Photos: 50 of our favorite shots of Omaha zoo creatures through the years
Through the years, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo has cared for animals as large as elephants and as small as tree frogs, offering the public a broad look at the Earth's biodiversity.
The Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium introduced a week-old female giraffe on March 23, 2012. The calf was the first born at Omaha's zoo since 2007 but the 29th overall since 1979. Giraffe calves are usually six feet tall and 150 pounds at birth. Within an hour of birth, calves are usually up and nursing.
A vampire bat is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Oct. 29, 2013. The zoo teamed up with Iowa State University to find the best food for vampire bats, which each need about 2 tablespoons of blood a day.
An African lion rests at the Henry Doorly Zoo on a hot summer day in July 1971.
Five baby rockhopper penguin chicks were on display at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014.
An emperor angelfish swims at the redesigned and newly renovated Scott Aquarium at the Henry Doorly Zoo on March 26, 2012.
Twin white-handed gibbons sit in their mother's lap on Friday, June 10, 2011, in the Henry Doorly Zoo's Lied Jungle. The rare twins were born on April 13, 2011.
Nicole Linafelter feeds a sleepy African lion cub at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Friday, Jan. 4, 2012. The runt of the litter, the cub had been removed from her mother's care, and Linafelter, a veterinary technician, was one of the people caring for the then-week-old cub.
Little Joe, a 450-pound lion, is seen on Aug. 9, 1950. Sold to Omaha Parks and Recreation by Council Bluffs poundmaster Chris Christensen, Little Joe didn't like his cage. He lunged at passers-by, sweeping his paw at the shadows of onlookers.
Incoming first-graders at Bancroft Elementary and zoo day camp students got a sneak peek at the new Zoo Academy and Children's Adventure Trails at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on June 29, 2017.
Elephants make their public debut at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Wednesday, April 6, 2016.
Gail Yanney and Dr. Lee Simmons have their hands full while holding a python at at zoo benefit. Guests took turns petting the python during the Zoofari VII Fundraiser at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Sept. 11, 1989.
Black-handed spider monkeys climb in their habitat at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014.
Two red-fronted macaws fly on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at the opening of the Holland Meadowlark Amphitheater at the Henry Doorly Zoo. The area will be used for live bird shows, held three times a day and featuring 15 species of birds.
In the Desert Dome, Zachery Torres, a sophomore at Omaha South High School, cleans the glass around the turkey vulture exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, June 23, 2015.
A klipspringer hangs out in its enclosure at the Henry Doorly Zoo's new African Grasslands exhibit on Friday, May 27, 2016.
Spider monkeys rest in the lagoon area at the Henry Doorly Zoo's new African Grasslands exhibit on Friday, May 27, 2016.
A group of female impala are seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
Lions Johnny and Sandy are seen on Aug. 12, 1965. The lions were featured in the Zoo's Who that year.
An Amur tiger cub shows the start of his fangs on Aug. 18, 2016, at the Henry Doorly Zoo. The cubs were vaccinated and chipped during their debut that morning.
A pair of vampire bats are seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Oct. 29, 2013. The zoo teamed up with Iowa State University to find the best food for vampire bats, which each need about 2 tablespoons of blood a day.
Mfisha nuzzles one of her baby lion cubs at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Friday, March 29, 2013.
W.W. Laird says a final goodbye to a pair of lion cubs on Sept. 21, 1967. When the Clyde Brothers Circus came to Hastings, W.W. Laird, a friend of circus man Howarad Suesz, noticed a sick lion. She took it to the vet, but the animal died. Suesz asked Laird to take the 5-week-old lion cubs, Freckles and Speckles, to make sure they didn't get sick. The cubs became too large to be in the Lairds' home, so Laird donated the cats, then 4 1/2 months old, to the Henry Doorly Zoo.
Nicole Linafelter holds a sleepy African lion cub at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Friday, Jan. 4, 2012. The runt of the litter, the cub had been removed from her mother's care, and Linafelter, a veterinary technician, was one of the people caring for the then-week-old cub.
A male African lion is seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
A klipspringer calf roams its new home at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium's Desert Dome on Monday, March 25, 2013.
A white-handed gibbon baby peeks out at its surroundings while its mom swings along at the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Oct. 24, 2003. The baby was born Sunday, October 5. Gibbons, the smallest of the apes, live in small family groups consisting of the mated pair and their immature offspring.
Zoo visitors crowd around an exhibit to see a baby gorilla at the Henry Doorly Zoo in 1996.
Sepilok, a Bornean orangutan, holds her baby at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014.
Swans swim through the steam rising off their heated pond at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Dec. 15, 2009.
A lined day gecko sits on a branch in the new Madagascar exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo on April 29, 2010.
A female Amur tiger cub, born June 22, 2010, is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Aug. 20, 2010.
A baby male Francois langur, born August 11, 2010, is seen on Oct. 15, 2010, at the Henry Doorly Zoo.
