Lynx at John Ball Zoo becomes first-time mother ... to three

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A three-year-old lynx at John Ball Zoo has become a first-time mother.

Animal Care Supervisor Jaime Recalla says zoo staff is closely monitoring Becca and her three newborn kits. She gave birth on May 23rd. Thor is the 11-year-old father. He is also the father of another female lynx that was born at John Ball Zoo in 2020.

"The birth went smoothly, and Becca and her three kits will be behind the scenes at John Ball Zoo as she cares for her offspring over the next several weeks. It is typical for newborn lynxes to not open their eyes until they are about two weeks old, and not become active outside of their den until they are about five weeks old," John Ball Zoo announced.

The zoo provided more information in a news release:

Becca and Thor are a matched breeding pair through the Species Survival Plan Program by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, in which experts collaborate to maximize genetic diversity and manage the demographic distribution and sustainability of species, which aligns with the Zoo’s mission of saving wildlife and wild places. The lynx is a federally threatened species in the U.S. 

Thor has been at John Ball Zoo since 2018, and he and Becca quickly became comfortable with each other when she joined the Zoo in 2023.  

Becca’s animal care team has been keeping a close eye on her following the observed breeding in March. As her birth window approached, the John Ball Zoo team kept up with Becca’s weight changes to ensure she was getting all the support needed to have a healthy pregnancy.  

On May 23, Becca’s care team noticed she was exhibiting signs of labor, so she was brought inside with access to her den while the Zoo’s veterinary team monitored her progress closely. By midday, Becca was in labor and having contractions, and by the early afternoon she had successfully given birth.  

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