Think you have a wild child? Think again. Take the family on a trip to see the zoo’s latest–and most adorable–additions this spring or summer.
Jet the Baby Elephant
- Name: Jet
- Age: 5 months old (born November 2024; made his public zoo debut April 22, 2025)
- Species: Asian elephant
- Where to spot him: River’s Edge habitat (no set schedule) or occasionally from the Emerson Zooline Railroad in The Staenberg Group Elephant Woods
- Personality: Curious and playful; loves dirt, running, and climbing logs
- Favorite activities: Training games, opening his mouth for health checks
- Fun fact: He’s gained more than 300 pounds since birth and now weighs 578-plus pounds!
- Staff scoop: “He is always eager to work with his training team to learn behaviors that help us to make sure he is staying healthy.” — Katie Pilgram-Kloppe, zoological manager of River’s Edge
Photography by Laurie Dahle, Saint Louis Zoo
Photography by Laurie Dahle, Saint Louis Zoo
Kallu & Kallik the Polar Bear Twins
- Names: Kallu & Kallik
- Age: 2 years old (born November 2022; made their public zoo debut March 25, 2025)
- Species: Polar bear
- Where to spot them: McDonnell Polar Bear Point, where they enjoy diving, flipping, and playing with toys in the pool
- Personality: Energetic, playful, inseparable duo
- Favorite activities: Sparring, swimming, synchronized napping
- Fun fact: The twins were transferred from Toledo Zoo & Aquarium in March 2025. The Saint Louis Zoo’s previous resident polar bear, Kali, simultaneously moved to Toledo to be paired with a female breeding partner.
- Staff scoop: “These playful bears have been making a splash, delighting guests and staff with their pool antics—diving, flipping, and showing off their best toy-tossing moves.” —Zoo staff
Photography by JoEllen Toler, Saint Louis Zoo
Photography by JoEllen Toler, Saint Louis Zoo
Forest the Orangutan
- Name: Forest
- Age: 1 year old (born December 22, 2023)
- Species: Sumatran orangutan
- Where to spot him: Outdoors in the Fragile Forest or indoors at the Jungle of the Apes, often playing with half-sister Ginger or trying new foods
- Personality: Adventurous, social, endlessly curious
- Favorite activities: Exploring, climbing, and eating applesauce
- Fun fact: Forest is the first orangutan born at the zoo in nine years. As his species is considered critically endangered, his birth was significant for the zoo’s conservation mission.
- Staff scoop: “This 1-year-old is very adventurous and is always busy exploring or convincing an older orangutan to play.” —Helen Boostrom, zoological manager of primates
Photography by Natalie O'Dell, Saint Louis Zoo
Photography by Natalie O'Dell, Saint Louis Zoo
Spud the Sichuan Takin
- Name: Spud
- Age: Newborn (born March 29, 2025)
- Species: Sichuan takin (rhymes with rockin’)
- Where to spot him: Red Rocks area
- Personality: Spunky, bold, full of curiosity
- Favorite activities: Exploring with mom Dawn and dad Yadier, playing near big sister Cornelia
- Fun fact: Takin are goat-antelopes native to the remote bamboo forests in the mountains of Asia. They are considered a national treasure, protected by the Chinese government.
- Staff scoop: “Come say hi to this cute ‘little potato’ the next time you’re at the zoo’s Red Rocks!” —Zoo staff
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You may also enjoy: Your guide to visiting the Saint Louis Zoo
