Lincoln Children’s Zoo welcomes new baby armadillo

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln Children’s Zoo announced the birth of a baby three-banded armadillo on Wednesday.

Jimmi was born on Feb. 1 to mom, Fix, and dad, Fez. He’s the third baby for the couple.

“Our keepers do an amazing job caring for our animals and creating a safe and nurturing environment for them to give birth and look after their newborns in,” said Evan Killeen, Lincoln Children’s Zoo CEO in a press release on Wednesday. “Both mom and baby are healthy and thriving and Jimmi is meeting every growth milestone.

The baby weighs a little over one pound now and can easily fit in the palm of a human hand. Two days after birth, Jimmi weighed only 103 grams.

The mom and baby armadillo are currently not on exhibit but will be in the Animal Kingdom building toward the end of April and early May, according to zoo officials.

Jimmi stayed in the nest box with his mom for about a month, according to a press release.

He then started taking strolls at night, however, the mom will sometimes herd him back inside the nest box and try to barricade the entrance shut to make it difficult for him to leave again.