Spring has officially bounced into Summerfield Zoo, and with it comes the tiniest, most adorable bundle of hops—Alice, a brand new kangaroo (aka "joey") named after the Australian city of Alice Springs.

Meet Alice: Summerfield Zoo’s Adorable New Arrival

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She's already stealing hearts and making surprise appearances, including a stop at our studio that we caught live on Facebook (scroll down to watch the video and fall in love.

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Just How Fascinating Are Kangaroos?

A joey like Alice is born after a super short gestation of just 30 to 36 days. At birth, she's about the size of a jellybean and immediately climbs into her mom's pouch, where she continues to develop for several months. Even cooler? If conditions aren't just right, kangaroo moms can pause their pregnancy, delaying birth until their pouch is ready for another occupant. Nature is wild.

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Summerfield Zoo in Belvidere kicks off its 2025 season on April 26, and it's open:

  • Saturdays 10 AM-5 PM
  • Sundays 10 AM-4 PM
  • Wednesdays through Fridays (May 14-Aug 8) 9 AM-3 PM

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Admission:

  • Adults $15
  • Seniors $13
  • Children $10
  • Wednesday special: $10 for everyone
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Come meet Alice and say hi to some other fan-favorites like baby goats you can play with and feed, sloths, a popcorn-scented binturong, and capybaras (possibly the internet's favorite animal). Daily animal shows and private encounters are also available.

Credit: Summerfield Zoo
Credit: Summerfield Zoo
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Don't forget to check out our Facebook live video below—and make a plan to visit Summerfield Zoo this season.

Summerfield Zoo is located at 3088 Flora Road, in Belvidere, Illinois.

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