Dublin Zoo launches Animal Welfare Master Plan, which identifies strategic goals and actions the Zoo aims to achieve by the organisation’s bicentennial in 2031.
Operation gives visually impaired female hippo sight in her left eye
In a bold step for global wildlife conservation, Toronto Zoo (Canada), Chester Zoo (United Kingdom) and Dublin Zoo (Ireland) announced a strategic partnership to expand efforts in wildlife cryobanking. This collaborative initiative aims to safeguard the living genetic material of both native and globally threatened species, strengthening future conservation and restoration efforts worldwide. Live cell […]
Dublin Zoo is delighted to officially announce the arrival of Miri, a female adult Bornean orangutan. Miri, who is 34 years old, arrived from Duisburg Zoo in July and has been settling in extremely well, developing a friendship with 20‑year‑old Mujur, the other female Bornean orangutan in Dublin Zoo’s Orangutan Rainforest. Visitors have been getting […]
Successful first fundraising run through Dublin Zoo announced as an annual event in support of threatened species worldwide Dublin Zoo held its first-ever Run for Wildlife in aid of the Critically Endangered Sulawesi crested macaque Dublin Zoo is now the primary donor and lead advocate for Selamatkan Yaki, supporting conservation of the Critically Endangered Sulawesi […]
Female calf of third-time mother Lumara born on Good Friday. Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce the birth of a rare and endangered female okapi calf, born on the morning of Good Friday, April 18th, 2025. Proud mother Lumara, aged 10, is caring for her calf beautifully, and both are thriving. Over the past three […]
8th July 2025 – Dublin Zoo is celebrating a standout performance at this year’s prestigious BIAZA Awards, hosted by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), where it was recognised once again for excellence in conservation leadership and public engagement. Dr. Andrew Mooney, Senior Conservation and Science Officer at Dublin Zoo, received […]
Dublin Zoo is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Leonie, our much-loved 44-year-old female Northwest Bornean orangutan. An iconic presence since her arrival from Rotterdam Zoo in 1984, Leonie was at the heart of our orangutan family for four decades. Dublin Zoo team leader Ciarán McMahon, who first met Leonie in 1995 as a […]
Latest arrival to Dublin Zoo healthy and thriving Birth is an important conservation event with less than 100 eastern bongos left in the wild Dublin Zoo is celebrating the birth of a healthy eastern bongo calf, a species classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Born on the 20th […]
Dublin Zoo and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formally collaborate on advancing native species conservation efforts in Ireland. Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Director of Dublin Zoo; Ciara Carberry, Director of Nature Conservation at NPWS; Christopher O’Sullivan TD, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity; and […]
Dublin Zoo is proud to announce that it has been officially recognised as a Global Humane Certified Zoo, a prestigious certification awarded by Global Humane Society, the international organisation dedicated to helping ensure high standards of animal welfare in zoos, aquariums, and conservation parks worldwide. Dr. Christoph Schwitzer, Director of Dublin Zoo commented on this […]
Every visit to Dublin Zoo offers you the opportunity to discover over 400 animals from across the globe. If you’re planning a trip to Dublin Zoo soon, here are eight species you’ll see: 1. Asian elephants Along the Kaziranga Forest Trail, you will discover a herd of Asian elephants. Asian elephants are the world’s second […]
The infant orangutan born in Dublin Zoo turns 2 months old this week, and he is thriving thanks to the round-the-clock care he has received from the team. We can’t believe how big he’s getting! Sibu Junior, or SJ as he is affectionately known by the Dublin Zoo team, will be leaving the Zoo to […]
After hundreds of hours of dedicated care from Dublin Zoo staff, along with unprecedented support from international veterinary experts, other zoos, and cooperation from An Garda Síochána, as well as the Irish and British governments, the elephants have recovered and are healthy again. Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce that all Asian elephants in its […]
On the 31st of July, Dublin Zoo’s 19-year-old orangutan, Mujur, gave birth to a healthy male infant. This beautiful newborn was fathered by Sibu, Dublin Zoo’s beloved orangutan patriarch, who sadly passed away in February. Orangutans are a critically endangered species, with females typically only giving birth every 3 to 5 years, to one infant […]
Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce the arrival of male Asian lion, Kushanu, from Edinburgh Zoo. Five-year-old Kushanu has joined nine-year-old female, Kamala, at the Asian lion habitat at Dublin Zoo, which is located beside Sea Lion Cove and close to the red panda habitat. Kushanu has been getting used to his new habitat since […]
Dublin Zoo has said goodbye to Betty, our 62-year-old chimpanzee and longest-standing resident. She was the oldest living chimp in human care, but due to age-related conditions which were having a negative impact on her health, the difficult decision was made to euthanise Betty to ensure she avoided any future discomfort. Dublin Zoo team leader […]
Asha, our 17-year-old Asian elephant and mother of Zinda, has tested positive for EEHV (Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus). Asha’s age may be an advantage in this situation. Being older, her body has had more time to develop antibodies to fight the infection, potentially giving her a greater chance of survival. Our dedicated veterinary team is working […]
Dublin Zoo is heartbroken to announce the passing of Zinda, our beloved 7-year-old elephant, on 7th July, due to Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV). This devastating loss follows the recent death of Avani on July 1st, 2024, from the same virus. Despite receiving round the clock care from our dedicated veterinary team and international experts, Zinda’s […]
Dublin Zoo can confirm that Avani, our cherished young elephant sadly passed on July 1st, 2024 as a result of Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV). EEHV is a virus that causes fatal hemorrhagic disease, particularly in young Asian elephants. Despite our best efforts, Avani’s illness progressed rapidly, and we could not save her. Although EEHV is […]
Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce the arrival of female Northeast African cheetah Callie. The five-year-old arrived just last week from Fota Wildlife Park, who manage the European breeding program for the species. There was great excitement at the arrival of Callie, the first cheetah at Dublin Zoo since 2004. Callie has been settling in […]
Across the incredible world of animal species, we have so many different types of mums – feathered, scaly, furry, and more. Dublin Zoo’s mission is to save wildlife, and every day, our amazing teams care for over 400 animals that call the Zoo home. From Asian lions to red pandas, Rothschild’s giraffes to southern white […]
Meet the tallest residents at Dublin Zoo! These uniquely spotted gentle giants roam in towers and visitors to Dublin Zoo will be familiar with them in the African Savanna – it can only be the herd of Rothschild’s giraffes! We caught up with keeper Susan to find out more about these majestic, hoofed mammals. ‘We […]
Dublin Zoo is deeply saddened to announce that Sibu, our beloved male orangutan, has died. He was 45 years old. Everyone in Dublin Zoo is devastated by the loss of Sibu, who has been an iconic figure at the Zoo since he first arrived 40 years ago this year. He was gentle, caring and highly […]
New Nocturnal House will be home to Ireland’s first aye-ayes Dublin Zoo is delighted to unveil its newest habitat, a Nocturnal House which will be home to a brand new lemur species, the aye-aye, who are native to the island of Madagascar. The Nocturnal House will be home to the Zoo’s aye-aye pair, male Peanut […]
Dublin Zoo has announced 25% off tickets purchased online* for Saturday, 20th and Sunday, 21st of May to celebrate Endangered Species Day. Over the weekend, visitors will have a chance to learn about the importance of supporting biodiversity, conservation and animal welfare while enjoying the family fun activities taking place. To celebrate Endangered Species Day, […]
We’re world-famous! Did you know Dublin Zoo is world famous for the success of its Asian Elephant breeding programme? Dublin Zoo is home to one of the most successful breeding herds of Asian elephants in the world, thanks in part to the modern protected contact programme at Dublin Zoo which centred on the elephant’s biological, […]
Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce the birth of a Southern white rhinoceros calf. The female calf, born on January 2nd to mother Nyala, is estimated to weigh approximately 50kg. The calf joins her father, Chaka, and half-brother, Fionn, as the newest member of the seven-strong herd, also known as a crash, in Dublin Zoo’s […]
