Warthog piglets receive names

The 11-week-old warthog piglets at Zoo Atlanta have experienced their latest exciting milestone: receiving names. Meet Daphne, Penelope, and Eloise!

Each piglet had the opportunity to “choose” her name with an enrichment activity. The piglets and their parents entered their habitat to find three large balls, each labeled with the letters D, P, or E and representing names selected by the Warthog Care Team. The ball a piglet touched first became her name.

Born on April 13, 2021, the piglets are the first litter for warthog pair Eleanor and Hamlet. The piglets began exploring their outdoor environment in the Zoo’s African Savanna in early June and may typically be seen in their habitat with their parents.

Native to sub-Saharan Africa, warthogs are currently widespread in the wild, but populations are in decline as a result of drought, desertification, and human-caused habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. Warthogs are highly resilient animals and are more adaptable to human activities than are most of the other mammals that share their grasslands ecosystem.

The African Savanna also features new habitats for African elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, meerkats, and southern white rhino. Zoo Atlanta is open daily, with timed ticketing required for non-Members. Learn more or plan a visit at zooatlanta.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Rachel Davis, Director of Communications
404.624.2812 – office
404.309.2238 – cell
rdavis@zooatlanta.org

Gavin Johnson
Public Relations and Communications Specialist
404.624.5980 – office
gjohnson@zooatlanta.org

About Zoo Atlanta
A proud accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the gold standard for animal care and welfare, Zoo Atlanta has a mission to save wildlife and their habitats through conservation, research, education, and engaging experiences. The Zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals representing more than 200 species from around the world, many of them endangered or critically endangered. Highlights include giant pandas, including Ya Lun and Xi Lun, the only giant panda twins in the U.S.; one of North America’s largest zoological populations of great apes; and a global center of excellence for the care and study of reptiles and amphibians. Recent transformations include the new African Savanna, featuring new and expanded habitats for African elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, warthogs, meerkats, and rhinos; Savanna Hall, a state-of-the-art special event destination in the newly restored historic former home of the Atlanta Cyclorama; and the new Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Plaza. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.