JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After more than a year and a half of life - Baby Banks isn’t a baby anymore.
The Jacksonville Zoo announced Wednesday that the home-grown Jaguar is leaving town on January 30th to be introduced to a potential mate - and maybe make some babies of his own.
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Banks’ departure is part of the Species Survival Plan, which aims to keep a healthy and thriving population of the animal, currently categorized at ‘near threatened’.
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Banks was born at the zoo on April 7th, 2023 to his parents Babette and Harry. As the first jaguar cub to be born at the zoo in more than a decade, this special big cat stole the hearts of the community.
Through a $21,000 fundraising campaign, the people of Jacksonville voted to name him Banks after the Jaguars’ downtown home field, Everbank Stadium.
Read: Jacksonville Jaguars part ways with General Manager Trent Baalke
You still have a chance to say goodbye.
The Jacksonville Zoo will hold a going-away party for Banks on Saturday, January 25th. Everyone is invited to the celebration beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Read: Jacksonville Jaguars part ways with General Manager Trent Baalke
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