Discover
Zoomagination is a nonprofit organization. We are first and foremost animal advocates. We aim to share our love and knowledge of animal friends with you and others in the San Antonio area. Book an interaction program with us today and help support your animal friends! THIS IS WHERE THE ANIMAL KINGDOM MEETS YOUR IMAGINATION.
DISCOVer our animal KINGDOM
Where do they come from? What do they eat? How fast can they run, swim, or fly? At Zoomagination, we love sharing fascinating facts about the incredible animals we work with—and helping you see them in a whole new way.
And don’t forget to download our fun, educational coloring pages! Once your masterpiece is complete, share it on social media by tagging @Zoomagination and using the hashtag #CreativeCritters so we can feature your work and spread the animal love.
Caw! We’re Macaws! We’re native to Central and South America, and we love to eat fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts, and even the occasional insect.
Even though we’re big and beautiful now, we didn’t start out this way—we hatched without any of our gorgeous feathers! Now that we’re fully feathered, we crave attention, and if we’re ignored, be prepared for a screeching Macaw chorus.
We’re highly intelligent and can learn to mimic sounds, solve puzzles, and keep ourselves entertained. No “bird-brains” here!
Fun Facts about Legend & Phoenix
Legend loves to get clean by hopping in the shower. He’s a real showman who enjoys performing for new friends. His favorite things are chewing wooden toys to bits, crunching ice cubes on hot summer days, and singing in the rain—what a wonderful feeling!
Phoenix is full of energy and loves to play all day. She enjoys hanging upside down, acting like a clown, and stealing as many of Legend’s toys as she can get away with.
If we ever get bored, we might turn your furniture into our chew toy—but we’d much prefer to play with our own bird toys!
Yaaaawwwnnnn… You’re lucky you caught me between naps—I’m usually only awake 4–6 hours a day.
I’m native to the rainforests of Central and South America, but I’m a great hider, so you’ll have to look carefully to spot me. I spend most of my life hanging upside down in the trees, and I eat, mate, and even sleep in that position!
I’m not ashamed to admit my family are the slowest mammals on Earth. We’re so slow that algae can grow on our fur—but we don’t mind. It helps us blend in and snooze undisturbed. Speaking of which, I have some serious sleeping to do.
Fun Facts about OUR SLOTHs:
Sloths achieve a level of relaxation that even the laziest teenagers can’t imagine.
Their favorite sleep buddy is a stuffed teddy bear.
They’re affectionate and enjoy sharing Eskimo kisses with the dogs.
Hi there! I’m Jingles, and I’m a reindeer! Some people think I’m a mythical creature, but I’m very real—I’m also known as a caribou.
You can find my relatives in parts of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Europe, and Asia. I like to munch on grasses, lichen, and special grains. Even though I’m a female reindeer, I grow antlers that I use for protection, and I shed and regrow them every year.
My special hooves let me walk across snow and swim long distances. And when I really get moving, I can run up to 50 miles an hour!
Fun Facts about Jingles
She’s very curious by nature and loves to follow people around.
She stays cool in the summer by relaxing in the shade and enjoys evening walks.
She likes to knock around an inflatable ball with her antlers.
Ooh! Be careful! My name is Sahara, and I’m an African Crested Porcupine—the largest porcupine species in the world, and the biggest rodent in Africa.
I have sharp claws and big front teeth that help me dig up and chew the roots I love to eat. And no, that’s not a tutu I’m wearing—those are my quills, which I use to protect myself from predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas. Despite what most people think, I can’t actually shoot my quills…but we’ll keep that our little secret.
Fun Facts about Sahara
Sahara’s favorite snacks are bananas.
She’s affectionate and loves sitting in laps.
When she’s not out for a walk, she enjoys sleeping the day away in her cozy den.
Oh hi there! My name is Milo. I know I might look like a special kind of monkey, but I’m actually a kinkajou—closely related to my cousins, the raccoons. My native home is South America, where I help pollinate flowers with my tongue that’s five inches long!
People nicknamed me the “honey bear” because I love all things sweet, especially fruit, but I’ll also snack on the occasional lizard or bird egg. My back feet are unique—they can turn completely backward so I can climb down a tree headfirst. I do have very sharp claws and teeth, but I’m always careful with them.
My absolute favorite thing is curling up on the couch to sleep during the day, then waking up at night for adventures. Oh, and my tail? It’s prehensile, which means I can use it like a fifth limb to hold onto branches and other things.
Fun Facts about Milo
Milo’s favorite fruit is bananas, and he loves being scratched behind the ears at nap time.
