water source to restock, they can drink up to 15% of their body weight.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

United States

Keeper Notes

Because they are cold-blooded, alligators stop eating in the late fall and will not eat again until spring when temperatures are warmer due to brumation.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

West and Central Africa

Keeper Notes

Ball pythons are often called royal pythons in other parts of the world. People in Egypt had ball pythons as pets and carried them like accessories to symbolize wealth and power.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Australia

Keeper Notes

Charlie's full name is Sir Charles Pogona Taylor, thank you very much!

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Australia

Keeper Notes

When angry or frightened, blue-tongued skinks will open their black mouth wide and flash their bright blue tongue to startle their enemy.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Vulnerable

Where I Live

United States, Canada, and Mexico

Keeper Notes

Many box turtles can live up to 40-50 years, but there have been some exceptions in captivity where box turtles reached 100 years old.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

Also known as the West African Burrowing Python, "The tail closely mimics the shape of the head, which may serve as a defensive adaptation designed to confuse predators."

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Critically Endangered

Where I Live

Galapagos Islands

Keeper Notes

While these guys can live to be over 100 years old, Craig is just 30 and thinks it's very rude to tell him that he looks old.

Diet

Herbivore

Status

Vulnerable

Where I Live

Southeastern United States

Keeper Notes

Gopher tortoises dig very large burrows often reaching 6-8 feet in depth and up to 15 feet in length. These burrows can provide homes for over 350 species.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Africa

Keeper Notes

Our sand boa was named after the moonpie that his keeper was eating the day they first met. He also looks like chocolate and marshmallows.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Northern Mexico, Central, and South America

Keeper Notes

Despite her viewing being in the men's restroom, Annie is a female. She is larger than her male counterparts and is currently 9 feet in length.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

North America

Keeper Notes

Speckled king snakes will eat nuisance rodents around your house, but they will also eat other snakes including ones that are venomous or have harmful bites.

Diet

Omnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

South America

Keeper Notes

Tegu lizards are primarily meat eaters in the wild. Eliza's favorite treat is meat flavored baby food.

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Chile

Keeper Notes

Unless you are allergic, tarantula bites are overall harmless and feel much like a bee sting.

Diet

Decomposers

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Madagascar

Diet

Carnivore

Status

Least Concern

Where I Live

Mexico

Keeper Notes

Tarantulas have urticating hairs that they will flick into the face and eyes of the creature threatening them.