Keep an eye out for new animals on your next visit.

Virginia Zoo Introduces a New Most Valuable Player – Eli the Kudu

Kudu baby boy is born at Zoo in February

Only days after the Super Bowl upset earlier this month, the Virginia Zoo welcomed another MVP – Eli the kudu, that is. Baby Eli was born at the Zoo on February 5, 2008 to parents Roscoe and Sara. Zookeepers who are faithful New England Patriots fans insist that naming the new baby boy “Eli,” is only a coincidence and not a tribute to Giants quarterback Eli Manning! Like his football star namesake, Eli the Kudu is rather reserved. But lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of him at the Zoo's kudu exhibit, located across from the tiger exhibit.

Virginia Zoo Acquires Fourth Elephant!

Painting donation symbolizes partnership between Virginia Zoo and Virginia Living Museum

In an enormous gesture of partnership and collaboration, the Living Museum helped enlarge the Virginia Zoo's elephant herd with a generous gift of an original elephant painting on February 19, 2008. The elephant painting, valued at $20,000, will be treasured at the Zoo which features three African elephants on exhibit. The ladies, Monica, Lisa and Cita, are themselves artists, who enjoy creating modern works of art on canvases held by human helpers. The painting donated by the Living Museum was created by Jim Wilson, an award-winning wildlife artist and naturalist.

Train Construction is on Track at the Virginia Zoo

Some young visitors to the Virginia Zoo have been mesmerized by items not usually seen here, including bulldozers, construction stakes and railroad ties. This year at the Zoo, warm weather brings visitors, flowers – and a train. Construction is underway for the Norfolk Southern Express , a fun train feature that will give visitors a narrated tour of the Zoo in style. During construction, fewer than 5% of our animals may not be on exhibit, such as the red panda, camel and emus. In the meantime, exhibits in Africa and the Barnyard are open and waiting for you! The Norfolk Southern Express is scheduled to open this summer.

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