Photos via Sequoia Park Zoo

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Press release from the Sequoia Park Zoo:

EUREKA, CA – Summer is in full-swing at the best little zoo in the redwoods, and we are excited to celebrate several recent animal additions to the Sequoia Park Zoo family! 

As part of a coordinated move by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), we welcomed four spider monkeys to the Zoo. The first to arrive, Sprite was born in 1995 at Sequoia Park Zoo to parents Junior and Candy before moving to John Ball Zoo in Michigan and then to Zoo Miami. 
 
“We are thrilled to reunite Sprite with her mother, Candy, and younger half-brother, Jake,” says Amanda Auston, Animal Curator at Sequoia Park Zoo. “The other new spider monkeys - Sam, Mila, and Melina - will make up a separate troop,” she explains. “People might notice that it’s much louder on this side of the Zoo now! They all like to call to each other.” 

Behind the scenes in the Barnyard, a baby La Mancha goat and a baby Alpine goat from local cheese company Cypress Grove are currently undergoing a typical quarantine period before they join Grover and the rest of the herd. Animal care staff look forward to sharing their names soon! 

Rounding out our new summer arrivals is a much-anticipated American black bear yearling cub placed at the Zoo by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) after a remarkable rehabilitation journey with Gold Country Wildlife Rescue. Despite recovering from multiple critical conditions, there remained concerns about his ability to maintain the thick fur necessary for survival in the wild, and CDFW made the decision to transfer him to permanent care at Sequoia Park Zoo.
 
Every year, state and federal agencies must find placement for a small population of orphaned, injured, or habituated animals, and organizations like the Sequoia Park Zoo play an important role in providing homes and care for these animal ambassadors while educating the public about responsibly living with wildlife.

“This little guy comes to us with a huge fanbase that has been cheering him on,” reports Jim Campbell-Spickler, Zoo Director. “We are thankful to California Department of Fish and Wildlife for placing him with us, and we look forward to caring for him and sharing this new chapter of his story.”
 
The Bear and Coyote habitat at Sequoia Park Zoo was generously funded by the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, whose Council members choose the name for each new bear. Formerly known as “Cub 24-3926” during his rehabilitation, the Council has selected the new name “Kunabulilh” for him, which literally translates to “he bites” in Soulatluk. To learn more about the language of the Wiyot people, including vocabulary, definitions, and pronunciation, please visit https://www.wiyot.us/275/Wiyot-Pronunciation-Vocabulary.
 
All new animals at the Zoo, regardless of species or history, undergo an industry-standard quarantine before being introduced to other animals and habitat spaces. During this time, observant and patient guests may be able to catch a glimpse of our new arrivals as they begin to settle in, and we ask our visitors to help make them feel safe and comfortable by remaining quiet and calm, especially around the bear habitat.