Acacia the pouched rat gives birth to five pups at Utah’s Hogle Zoo
Five southern giant pouched rat pups are growing fast at Utah’s Hogle Zoo following their birth on August 12, 2026, to mom Acacia and dad Baobab. From pink and hairless at birth to covered in fur in less than two weeks, the pups will soon receive their first veterinary exam, where we will determine their sex and weight.
While sightings of Acacia’s pups may be limited for now, they are growing quickly. Guests may catch a glimpse of the new arrivals nursing or beginning to explore outside their nest box in the Small Animal Building.
Pouched rats grow quickly and can be fully independent from mom within 12 weeks of their birth. At about three months, the pups will likely move to another accredited zoo, where they will help support AZA’s Rodent Taxon Advisory Group and serve as ambassadors for their species.
Successfully breeding pouched rats under human care is rare, making every successful birth a significant learning opportunity. Acacia’s second litter gives Hogle Zoo’s animal care team another opportunity to learn about the species’ reproductive cycles, development, and care.
Pouched rats are native to savanna habitats across East and Southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Known for their intelligence and remarkable sense of smell, they play an important role in conservation and humanitarian efforts worldwide.
Often called “hero rats,” pouched rats have been trained to detect landmines, detect tuberculosis, sniff out illegal wildlife products such as pangolin scales and elephant ivory, and assist with search-and-rescue work.
Utah's Hogle Zoo
