Something small and sweet is on the way at Audubon Zoo — and it may arrive just in time for Halloween. Mandrill couple Lucy and Obi are expecting their first baby, the zoo announced on October 14. The happy news was shared with a pumpkin-themed celebration, as the parents-to-be enjoyed tasty enrichment treats while letting guests in on the secret: their own little pumpkin is due sometime later this month.
Lucy, 14, is a first-time mom, and her care team is giving her extra support for the big moment. Keepers have been training with her so she is comfortable with ultrasounds, building trust step by step, and after the birth they will watch closely to make sure mother and baby bond well and the little one is nursing successfully. It is patient, loving work — and the whole zoo is rooting for her.
The baby will be the first offspring for both parents, who arrived at Audubon Zoo last year following a breeding recommendation from the Mandrill Species Survival Plan. The program, shared by accredited Association of Zoos and Aquariums members, helps keep mandrill populations healthy and genetically diverse. Mandrills, among the most colorful primates in the world, are listed as vulnerable in the wild, where they live in the equatorial rainforests of West and Central Africa and face habitat loss.
For New Orleans families, this is a perfect reason for a fall zoo day: stop by the mandrill habitat, wish Lucy well, and keep an eye out for the zoo’s baby updates in the coming days. A tiny new neighbor is almost here — and the whole city gets to celebrate.
Photo: Audubon Nature Institute