Matt Simon holds up his 2-year-old son, Simon, to get a better view of Wgasa, a Bornean orangutan, as he enjoys a Valentine's Day treat at the Henry Doorly Zoo Tuesday Feb. 14, 2012. Zoo employees put treats out for the animals, including heart-shaped frozen Kool-Aid.
Fish swim at the redesigned and newly renovated Scott Aquarium at the Henry Doorly Zoo on March 26, 2012.
When Penelope, a pink Yorkshire hog, takes a dip in the water tank at the Henry Doorly Zoo, there's no doubt that the other animals have to wait their turn. Watching an impatient Rasputin the goat are Mr. and Mrs. Jeome Paulsen and their 1 1/2-year-old daughter, Jennifer, in August of 1969.
West Coast sea nettles float in the water at the new Ocean Drifters exhibit, which features five species of jellyfish, at the redesigned and newly renovated Scott Aquarium at the Henry Doorly Zoo on March 26, 2012.
Penguins jump in and out of the water at the redesigned and newly renovated Scott Aquarium at the Henry Doorly Zoo on March 26, 2012.
Preston, an Amur leopard, shows his fangs while in his exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Oct. 19, 2012.
A female Amur tiger, born June 22, 2010, tries to sneak up on her mother Tiksi at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Aug. 20, 2010.
A pygmy hippopotamus calf, born Feb. 22, 2013, is seen with its mother in the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday April 18, 2013.
A fossa pup does target training with Ryan Sears, supervisor at Expedition Madagascar, at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday April 25, 2013.
Chimps Tamba, left, and Pedro are seen at the zoo in 1959. Pedro was purchased from the Detroit Zoo as a mate for Tamba in 1958. The mischievous chimps got on well; the two were known to break into cages and let the other monkeys out.
A mountain chicken frog is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013.
A young gray tree frog, native to Omaha, is shown at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013.
An adult male South African bullfrog is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013.
Casey the gorilla is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo in 1974.
Macaws perch on branches after feeding on Jan. 29, 2011, as thousands of people took advantage of the Henry Doorly Zoo's Community Free Day.
Sam the giraffe is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo on July 29, 2008.
A female sea lion touches noses with a pup in the Sea Lion Pavilion at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday, July 2, 2015. Two sea lion pups were born June 6 and June 8.
Dr. Lee Simmons and zoo workers unload a crate holding one of the new tigers brought to the Henry Doorly Zoo for the white tiger breeding program in August of 1978.
A meerkat is seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
Two western diamond-backed rattlesnakes are seen inside Rattlesnake Canyon, a $125,000 new addition inside the Desert Dome, on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014. Rattlesnake Canyon is the home of 13 animals, including eight species of lizards and two species of snakes.
This photo, published in The World-Herald in 1980, was accompanied by the following caption: "The female gorillas have joined the corps of TV widows. Like a husband intent on boob-tube football, Casey, patriarch at the Henry Doorly Zoo, studies the sitcoms and soap operas on a television outside of his cage. It's part of an experiment, a zoo spokesman said. If the Nielsen ratings people called Casey, the would find he likes to see women, the 'Flinstones' and any other kind of action, a staff member said."
An Egyptian goose is seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday, April 28, 2016.
Zebras are seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday, April 28, 2016.
Marina, a white rhino, walks in a pen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday, April 28, 2016.
Dr. Lee Simmons is seen with a Siberian tiger named Nikolai in March of 1977. The tiger was a longtime loan from the Forest Park Zoo in St. Louis.
Two white storks are seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
White-faced whistling ducks are seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
A white stork ambles abut the men's restroom near the sea lions' pool at the Henry Doorly Zoo in November of 1985. Since the restrooms were not needed for visitors in the wintertime, the storks and other animals spent the winter months in them.
A spur-winged goose is seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
Lee Simmons III, 9, and an unnamed baby gorilla console each other during a bout of chicken pox in April of 1971. The baby gorilla was kept at Henry Doorly Zoo director Lee Simmons' home after coming down with the childhood disease. Lee's children both had it too.
A sable antelope rests in its exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo's new African Grasslands exhibit on Friday, May 27, 2016.
Giraffes explore their new enclosure at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday, June 2, 2016.
Two African lion clubs relax with their mother on Sept. 11, 1971, at the Henry Doorly Zoo. The male cubs were born Aug. 16, 1971.
A giraffes explores its new enclosure at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday, June 2, 2016.
Casey the gorilla is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo in 1976.
A bongo chews cud in its exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo's new African Grasslands exhibit on Friday, May 27, 2016.
A bongo is seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
A white-throated monitor is seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
An African pygmy goat eats hay at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
A peacock walks through the foliage of the Bailey Wye garden at the Henry Doorly Zoo's new African Grasslands exhibit on Friday, May 27, 2016.
