NORFOLK, Va. — Author's note: The video above is on file from December 29, 2021, when the zoo announced a baby giraffe had been born.
Chonk the skunk is on a journey. A weight-loss journey.
The Virginia Zoo announced its newest animal ambassador on April 12. He's black, white, and a whopping 7.4 lbs (or 3.4 kilograms).
Ashley Mars, the zoo's spokeswoman, said Chonk and his siblings were rescued at birth and raised in captivity, so he's been neutered and de-scented, and can't go back to live in the wild.
At the zoo, he's going to be joining education programs. Even before he's ready for that, Mars said he's on his way to becoming "a social media scent-sation."
The Virginia Zoo is inviting people to "Get Fit with Chonk" through the spring by following its Instagram hashtag #getfitwithchonk.
The skunk will have a weigh-in every other week, to see how his special diet is going. We're not sure what his goal weight is, but we're sure he can accomplish anything he puts his mind to.
