SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Zoo has a new member of the herd — a two-year-old female jaguar named Frida.
Frida arrived at the zoo on Tuesday and is already getting familiar with her new digs in the newly renovated Neotropica habitat.
The zoo traded another female jaguar, Arizona, to the Memphis Zoo for Frida in hopes that she will eventually breed with the male jaguar, B’alam.
The trade is part of the Association of Zoos & Aquarium’s (AZA) Species Survival Plan which helps ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums.
“The last time we had cubs here was 2016, and at that time, it was the first time we’ve had cubs since 1974,” Morrow said. “We’re really working to have 100 years of good genetics of those species in our care, to really protect that species out in the wild, as well as in our zoos. It’s really good for that species when zoos are responsibly breeding these animals as part of SSP programming.”
According to the Memphis Zoo Animal Care staff, Frida has a sweet demeanor and loves enrichment, especially if it involves water or scents like cinnamon and nutmeg.
“We are thrilled about Frida’s arrival,” Morrow said. “We hope she loves her new home in Neotropica with the recent addition of Pantera Walk, presented by Texas A&M University-San Antonio.”
The Pantera Walk provides the jaguars with 120% more room to roam and mimics terrain options that closely match their native surroundings, according to a press release from San Antonio Zoo.
“We encourage the community to visit and give her a personal welcome to San Antonio and the zoo. Fingers crossed that we have little jaguar cubs in our future,” said president and CEO of San Antonio Zoo Tim Morrow.
San Antonio Zoo was recently named the second-best zoo in the country when it comes to conservation, animal welfare and education, according to the online industry publication Blooloop.
On average, San Antonio Zoo contributes more than $935,000 a year, through direct funds and research grants, to programs geared towards species population status, habitat preservation, and potential causes for declines.