When he first wakes up, he stretches his legs, yawns with his long tongue sticking out, and makes his trainer say, “Aww!”
G’day! I’m Thor, another Aussie! I’m a dragon—but not the fire-breathing kind. I’m a Bearded Dragon! My friends call me “Beardy” because when I get excited or want to show dominance, I can expand a spiny pouch under my jaw that looks just like a beard.
During the day, I love to sunbathe and will flatten myself like a pancake to soak up as many rays as possible. This flattening also helps protect me—it makes it harder for any hungry predator to fit me in their mouth!
Fun Facts About Thor
Thor is curious and outgoing, and he loves to ride on Robert’s shoulders during walks.
Hssss… I’m Cairo, a Ball Python. I get my name because, if I feel threatened, I curl up into a tight ball. I don’t have ears, so I “smell” out my food with my tongue.
Because I grow throughout my life, I shed my old skin every 4–6 weeks to reveal a newer, prettier one. I’ve even heard that Cleopatra thought my ancestors were so beautiful that she wore them as jewelry on her ankles, wrists, and neck!
Fun Facts about Cairo
Cairo doesn’t have eyelids, so he sleeps with his eyes open!
When he’s not showing off his climbing skills, Cairo loves to snack on small rats.
Hssss… I’m Medusa. My family comes from South America—that’s how I got my name.
I’m not venomous, but I can give a mighty powerful hug! When I’m hungry, I slither off in search of tasty meals like frogs, rodents, and birds.
Fun Facts about Medusa
Medusa’s favorite foods are large rodents.
If she overindulges, she’ll hop into the bathtub for a few laps to work it off!
Boo! Did I scare you? Don’t worry—it’s just the color of my tongue! My name is Lilly, and I’m a Blue-Tongue Skink. My species is one of the largest skinks in the world. I can’t run very fast to escape predators because of my short legs, so I stick out my bright blue tongue to try to scare them away.
I can also drop my tail to distract predators and make my getaway—but don’t worry, I’ll grow a new one in about a year. I love to snack on bugs, grubs, and slugs, but I also enjoy plants and veggies. Sunbathing is my favorite, though I’ll sometimes cool off under a rock if I get too warm.
Fun Facts about Lilly
Lilly is a very sweet and gentle lizard.
Her smooth scales feel like corn on the cob to the touch.
She sheds her scales about every 3 months.
Hello, I’m Olive, an Opossum. I’m from North America and can be found just about anywhere—from forests and fields to neighborhoods and backyards.
Some people think I’m a giant rat, but I’m actually a marsupial—the only one native to the United States! I carry my babies in a pouch, just like a kangaroo. When I feel threatened, I might “play possum,” lying still and pretending to be dead until the danger passes. My long, hairless tail isn’t just for looks—it helps me balance and even carry nesting materials.
I’m a night owl who loves to explore after dark, using my sharp sense of smell to find tasty treats like fruit, insects, and even leftovers humans leave behind.
Fun Facts about olive
Olive loves snacking on grapes and mealworms—two of her favorites!
Opossums are great for the environment because they eat ticks, helping reduce the spread of Lyme disease.
Despite their sharp teeth, opossums are gentle creatures who would rather avoid a fight than start one.
Hello, I’m Twister, a Peregrine x Barbary Falcon. I’m native to Northern and Eastern Africa, and I’m built for speed, stamina, and incredible aerial acrobatics.
When I’m in a full stoop (dive), I can reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour, making me the fastest animal on the planet. My keen eyesight helps me spot prey from far away, and my agility in the air means I rarely miss.
Fun Facts about TWISTER
Twister’s top speed could beat a race car, a cheetah, and even a skydiver in freefall.
Falcons have a special “baffle” in their nostrils that lets them breathe easily at high speeds.
Twister’s eyesight is so sharp, he can see prey from more than a mile away.
Hello, I’m Lolita, a Mexican Red-Knee Tarantula. I am from Central America, Mexico, and the Southwest region of the U.S.
Many people are frightened of me because I’m venomous, but in reality, I’m more afraid of humans than they are of me. When I feel threatened, I can flick hairs from my body, which can irritate your skin and eyes. If one of my legs gets hurt in a fight, I can actually grow a new one after a few molts.
In the wild, I prefer to be alone, but with some tender loving care, I can make a very sweet pet.
Fun Facts about LOLITA
Lolita loves when Jennie feeds her crickets—they’re one of her favorite meals.
With the proper attention, Lolita and other members of her family can make very gentle, sweet pets!