ANIMAL PLANET'S FAN-FAVORITE SERIES "THE ZOO" RETURNS FOR FIFTH SEASON FULL OF HEART-FELT HOMECOMINGS, NEW ADDITIONS TO THE BRONX ZOO FAMILY AND MORE

Series Spotlights the Bronx Zoo's Groundbreaking Work in Animal Care and Welfare, Conservation and Education

The world-famous Bronx Zoo returns to Animal Planet, showcasing more incredible stories of remarkable animals and the dedicated staff who care for them. In the all-new season, THE ZOO dives back into the hard work and heartwarming moments of daily life at the Bronx Zoo's 265-acre campus and its sister parks across New York City. Audiences will learn about the zoo's groundbreaking work in animal care and welfare, conservation, and education. Season five of THE ZOO kicks off with a special two-hour premiere on Saturday, Oct.9 at 8PM ET/PT, with new episodes airing every following Saturday at 9PM ET/PT.

In the unforgettable premiere, a bevy of fascinating new animals find a home at the zoo. From a herd of Bactrian deer fawns on a journey to the Big Apple from Ohio, to a young red kangaroo named Troody growing into the shoes of a Bronx kangaroo legend, to a keel-billed toucan rescued from the dark world of animal trafficking, zoo staffers step up to provide a New York welcome for them all. Excitement is afoot for the zoos' existing residents as well, as the gorillas experiment with a fashion-forward new enrichment and a trio of curious lynx kittens step into the public eye at the Queens Zoo. Audiences will also get an exclusive update on Nadia, the Malayan tiger who was the first animal in the US to be diagnosed with COVID-19.

"The dedication of our essential zoo and aquarium staff has never been more apparent than in Season 5," said Jim Breheny, Bronx Zoo Director. "They continued to provide expert care to the animals each day throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and never lost sight of our conservation mission. Staff in all of our WCS parks and those in zoos and aquariums around the world who braved the unknowns of the virus to ensure the daily needs of the animals were met are true heroes."

This season, audiences will see the Bronx Zoo's mission in action as a pair of endangered Coquerel's sifakas are introduced in hopes that they will mate; Sydney, an adorable harbor seal pup rescued from a stranding in the wild, finds a new home at the New York Aquarium; and a pair of rehabilitated ospreys become ambassadors for their species. The zoo's veterinary staff get creative by crafting a one-of-a-kind orthopedic shoe to help a tiny oscillated turkey chick walk.

Fans can also follow the conversation on social media #TheZoo and follow Animal Planet on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.

THE ZOO is produced for Animal Planet by Left/Right and Copper Pot Pictures. Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman, Anneka Jones, Pete Ross, Michael LaHaie and Jessie Findlay are the executive producers for Left/Right. David LaMattina and Chad Walker are the executive producers for Copper Pot Pictures. For Animal Planet, Lisa Lucas is executive producer.