Jacksonville Zoo’s adorable jaguar ‘Banks’ celebrates 1st birthday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Banks, the newest jaguar at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, celebrated his first birthday Sunday, according to the zoo.

“It has been an adventure watching him grow from a cub to a big boy,” the zoo wrote on Facebook.

Banks was born to first-time parents Babette and Harry, and he was the first jaguar cub born at the zoo in 10 years.

During his first year of life, Banks has stolen the hearts of the community and has become an ambassador to his species, the zoo said.

He got his name from the Zoo’s “Name That Jag” contest. After hundreds of submissions, Banks was one of the four names chosen by zoo staff and the cub’s care specialists that were then voted on by the public.

Banks made his first public appearance at the Range of the Jaguar exhibit on July 20, 2023.