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Belle Benchley introduces a group of military personnel to a particular favorite of hers, Mickey, a Baird’s tapir. Belle had helped hand raise Mickey when the very young tapir arrived as part of a shipment from South America.
Rubie gave birth to the Zoo's first surviving hippo calf on October 30, 1943, a female named Lotus. The adorable, roly-poly youngster was a big hit with Zoo visitors.
Another exciting birth in 1943 was the Zoo's first zebra foal, named Thunder because she was born overnight during a raging thunderstorm!

1943

War Years 1937 - 1946
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