BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo to showcase jaguar cub Lacumba III on exhibit during Southern University Day

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo to showcase jaguar cub Lacumba III on exhibit during Southern University Day

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo will celebrate the official public debut of its newest jaguar cub, Lacumba III, during Southern University Day at the Zoo on Friday, April 4.

The event, held in partnership with Southern University, will feature exclusive early access for Southern students, alumni, and faculty. The cub, named after Southern University's historic mascot, marks the zoo's first jaguar birth since the late 1990s and is a significant addition to the Jaguar Species Survival Plan (SSP).

Event Highlights:

• Dignitary Remarks: Distinguished guests will speak at 9:30 a.m. at the jaguar exhibit.
• Exclusive Early Access: Southern University students, alumni, and faculty with a valid ID can enter the Zoo at 9 a.m., ahead of the general public opening at 9:30 a.m.
• Discounted Admission: Southern University facility, students and alumni will receive $3 admission with Southern identification.

"This event is a tribute to the legacy of Southern University and the vital role conservation plays in preserving species like the jaguar," said Brittany Tully, senior communications manager at BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo. "Lacumba III's birth is a milestone for both our zoo and the broader efforts of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to protect this endangered species."

Lacumba III's name pays homage to the university's rich history, following in the footsteps of the original Lacumba, who made history in 1971 as the first live exotic mascot at a historically Black college or university.

For more information on Southern University Day at the Zoo and the zoo's conservation efforts, visit www.brzoo.org.