LV ZOO WELCOMES A LV ZOO WELCOMES A TAMMAR WALLABY AND AN EASTERN SCREECH OWL
Both New Animals Make Their LV Zoo Debut on Friday, Sept. 15

(Schnecksville, PA) – Lehigh Valley Zoo, is excited to announce two new residents at the zoo: a male tammar wallaby from Buffalo, N.Y., and a female eastern screech owl from Alburtis, Pa.

Although LV Zoo features a bachelor mob of wallabies, tammar wallabies are a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP). There are currently a total of just over 40 tammar wallabies at 12 AZA institutions combined across the United States

The yet-to-be-named eastern screech owl arrived at LV Zoo from Cricket Wildlife Center in Alburtis, Pa., which is the only wildlife rescue and rehabber in the Lehigh Valley. Found her injured as a fledgling in May 2023, her age is estimated to be around five months old. She had injured tendons in her leg and foot that inhibited her from being able to hunt, which meant that she could no longer survive in the wild. There are two color morphs for screech owls – red and grey. She is a red morph and will be living across from the Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital North American River Otter Exhibit.

The new owl still needs a name. In partnership with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), LV Zoo is hosting a naming poll on Facebook next week — allowing guests and followers the opportunity to decide the final official name by voting for their favorite finalist.

LVHN is the Official Motherhood Partner of the Lehigh Valley Zoo.

Guests can visit both new residents during LV Zoo business hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. Tickets are available for purchase at lvzoo.org.

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Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) includes 13 hospital campuses, four in Allentown, two in Bethlehem, one in Easton, one in East Stroudsburg, one in Hazleton, two in Pottsville, one in Lehighton and one in Dickson City, Pa.; 28 health centers; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices; 20 ExpressCARE locations including the area’s only Children’s ExpressCARE; pharmacy, imaging, home health, rehabilitation and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes: trauma care for adults and children, burn care at the Regional Burn Center; kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer, orthopedics, neurology, complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, and robotic surgery in 10 specialties. Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute and Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute physicians provide the most advanced treatments. Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute is a member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance, an initiative that helps community providers improve the quality of cancer care and offers access to MSK clinical trials. Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, the community’s only children’s hospital, provides care in more than 30 specialties and general pediatrics. Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest is ranked as the region’s No. 1 hospital for nine straight years and has been recognized among Pennsylvania’s top 10 hospitals for nine consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest, LVH–17th Street and LVH–Muhlenberg are the Lehigh Valley region’s only Magnet® hospitals for nursing excellence. Additional information is available by visiting LVHN.org or following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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As a member-supported non-profit organization, Lehigh Valley Zoological Society was founded in 2004, but it has been treasured community landmark for centuries. Located in the Lehigh Valley’s Trexler Game Preserve, the mission of the Lehigh Valley Zoo is to connect its community with nature to empower people to protect wildlife. We have achieved our mission and educated more than five million people. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Lehigh Valley Zoo hosts year-round, family-friendly events and activities, educational programs, and camps. To learn more about Lehigh Valley Zoo, we invite you to visit our website, www.lvzoo.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.