To thank the public for their support, Dublin Zoo is offering half price online tickets on 17th & 18th of September. Dublin Zoo has today announced half price entry for tickets booked online for the weekend of International Red Panda Day, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th of September, to acknowledge the generosity and support it has […]
Male calf the second child of Lumara and Kitabu Dublin Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a male okapi calf. The baby was born in the early morning of Thursday the 7th of July to parents Lumara (7y) and Kitabu (14y). Standing just 20 minutes after being born and suckling within hours, the baby is […]
Following the success of Zoo Live, The Zoo TV series is returning for an incredible 11th season on RTÉ next Sunday 26th June. This series once again takes viewers behind the scenes at Dublin Zoo to see their favourite animals and the dedicated animal care team who look after them. There is great excitement in […]
Hatch a plan to visit them this Easter Dublin Zoo is delighted to welcome two Venezuelan red howler monkeys, the newest species to arrive to the South American House. The two male red howler monkeys, both aged five, arrived from Tierpark Berlin and are settling into their new habitat very well. Venezuelan red howler […]
To mark the unveiling of Dublin Zoo’s newest habitat, the Himalayan Hills, we have launched a limited-edition activity series. The activities will be released in six parts ranging from colouring-in, word searches, crosswords and much more to allow you and your children to learn more about the snow leopard and red panda species in a […]
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD opens New Red Panda and Snow Leopard Habitats at Dublin Zoo Dublin Zoo is delighted to unveil its newest habitat – the Himalayan Hills. Inspired by the natural habitat of red pandas and snow leopards in the wild, the Himalayan mountain range, the new area will reflect the look and feel […]
New Species Arrives at Dublin Zoo Dublin Zoo is excited to announce the arrival of a new species to the Zoo – dholes! This is the first time in the Zoo’s history that it has had resident dholes, and a first for Ireland. The five male dholes came to Dublin Zoo from Tierpark Berlin a […]
Dublin Zoo participates in breeding programmes for over 35 species. This means that animals from different zoos are matched up with the most suitable partners in the hopes they will produce healthy young. Breeding programmes are essential for species conservation but – believe it or not – finding a perfect mate can be just as […]
Dublin Zoo invites visitors to ‘Woo At The Zoo’ with their beloved, for an unforgettable date on the most romantic weekend of the year! On Saturday, February 12th and Sunday, February 13th at 8:30am, Dublin Zoo will exclusively open its doors early to a very limited number of couples for what will surely be a […]
Dublin Zoo have received the keys for a Maxus Deliver 9 van In response to the ‘Save Dublin Zoo’ Campaign, Harris Group, Ireland’s leading importer of commercial vehicles, are delighted to announce their donation of a new Maxus Deliver 9 van to Dublin Zoo. The vehicle is fitted with state of the art features […]
“That’s Animal!” is a brand new, family series from RTÉjr Radio. Join the animal care team as they bring kids behind the scenes at Dublin Zoo to meet the animals and their keepers. Each episode visits a different creature including the western lowland gorillas, Asian elephants, red pandas and tonnes more to learn all […]
Can you help us find our Dublin Zoo Golden Eggs? To celebrate Easter, we have hidden 10 Golden Eggs inside our Animal Adoption Packs! Simply adopt an animal at Dublin Zoo and you’ll be in with a chance of finding a Dublin Zoo Golden Egg! Each Golden Egg will hatch one of 10 zooper prizes. Prizes […]
Like so many in Ireland, Dublin Zoo has experienced an extremely challenging year, but it was never without its moments of absolute joy and hope. Visitor numbers were reduced dramatically due to strict Covid-19 restrictions and two lockdowns. The loss of vital funds from ticket sales, coupled with a monthly cost of €500,000 to continue […]
Dublin Zoo welcomes the announcement from Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD and Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan TD, of €3million in Government funding for Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park. This financial support will allow Dublin Zoo to re-commence work on some essential capital projects, including the construction of world-class […]
