Lua has been adjusting well to her new home!

Please help us welcome our newest Zoo resident, Lua the jaguar, to our Rainforest Revealed loop! This five-year-old female journeyed all the way from Zoo de Granby in Quebec, Canada, as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for jaguars. This program pairs animals in AZA-accredited organizations with one another to ensure a genetically diverse safeguard population. 

“It’s incredible that we are once again going to be contributing to the Jaguar SSP,” said Curator of The Americas, Sidnee.      

As part of that program, we will also be receiving a male jaguar in the coming months. With this new pair, we’re excited to continue our legacy of helping conserve this incredible species. We will share more details soon. 

And in case you were wondering, Our 21-year-old resident jaguar, Masaya, isn’t going anywhere. While Masaya made incredible contributions to her species over the years, welcoming six cubs under our care and becoming a great-grandmother in 2024, she’s now past breeding age. We will continue to care for Masaya in her golden years and ensure she’s living her best life every day.  

Lua has already won over the hearts of her animal care team. She’s been slowly coming out of her shell since her arrival, showing off her curious side while still being cautious.   

“She is acclimating to her new space well and getting to know her keepers,” said Sidnee. “She is readily accepting reinforcement from us and even doing training behaviors!” 

If you’re trying to spot the difference between our two jaguar girls, there are a few ways to tell. The easiest way may be their difference in color. Lua has a much lighter coat than Masaya with yellow hues. Lua is also much larger than Masaya and has sharper facial features. Masaya is more petite with a round face shape. 

Make sure to stop by our Rainforest Revealed habitat soon to see our new girl for yourself!

Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.