A Columbus Zoo swan love story takes flight
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Trumpeter swans Sloane and Stella are ready to nest. Photos: Grahm S. Jones/Courtesy of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Romance is in the air — and on the water — at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium this Valentine's Day.
Why it matters: The zoo's pair of bonded trumpeter swans will likely build their first nest this spring — a love story and a comeback story all wrapped into one.
- If eggs hatch, it would be a first for the zoo and a big step for a species that has struggled for centuries in its wild habitats.
Catch up quick: Trumpeter swans famously mate for life.
- Sloane and Stella, both almost 5 years old, came to Columbus from different places but have spent most of their lives together.
- The zoo played matchmaker, and the pair agreed they found "the one" in summer 2022, after a few months of getting to know each other.
- Keepers have since watched their relationship deepen, with Sloane growing protective of his mate and breeding grounds.
Between the lines: That "swagger" is a good sign, and keepers are crossing their fingers for eggs this year since the love birds have reached typical breeding age, North America Trek curator Nikki Smith tells Axios.
- Any cygnets (baby swans) raised in Columbus would likely be sent to another zoo or reintroduced into their native ranges in another state.
The big picture: Trumpeter swans are thriving today in Ohio, but that wasn't always the case.
- The large, elegant birds were hunted to local extinction for meat and feathers, possibly as early as the 1700s.
- Reintroduction efforts began in the 1990s, accompanied by wetland habitat restoration.
- They were so successful that the species came off Ohio's threatened list in 2024.
By the numbers: At that time, around 900 birds were nesting across 26 counties — many hatched from Alaskan eggs at the Columbus Zoo's conservation park, The Wilds, near Zanesville.
What they're saying: An enduring symbol of love, swans are a "big, beautiful, charismatic species" that can inspire people to protect wild places, Smith says.
- Through Sloane and Stella, zoo guests can see the results of that work firsthand.
- "They're definitely a show-stopper," she says.
What we're watching: Swan eggs hatch during summer — usually two or three per season — so it may not be long before Sloane and Stella become parents.
Stop by: Visit them year-round in the zoo's new North America Trek area.