Zoo Choose! Your Favourite Moment from 10 years of “The Zoo” TV Series! It’s hard to believe but season ten of ‘The Zoo’ TV series marks the 100th episode of the much loved show since it began all the way back in 2010! The votes are in, and we’re delighted to announce that ‘Series 2 […]
Dublin Zoo launches fundraising campaign to help ‘Save Dublin Zoo’ 18 November 2020: Dublin Zoo today announced the launch of the ‘Save Dublin Zoo’ fundraising campaign, appealing to the Irish public for help, as financial losses caused by ongoing Covid-19 restrictions continue to mount. The campaign has been launched to raise vital funds to help […]
We have a southern white rhinoceros calf in the African Plains that needs a name! This competition has now ended. The winning name is… Dakari! The name Dakari is of African origin, meaning happiness or joy – which definitely suits his fun loving, energetic nature! At 4.30am on 10th February 2020, Ashanti gave birth to […]
It’s been a jam-packed year for the zookeepers in Dublin Zoo, tune in to see their adventures from the Phoenix Park to Tunisia! Animal lovers rejoice as ‘The Zoo’ TV series returns to screens this Sunday, 4th October on RTÉ One for its tenth season giving viewers an exclusive behind the scenes look at Dublin […]
Now Available! To purchase your copy of the New Edition of Dublin Zoo: An illustrated history, please email us at info@dublinzoo.ie. The long history of Dublin Zoo was put on record in 2009 for the first time with the publication of Dublin Zoo: an illustrated history. The new edition released this year brings the history […]
New arrival the first child of Cahaya and Luca Dublin Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a baby siamang gibbon. The baby was born overnight on Sunday the 2nd August to parents Cahaya (10) and Luca (19). The baby is healthy and has been observed suckling. Before this arrival over the bank holiday weekend, Cahaya […]
International Golden Lion Tamarin Day Art Competition Dublin Zoo launched an art competition to celebrate the endangered golden lion tamarin and to encourage people to learn more about the little primate. There were two age categories (Age 6-9 and Age 10-13), and with the help of their parent or guardian, entrants had to send in […]
The snow leopard is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, with an estimated 2,700-3,380 individuals thought to be living in the wild. Since 2009, Dublin Zoo has been providing financial support for the Snow Leopard Trust which works in the countries the species still exists, supporting measures to protect this threatened species. The […]
World Parrot Day was originally founded 2004 by the World Parrot Trust and is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate these beautiful, charismatic and intelligent birds. The motto for 2021 is “Be kind and selfless – be more parrot!” highlighting the recent research into parrot behaviour where grey parrots demonstrated selfless behaviour in helping other parrots […]
New arrivals are the first penguin chicks born at Dublin Zoo since 2013. Dublin Zoo is celebrating the hatching of two Humboldt penguin chicks. The first chick was born on 29th March to parents Monica (7) and Joey (8). The second chick was born on the 3rd April to parents Magdalena (18) and Patrick […]
Visit our Conservation Education page for all our up to date online activities and resources. Original article from March 2020. As Dublin Zoo want to continue to deliver fun and educational experiences to the people in Ireland and beyond who are practising social distancing we are beginning a #dublinzoofun activity series. These activities range from […]
Have you ever wondered what it’s like at Dublin Zoo before the gates open and after they close? Dublin Zoo is an active place from daybreak to darkness and different animals tick to different body clocks explains Dublin Zoo Director, Leo Oosterweghel, who lives at the Zoo. Much of what Leo is about to tell […]
The Indian peafowl also called the common peafowl or the blue peafowl is a regular sight at Dublin Zoo. Peafowl are among the largest of all birds that fly. The beautiful feathers that cover the tails of a peacock are 1.5 metres long – longer than the bird’s body – and can be displayed in […]
Dublin Zoo is Delighted to Announce the Birth of a Southern White Rhinoceros Calf. Experienced mum, Ashanti gave birth to the healthy male calf at 4.30am on February 10th after a 16-month gestation period. The calf is estimated to weigh approx. 50kg. The youngster is Ashanti’s seventh calf and becomes the newest member of the […]
Identifying long-distance methods to test mate preference in zoo-housed orangutans. There are currently over 170 Bornean orangutans in almost 40 zoos in the European breeding population (EEP). It is vital that this population is self-sustaining, i.e., that enough babies are born each year to replace orangutans that die. However, placing a male with a female […]
