Once Elmwood's Star Jaguar Cub, Luna Is Moving On To The Midwest

NORRISTOWN, PA — Luna the jaguar, one of Elmwood Park Zoo's most charismatic residents, is moving on to the Midwest to help support her species' population numbers.

The four-year-old was born at Elmwood to much fanfare in 2017, along with her twin brother Diego. There was a public naming contest, a new "Trail of the Jaguar" exhibit unveiling, and even a gender reveal party.

But now Luna is all grown up, and she's packing her bags for Lee Richardson Zoo in Kansas. She'll likely be paired with a mate there in the near future. Diego previously left for Memphis Zoo in 2018, where he has already started a family of his own.

Jaguars are often moved throughout zoos within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to support reproduction as a part of their carefully managed species survival plan. Jaguars are considered "near-threatened" by the AZA and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

"We will certainly miss Luna’s photogenic and spunky nature," Elmwood shared in announcing the bittersweet news. "While we are all sad to send Luna on her way, we understand the important role that these cooperative programs play in ensuring the long-term survival of species, both in human care and in the wild."

Jaguar habitat is threatened globally by poaching, overdevelopment, deforestation across the Amazon and much of South America, black market sales of body parts, poaching, and much more.

The zoo is encouraging the public to visit Luna before she departs for Kansas on March 8. A special episode of Zoo School Live (on Elmwood's Facebook page) will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 2 to say farewell to Luna.