Creatures ‘on brink of extinction’ born at UK zoo. Take a look at the rare babies
Spring may be the season of new life, but for one zoo in the United Kingdom, summer and fall have brought a wave of new arrivals.
Three babies recently joined the zoo’s ranks, two of which were born in the second half of October, Marwell Zoo announced in an Oct. 30 news release.
“We’re celebrating a baby boom at the zoo after welcoming adorable new arrivals, which offer a glimmer of hope to species on the brink of extinction,” the zoo said.
On Oct. 27, a banteng was born to parents Dewi and Henky, the zoo said. Banteng are a species of cattle considered “one of the rarest” in the world. They live naturally in central and southeastern Asia, and are considered critically endangered.
Photos and the gender of the banteng have not been released by the zoo as of Oct. 31.
Dewi and Henky previously welcomed a baby girl, Raya, in November 2022. Raya was “running around with her tail held high in the air,” in no time, according to a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, a baby Hartmann’s zebra was born in the “early hours” of Oct. 23, the zoo said.
“The gangly youngster was soon getting to grips with its new legs under the watchful eye of mother, Marula,” the zoo said in an Oct. 26 Facebook post.
The baby has been seen getting “zoomies” around the paddock and playing in front of zoo guests, according to the release.
Hartmann’s zebras are a mountain species differentiated from their grassland cousins by a dewlap, or loose skin fold, on their necks, according to the zoo. They are listed as a vulnerable species, and fewer than 35,000 are believed to be living in the wild. The species is found primarily in Namibia and South Africa.
The zoo also said a baby Kirk’s dik-dik was born this fall. Dik-diks are small, deer-like animals that make an alarm sound when threatened, earning them their name. Their species is not threatened.
All three babies are riding a baby wave that started with the arrival of a critically endangered cotton-top tamarin in May.
In July, the zoo announced the birth of four Przewalski’s horse foals born to four different mothers, a milestone for the endangered species. Przewalski’s horses were once extinct in the wild, and all horses of the species alive today are descended from just 12 animals.
Another species of zebra, an endangered Grevy’s zebra, was born at the beginning of August, the zoo said. There are fewer than 3,000 in the wild, primarily in northern Kenya and a few isolated groups in Ethiopia, according to the zoo.
“The European population currently only has 208 individuals,” conservation biologist for Marwell Zoo, Tanya Langenhorst, said in an Aug. 14 news release. “I am trying to grow it back to 250 so every foal counts and this one born at Marwell is only the fifth to be born this year.”
At the end of August, the first Rothschild’s giraffe calf born at the zoo in five years was welcomed by parents Ruby and Mburu, the zoo said in an Aug. 28 news release. The baby was already 5 feet tall just a week after birth and considered “a little miracle baby” because the pregnancy was unplanned rather than part of a breeding program for the near-threatened species, the zoo said.
Another critically endangered species, an addax calf, was born on Sept. 13, the zoo said. Addax are an antelope-like species from the Sahara desert, and the species is considered critically endangered. Fewer than 300 are believed to be living in the deserts of Chad and Niger, according to the zoo.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these incredible new arrivals to Marwell. Each birth is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team, who work tirelessly — at times around the clock — to support these animals and their welfare,” hoofstock team leader Phil Robbins said. “These births are not only joyful milestones but also crucial to the success of our breeding programs, which play an essential role in safeguarding the future of endangered species.”
Marwell Zoo is in Winchester, Hampshire, England, about a 75-mile drive southwest from London.
This story was originally published October 31, 2024 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Creatures ‘on brink of extinction’ born at UK zoo. Take a look at the rare babies."
