Toledo Zoo to Celebrate Kirkja’s First Birthday with Special Event
Feb 13, 2025
TOLEDO, Ohio – Feb. 13, 2024 – The Toledo Zoo is inviting the community to celebrate a significant milestone—the first birthday of Kirkja, the Zoo’s African elephant calf. The event, set for Thursday, Feb. 22, 2025, will feature a mermaid-themed celebration, included with regular Zoo admission and free for members.
Guests will have the opportunity to see Kirkja engage in enrichment activities, splash in her pool and open a giant birthday card signed by visitors during the Zoo’s Happy Hearts Day event on Feb. 15. The celebration will offer engaging experiences for guests of all ages.
Feb. 22 Event Highlights:
- 11 a.m.: Kirkja receives and interacts with her special birthday surprises.
- 1:30 p.m.: The young elephant enjoys a specially crafted birthday cake.
Note: Festivities will be held in the Zoo’s indoor elephant exhibit, with staff managing guest capacity to ensure an optimal viewing experience.
Born on Feb. 17, 2024, to matriarch Renee, Kirkja has captivated visitors with her playful and inquisitive nature. Over the past year, she has grown into an active and confident member of the herd, which includes her mother, Renee, as well as herd mates Twiggy and Ajani.
As an endangered species, African elephants face increasing conservation challenges. The Toledo Zoo remains committed to their care and preservation, working to educate the public on the importance of wildlife conservation.
This unique event provides a chance to celebrate Kirkja’s first year while learning more about the Zoo’s ongoing conservation efforts.
Additionally, supporters can become a Zoo PAL sponsor, directly contributing to Kirkja’s care and feeding: Zoo PAL Sponsorship.
For additional details on Kirkja’s birthday celebration and other Zoo events, visit: www.toledozoo.org/events.
About the Toledo Zoo
The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, situated in Toledo, Ohio, proudly holds membership in the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Boasting a diverse collection, the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is home to more than 16,000 individual animals spanning 680+ species. Actively engaged in conservation efforts, the Zoo participates in over 80 species survival programs. With a robust community of over 78,000 active membership households, the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium welcomes about 1.1 million visitors annually.
About “Honoring our past. Envisioning our future.”
“Honoring our past. Envisioning our future.” is the 125th-anniversary campaign for the Toledo Zoo, commemorating 125 years of conservation, education and community connection. Since its inception in 1900, the Toledo Zoo has grown from a modest collection of animals into a world-renowned zoological institution.Throughout the 2025 calendar year, the Toledo Zoo will host a series of special events, exhibits, and programs to honor this remarkable milestone. These celebrations will highlight the Zoo’s historic achievements, ongoing conservation efforts and ambitious plans for the future. Visitors can look forward to engaging experiences that connect them to the Zoo’s mission of inspiring people to care about wildlife and natural environments.Join us in 2025 to celebrate this extraordinary milestone and help shape the next chapter of the Toledo Zoo’s incredible legacy.