2019 has been a wonderful year for Dublin Zoo. Over the past twelve months, Dublin Zoo has welcomed numerous new arrivals including two western lowland gorillas babies, two Rothchild’s giraffe calves, three California sea lion pups, two red-ruffed lemur pups and six Chilean flamingo chicks to name but a few! Take a look through this […]
Dublin Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of a baby western lowland gorilla, born to mother Vana and father Bangui. This is the second baby gorilla born in Dublin Zoo this year. On Saturday 12th of October, first time mother Vana gave birth to the healthy infant at approximately 12.40pm. So far, keepers have […]
Dublin Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a male Rothschild giraffe calf. Born in the early hours of Thursday 12th September, the healthy giraffe calf stands at 1.8 meters tall and weighs an estimated 60kg. The newborn joins the rest of the giraffe herd at Dublin Zoo, along with its mother Casey and […]
Wolves in the Woods, the new habitat for the pack of seven grey wolves, is now open! A large and stimulating space for the wolves, Wolves in the Woods, is over 4000 m2 in size and was inspired by the natural environment of the grey wolf. The new habitat includes a stunning water feature, a […]
The five-tonne Asian elephant was moved in the early morning hours of February 27th from Dublin Zoo.
In early June, the animal care team at Sea Lion Cove were delighted with the arrival of three California sea lion pups! California sea lions give birth during the month of June every year. The first sea lion to give birth, Cassie, welcomed a healthy female pup during the early hours of June 7th. Three days […]
On 1st April, after a gestation period of around 8-and-a-half months, Kafi gave birth to the healthy infant weighing approximately 2-2.5kg. To date, keepers at Dublin Zoo have been unable to determine the gender of the infant as Kafi has been keeping the baby close to her chest since the birth. The newborn is the first […]
Births, Deaths & Notices You may have seen our rhino deaths, births and notices in The Irish Sun this week. It shows the stark reality of rhino poaching and population loss, highlighting how sizeable the number of rhino deaths are annually. In 2017 more than 1,000 of the total world population of 20,000 white rhinos […]
Dublin Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of two Amur tiger cubs to first-time parents Tundra and Ussuri after a gestation period of 15 weeks.
Dublin Zoo is proud to announce the birth of two a male scimitar-horned oryxes, a species classified as extinct in the wild. Born on Wednesday, July 25th and August 13th respectably the healthy new calves weighs approx. 25kg and brings the herd at Dublin Zoo to a total of eight. The scimitar-horned oryx was once widespread […]
Dublin Zoo is celebrating the birth of an Asian elephant calf. Proud mum, Anak, gave birth to the healthy male calf on Saturday (10th February) after a 22-month gestation period. The calf is estimated to weigh approx. 90kg. The new arrival is Anak’s second calf and the seventh elephant calf born at Dublin Zoo in less […]
One Asian elephant calf At the beginning of the year, Dublin Zoo welcomed the birth of an Asian elephant calf. Proud mum, Anak, gave birth to the healthy male calf on Saturday, February 10th after a 22-month gestation period. The new-born was a significant success for Dublin Zoo as part of the international breeding programme, […]
Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce the birth of a southern white rhinoceros calf named by the public as Tadala. The male calf, yet to be named, was born to proud mother Nyala and father Chaka on Sunday, 12th November and weighs approximately 50kgs. The youngster is Nyala’s first calf and the birth marks another significant […]
Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce the arrival of eight new grey wolves. The new pack of wolves, which came from Osnabrück Zoo in north-west Germany, consists of an alpha male, an alpha female and their offspring. They range in age from two to ten years old. The animal care team will introduce the new […]
Dublin Zoo is celebrating the arrival of an Asian lion cub. The cub was born to mum Zuri and dad Kumar who came to Dublin Zoo from Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands last year. The birth of this lion cub is very significant for Dublin Zoo and the international breeding programme for this critically endangered […]
