Meet Reba, the New Jaguar!

Mesker Park Zoo is excited to welcome Reba, a young female jaguar born in October 2024 at the Baton Rouge Zoo.  

As Reba adjusts to her new home, guests may spot her exploring the tiger habitat in our Asia region. This temporary space will allow her to become familiar with her surroundings, establish routines with her animal care team, and continue building confidence in a new environment. Once she’s ready, she’ll make her debut in the jaguar habitat in Amazonia! 

Because jaguars are naturally solitary animals, Reba and Beliza will take turns occupying the jaguar habitat. They will rotate through the space, providing each animal opportunities for exploration and enrichment while supporting their natural behaviors. 

This move was coordinated with the AZA Jaguar SSP, a cooperative population management and conservation strategy of all jaguars in AZA accredited facilities. Jaguars are currently listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), making every opportunity to connect guests with this incredible species even more meaningful. 

Be sure to stop by and see Reba as she settles into her new home, you might just catch a glimpse of our newest spotted superstar!