The St. Louis Zoo

What's New?

Charlie the Komodo Dragon


Six-year-old male Komodo dragon Charlie is the first resident of the Saint Louis Zoo’s brand new Komodo dragon habitat at the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium. Charlie is the first of his species to live at the Zoo in more than 12 years. The young Komodo dragon arrived at the Zoo on Sept. 20, 2025, from Bronx Zoo in New York, an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited institution. The Herpetarium underwent special renovations to prepare for his arrival, including the construction of a new solarium specially designed for the 6-foot-long reptile. Charlie is named after Saint Louis Zoo Director Emeritus Charles H. Hoessle, namesake of the Herpetarium. As of Oct. 20, Charlie can now be seen daily during regular Zoo hours and during Boo at the Zoo presented by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon in the evenings through Oct. 30. “Our team has been eagerly preparing for Charlie’s arrival, and we can’t wait for guests to discover all the things that make Komodo dragons one-of-a-kind,” said Justin Elden, Curator of Herpetology and Aquatics, Saint Louis Zoo. “It’s a privilege to have this unique and endangered species in our care.”


Cheetah Cubs


Public Debut! Cora’s Quints are now exploring their public habitat during brief appearances in River’s Edge
Four-month-old quintuplet cheetah cubs—Asha, Bozzie, Chirpa, Milani and Wickett—are now making public appearances at the Saint Louis Zoo. The cubs and their mother gained access to the cheetah habitat at River’s Edge starting today, Sept. 17, 2025. The cheetah cubs will be visible for extremely limited hours over the next several weeks as they adjust to their new space. Cora and her quints will frequently have access to their public habitat first thing in the morning (typically between 9 and 10 a.m.). The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but there are no guaranteed times when the cubs will be visible. The quintuplet cheetah cubs were born May 5, 2025, to first-time parents Cora, age 4, and Vader, age 8, and were soon dubbed “Cora’s Quints.” In their first months of life, the cheetah cubs have bonded closely with their mother and each other behind the scenes in a private habitat at the Zoo. The Animal Care Team has gradually introduced them to new enrichment and experiences to aid their development and prepare them for public debut. “Cora’s cubs are lively as ever. They have distinct personalities and interact with each other like any siblings would—running, playing and wrestling under Cora’s close watch,” said Julie Hartell-DeNardo, the Saint Louis Zoo Kevin Beckmann Curator of Carnivores. “The cubs have approached each new enrichment with brave curiosity. We’re excited to see them explore this new habitat and for the public to meet this family for the first time." All five cubs (three male and two female) are named after the Ewoks of Endor in honor of their parents, Cora and Vader, also named for Star Wars characters.

Spider Monkeys


Four endangered Mexican spider monkeys seized from smugglers near the U.S. southern border have found a home at the Saint Louis Zoo where staff hopes their story can spread awareness about the devastating illegal wildlife trade. Federal authorities in spring 2024 seized the monkeys as infants in three separate confiscations. Each was likely poached from the wild to be sold as an exotic pet, becoming a victim of a global criminal network that typically kills the infants’ mothers during capture. “This has to stop. These monkeys remind us that the sale of primates as pets must end once and for all,” said Regina Mossotti, Vice President of Animal Care at the Saint Louis Zoo. “Buyers may not realize it, but the illegal wildlife industry causes incredible suffering to so many animals. It not only harms endangered species, it also puts their native habitats in peril.”
After their seizure, the four monkeys were initially taken to Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas for evaluation and medical care. Sadly, returning them to the wild was not possible due to the species’ complex social structures and the likelihood of re-poaching. The monkeys arrived at the Saint Louis Zoo in April 2025 where they were gradually introduced to resident adult female spider monkey Patty. They made their public debut in Michael and Quirsis Riney Primate Canopy Trails in July. While they are now thriving in their new long-term home, these young primates are still impacted by their early capture. One still carries a piece of birdshot lodged in her body. All four were hand-reared as infants and continue to need specialized care. And while spider monkeys are a highly social species, they each grew up without their mothers or family bonds.