BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo Welcomes First Jaguar Birth in Decades

For the first time in more than 20 years, BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo is celebrating the birth of a jaguar cub, marking a significant milestone for the zoo and global jaguar conservation.

The cub’s arrival, born earlier this month, is the first jaguar birth at the zoo since the late 1990s and the first in the Jaguar Species Survival Plan (SSP) since April 2023. Over the past five years, only six jaguar cubs have survived nationwide, underscoring the rarity and importance of this birth.

“This birth is a symbol of hope for the species and highlights the critical role zoos play in conserving wildlife,” said Jim Fleshman, Zoo Director of BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo.

The female cub’s mother, Jenny, had experienced previous stillborn litters. However, both mother and cub are now healthy and bonding off-exhibit. The cub will remain behind the scenes with its mother for the next two months and is expected to make its public debut in spring 2025.

The zoo invites the community to participate in a “Name That Jag” contest, hosted on its social media channels. The contest features three name options: Seti, Taiyari, and Soona. The winning name will be announced on Jan. 1, 2025.

Jaguars face severe conservation challenges, with nearly half of their population in the Guiana Shield living outside of protected areas. Addressing threats across state, private, and Indigenous lands is critical for their survival. The Baton Rouge Zoo remains committed to raising awareness and fostering public support for jaguar conservation efforts.

Established in 1996, the Jaguar SSP manages 75 Jaguars across 44 accredited facilities in six countries: Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, South Korea, and the United States.

To follow updates on the cub and learn more about the zoo’s conservation initiatives, visit www.brzoo.org or follow BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo on social media.