Jacksonville Zoo Welcomes Baby Bonobo

The first bonobo born at the zoo in 10 years is doing well with mother Kimia, and its sex is not yet known.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Wildlife

Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens welcomed a baby bonobo born to mother Kimia just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The baby's sex is not yet known, and the mother and baby are doing well so far.

Why it matters

The birth is the first bonobo born at the Jacksonville Zoo in 10 years, giving local families a rare chance to see a young endangered great ape at the city's zoo. It also reflects the zoo's role in a coordinated species-management effort as bonobos were recognized as the 51st SAFE species by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2025.

The mother, Kimia, is about 26 years old and arrived in Jacksonville in 2020 from Cincinnati Zoo along with her son Zeke and daughter Kibibi. The zoo is a founding member of the Bonobo Management Partnership alongside seven other U.S. zoos and a Japanese sanctuary.

The players

Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens

A Jacksonville zoo that houses endangered bonobos in its African Forest habitat and is a founding member of the Bonobo Management Partnership.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

A national accreditation body that recognized bonobos as the 51st SAFE species in 2025, prioritizing conservation of at-risk species.

Cincinnati Zoo

A Cincinnati zoo that previously housed Kimia and her family before they relocated to Jacksonville in 2020.

The details

During Kimia's pregnancy, the zoo's animal care and veterinary teams administered voluntary weekly ultrasounds, and Kimia became comfortable with the equipment through positive reinforcement training. Bonobo pregnancies typically last about eight months, and the zoo's coordinated program with partner institutions supports the species' breeding and genetic management.

2020: Kimia, Zeke and Kibibi moved to Jacksonville from Cincinnati Zoo.
2025: Bonobos were recognized as the 51st SAFE species by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
June: The zoo announced Kimia's pregnancy.
Tuesday, Nov. 3: Kimia gave birth just before 10 p.m.

The Home Front

The birth fits within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums SAFE program, which designates selected species for coordinated conservation and breeding across accredited zoos. Bonobos joined the program's list in 2025, placing Jacksonville's new baby within a national framework for endangered species management.

If you plan a visit, check the zoo's current schedule for the African Forest habitat, since the new baby and mother may be viewed at different times as they settle in. Families interested in conservation can also look into the zoo's membership and donation options that support its animal care programs.

The takeaway

A new bonobo at the Jacksonville Zoo is a reminder that accredited zoos play a part in protecting endangered species that are native to the Democratic Republic of Congo. If you want to support this work, consider a visit or a membership, since local attendance and donations help fund animal care.