An African spurred tortoise is seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
Children loved to pet Big Ben, a Clydesdale draft horse at the Henry Doorly Zoo in May of 1972. Ben, who was donated to the zoo, would move toward kids, then hold perfectly still until they petted him. “I guess you might say he’s a spoiled Big Ben,” said Mike July, a curator.
A polar bear didn't mind the huge crowds at the Henry Doorly Zoo on July 25, 2009.
Senior keeper Ryan Whisney holds a baby snow leopard while veterinarian Trent Shrader looks at her claws during an exam inside the cat complex at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Friday, Aug. 11, 2017.
A gorilla munches on lettuce at the Henry Doorly Zoo on March 29, 2018.
Ray Hernandez and his daughter Marina, 2, of Omaha, look out from the bubble at a yawning gorilla at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014.
Darla Tipton, 9, of Lincoln, thought she had hypnotized a rooster at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo in August of 1971 after she stroked his back and pointed to a pebble in front of his beak. When the rooster failed to move after several seconds of staring at the pebble, Darla got down to eye level with the bird. The rooster suddenly flapped its wings and kicked up dust in all directions as it half ran, half flew to another section of the zoo.
A female cassowary from New Guinea is seen on July 12, 2002. The aggressive four-foot bird, along with another female, had been joined with a male in hopes of breeding.
Orangutans Tondelayo, left, and Fu Manchu look for raisins in the hay in January of 1982.
A Philippine crocodile is seen on May 10, 1999, at the Henry Doorly Zoo.
A gerenuk is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo on May 19, 2000. Nicknamed the gazelle-giraffe, gerenuks are unique in their ability to stand on their hind legs to reach leaves; other antelope cannot. They do not eat grass.
A gaur is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo on May 10, 1999.
Henrietta, one of two white rhinos at the Henry Doorly Zoo in May 1999, awaits in her pen for construction on the rhinos' outdoor area to be completed. The rhinos were soon to be joined by three more rhinos from South Africa. Zookeepers hoped that a more herd-like situation would be more conducive to breeding.
A mother rhino and her baby relax in their watering hole at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Aug. 2, 1999.
A Wyoming toad is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo on May 10, 1999.
A thirsty Fu Manchu, an orangutan, gets a drink of water from a sprinkler at the Henry Doorly Zoo on July 31, 1970.
Caiman are seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005.
Butterflies sit on oranges at the Butterfly and Insect Pavilion at the Henry Doorly Zoo on May 9, 2008.
A jaguar yawns while in its exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Aug. 29, 2002.
Amoi, a 7-month-old female orangutan, is seen at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003.
A pair of male cheetahs, Msasa and Nyika, were among the zoo's newest arrivals in May 2001.
George, a white tiger, was transferred from the nursery to a cage with two orange tigers on Sept. 5, 1980, at the Henry Doorly Zoo.
A female Jaguar, born Oct. 31, 2003, at the Henry Doorly Zoo, is seen on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003.
A naked mole rat from the nocturnal exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo is seen on March 12, 2003.
A male gibbon, born Oct. 5, 2003, at the Henry Doorly Zoo, is seen on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003.
A baby gentoo penguin, born in December 2014, explores its exhibit on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.
Dr. Lee Simmons, at left, greets a pair of gorilla twins arriving at the Henry Doorly Zoo in 1984.
Koalas are among the billion-plus animals displaced, injured or killed in the Australian fires.
A red panda named Tofu hangs out in the cat complex at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.
A lion at the Henry Doorly Zoo tries to keep cool on July 15, 1996.
An Australian frilled dragon is seen on March 8, 2002, at the Henry Doorly Zoo's Desert Dome.
A gorilla named Timu seems to be in a state of contemplation while in his exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Nov. 7, 2002.
An African lion rests at the Henry Doorly Zoo on July 18, 1969.
Everett Gormley, 6, of Omaha, watches as a polar bear takes a leisurely dip on Sept. 24, 2007, at the Henry Doorly Zoo.
The Henry Doorly Zoo is offering free admission for kids 12 and under from Sunday through Friday, Dec. 31.
Near the zoo’s north entrance, the carousel will shift to a new location to allow for improvements near the Alaskan Adventure splash pad. The project, which also includes some infrastructure work, will cost about $11.6 million.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has named Dr. Luis Padilla as its next president and CEO. Padilla will replace Dennis Pate after Pate retires later this year.
The four resident orangutans at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium are about to have new digs that immerse the animals in a more natural habitat.
USA Today named the Omaha Zoo as the nation's best in its annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Lied Jungle at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has now fully reopened to the public, the zoo announced on Friday.
Dr. Luis Padilla just marked one year as the leader of one of Omaha's most cherished institutions. The vet from Puerto Rico is charged with writing the zoo's next chapter.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is asking visitors not to throw coins into the water there after an American alligator had to have 70 removed from his stomach.
A new male calf at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium brings the total number of elephants in the herd to 10.
