Newsroom
Listen up
We have news to announce!Welcome to the Metro Richmond Zoo’s newsroom. Here you will find copies of the zoo’s latest press releases and other announcements in a blog format.
Media Resources
If you are a member of the media please contact Taylor, our Communications Manager at [email protected] for the following:
- Schedule an interview for a story
- Access high-quality images or video
- Request to be added to our media mailing list
View our official press kit.
The zoo sends press releases to the media whenever we have significant announcements about animal births, new exhibits, or other exciting updates. You can read them below.
For more daily updates, follow us on social media.
Baby Pygmy Hippo Splashes onto Exhibit
Virginia’s most famous hippopotamus went swimming for the first time this week. On Tuesday, December 27, Iris and her 3-week-old calf were moved into the zoo’s indoor pool area for some hippo swimming lessons. Iris showed her baby around the new area and then...
Baby Pygmy Hippo Born December 6
Christmas came early at the zoo! We did indeed receive a hippopotamus for Christmas this year. Congratulations to pygmy hippo parents Iris and Corwin on the birth of their female calf. She was born on December 6, 2022, after a 7 month gestation period. This is the...
The Miracle of Christmas – Live at the Zoo Returns For 2022
One of Richmond's favorite holiday events is back for its 20th season. After being presented virtually for the past two years, The Miracle of Christmas - Live at the Zoo is returning for in-person performances on December 20, 21, and 22. All are invited and welcome to...
Snow Leopard Cub Born August 5
The Metro Richmond Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a female Snow leopard named Alakhai. She was born to parents Elsa and Nitro on August 5, 2022, after a 3 month gestation period. Alakhai was born inside a private den where she spent the first few months of...
Cheetah Boom: 19 Cheetah Cubs Born in 2022
The Metro Richmond Zoo is proud to report a successful year for cheetah conservation. In 2022, 19 cheetah cubs from 6 different litters have been born at the zoo so far. This is the greatest number of cubs born in a single year in the zoo’s history. The 19 cubs were...
Metro Richmond Zoo Now Included In National Geographic’s Photo Ark
In August 2021, Joel Sartore of the National Geographic Photo Ark visited the Metro Richmond Zoo to photograph two species missing in the Photo Ark: the African clawless otter and the Canebrake rattlesnake. A year later, we have received the official portraits, and we...
Metro Richmond Zoo in the News