The wait is over: Memphis Zoo’s baby jaguars are finally on exhibit

Corinne S Kennedy | Memphis Commercial Appeal

Show Caption Hide Caption Memphis Zoo unveils baby jaguars Memphis Zoo Curator Dan Dembiec talks about the zoo's baby jaguars as they go on display for the first time.

The Memphis Zoo’s newest — and arguably cutest — residents are now on exhibit for zoo visitors to see for the first time.

Two female jaguar cubs, born Sept. 4., went on exhibit for the first time Wednesday morning. Zoo staff also announced the cubs’ names — Lulu and Bella — Wednesday, after an online campaign inviting the public to donate to the cubs' care and vote for one of several name possibilities.

More: Memphis Zoo welcomes two baby jaguars; here's a look at the adorable cubs

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Zoo curator Dan Dembiec said he was excited that zoo visitors would be able to see the cubs and that it was the first time in a long time that the zoo was home to big cat cubs.

"It's a big deal for the conservation of the species and a big deal for the Memphis community," he said.

He said the jaguars will grow rapidly now that they are on exhibit and have more things to climb on and play with, which also aids in developing their instincts.

"They play and that's how they learn to stalk prey and be predators," Dembiec said.

Zoo staff said the cubs have been growing rapidly and will be on display with their mother, Philomena. The cubs will have access to their indoor room as well, and could be inside if they choose.

The baby jaguars still spend the majority of their time sleeping, zoo staff said, and visitors are asked not to make loud noises that could scare the cubs.

Lulu and Bella are both healthy and weigh about 10 pounds now. For those trying to tell the cubs apart, zoo staff said Lulu is slightly bigger and has darker fur than Bella.

Memphis Zoo officials announced the jaguars’ birth last month. They were the first baby jaguars born at the zoo since Cat Country was opened in 1993 and they will live in the Cat Country area with the zoo’s lions, tigers, pumas, cheetahs and other big cats, as well as red pandas and meerkats.

Both cubs were pronounced as healthy at a neonatal examination in October. The zoo welcomed several other babies in 2019, including a giraffe, an African black-footed penguin and a Francois’ langur monkey.

Corinne Kennedy is a reporter at the Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Corinne.Kennedy@CommercialAppeal.com or on Twitter @CorinneSKennedy