Juniper is an orphaned cougar cub from Montana who arrived at the Birmingham Zooin February. She will soon be joined by Spruce, a cougar cub from California.
Special to the News
Meet Juniper. With more than 5,700 votes cast, the female cougar cub at the Birmingham Zoo will now be called Juniper.
The Rocky Mountain Juniper is a plant within the cougar’s native range. Juniper lives in Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing next to two bobcats, Boomer and Baxter.
Votes were $1 each, and funds from the voting will go to help care for Juniper. Spruce, a male orphan cub at the Oakland Zoo in California, will be joining Juniper in the coming weeks.
Additionally, the zoo’s birthday celebration has been set for Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m.
While the Birmingham Zoo’s actual seventieth (70th) birthday was Wednesday, April 2, a community celebration is planned for this Saturday, April 5, with the help of some special guests.
Join the party as the elephants at the Birmingham Zoo enjoy a massive smash cake for the zoo’s birthday. The large cake will be in the elephant holding area and visible to media and guests when they get access to the party at 10:30 a.m. sharp. The birthday cake will feature some special elephant treats, and an elephant care expert will be available for interviews.
Guests also will be able to sign giant birthday cards for the zoo, making for great photo opportunities. The elephant giant smash cake event is included with zoo admission.
Other upcoming events to celebrate 70 Years of Wild:
- Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt – Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Farm Day – Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Tails in the Trails – Friday, May 9, from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Pancakes & Princesses – Saturday, May 31
- Zoo Brews – Friday, June 6
- Zoo Gala – Friday, September 26
- Hoots & Howls – October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, and 26
- Glow Wild – November 2025 to January 2026
- Zoo Year’s Eve – Wednesday, December 31
More event details at www.BirminghamZoo.com/events.
