Spring sees
the birth of many newborn animals to the Johannesburg
Zoo.
One of the joys
of working in a zoo environment is being part of the
birth of many wild animal species. This year alone the
zoo has seen the birth of over 70 animals, the majority
coming from our herbivore section. Regardless of the
species, zoo staff and visitors love observing animal
babies grow up to become strong healthy adults. Certain
species born such as the Arabian Oryx and the Wattled
Crane play an important role in breeding programmes.
Since August,
the zoo has seen the birth of an endangered Arabian Oryx
calf, Gemsbok calf, and an African Buffalo calf. All
three calves are important addition to their family
herds and in the case of the Arabian Oryx this newborn
is very important to the survival of the species. Twenty
years ago the Arabian Oryx was virtually extinct in the
wild and through breeding and conservation efforts by
zoos’ globally their status has been changed to
vulnerable. This new calf will help the international
conservation efforts to ensure the species survival.
Our most recent
African Buffalo calf is the third successful baby born
in the past three years by Thatohatsi, one of the zoo’s
buffalo cows. Thatohatsi is now 8 years old and is the
proud mother of three strong buffalo males. This new
addition will stay with his mother until he is old
enough to move to the zoo’s conservation farm and one
day protect his own herd of females and offspring.
In addition to
our bigger herbivore species, our Aoudad or Barbary
Sheep, which is a threatened wild sheep species found
only in Africa, recently saw the addition of twin lambs.
In our farmyard our Nguni or Zulu Sheep herd has also
seen the addition of twin lambs which is an indigenous
domestic sheep species found in South Africa.
In our primate
section of the zoo saw the birth of a baby Emperor
Tamarin, a primate which originates from South America
and is endangered in Brazil and Peru. This small primate
species weighs only 500g when fully grown. When visiting
the Tamarins' enclosure in the Amazonia exhibit of the
zoo, the new tiny addition can be seen being carried on
the back of its mom, dad and sister’s backs.
Other youngsters
growing up fast in the zoo include the a Buffed Cheeked
Gibbon, six Wattled Crane chicks, a Blue Duiker,
Bushbuck and Nyala calves and Cameroon Pygmy Goat kids
born at the zoo since June 2011. The Johannesburg Zoo is
looking forward to more births in the warm summer months
to come.
Prepared Candice
Segal and issued by Letta Madlala Brand and
Communications Manager on behalf of the Johannesburg
Zoo. END.