Zoo Wins and Woes around the Nation

The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC is shuttered due to the federal government shutdown, keeping visitors at bay, but other zoos around the nation have somewhat better news to report.

Zoo Miami announced today the birth of three lion cubs, the first to be born at the zoo in it's 33-year history.

The cubs, two males and one female, appear to be in excellent health, the local CBS affiliate reported, adding that the cubs, which were born Sept. 24. will remain off exhibit until the zoo staff feels they can safely integrate with the rest of the pride.

The Oklahoma City Zoo reported Tuesday its newest addition: a baby giraffe. The giraffe was born last Thursday.

"Both mom and calf are doing well," Jaimee Flinchbaugh, Zoo hoofstock supervisor, told local news station KFOR. "Ellie is a doting mom and her calf is full of energy, personality and spunk."

The 6-foot-tall baby girl has not been named.

A bit of sad news from Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, which had to euthanize Keo, the first chimpanzee it ever housed. The 55-year-old chimp was the oldest living chimp in a North American zoo, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Keo had to be euthanized because of advanced heart disease that "compromised his quality of life."

"He really was a personable chimp," said Steve Ross, director of the zoo's Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes. "He understood how to be a chimpanzee, but he also knew how to be around people. He made people feel good."

Since arriving at the zoo in 1959, Keo fathered 11 offspring. He shattered the life expectancy average for a captive chimp, besting it by 23 years.