Blank Park Zoo’s Big Animal Boom | Des Moines News

Des Moines News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 4, 2026 · 1m

Blank Park Zoo’s summer is bursting with new arrivals—from a baby Addax named Victoria and a surprise cotton-top tamarin to Hiro, the newest Japanese macaque, all settling into central Iowa. They’ve also welcomed Zara, a four-year-old zebra from Utica, and even a harbor seal, Walnut, who arrived via FedEx from L.A. Behind the scenes, zoo staff are carefully planning diets, space, and even using birth control to manage populations—all to keep visitors engaged and educated. The baby boom isn’t slowing down: two giraffes are expecting, with one due soon, and three new lions are on the way for a…