Little new arrivals can be discovered at Chemnitz Zoo: Several animal species have had offspring. In addition to a young Prince Albert deer, the Benett's kangaroos and the tropical house have also given birth.
First young animals roam the enclosures
Chemnitz Zoo: Offspring among the Prince Alfred deer, Bennett's kangaroos and in the tropical house
Picture: Saskia Quinger
Little new arrivals can be discovered at Chemnitz Zoo: Several animal species have had offspring. In addition to a young Prince Albert deer, the Benett's kangaroos and the tropical house have also had offspring.
In good weather, a young Prince Alfred deer is already curiously exploring the outdoor enclosure, providing special moments of observation. The species, which is only found in the Philippines, is named after Duke Alfred of Edinburgh, the son of the British Queen Victoria.
Picture: Saskia Quinger
Prince Alfred's deer are not only one of the smallest, but also one of the most endangered deer species in the world. Populations are continuing to decline in the wild, primarily due to habitat loss. Since 2016, the species has therefore been classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Successful and coordinated breeding of such endangered species is therefore important for their conservation. At Chemnitz Zoo, several offspring of this rarely kept species have already been recorded.
Picture: Saskia Quinger
The Bennett's kangaroos also have offspring: every now and then a young animal peeps out of its mother's protective pouch. At birth, kangaroo babies are no bigger than a two-euro coin. As with all marsupials, Bennett's kangaroo pups are born relatively underdeveloped after a short gestation period of around 30 days. They are naked, deaf and blind and can initially only hold on to their mother's fur with the help of their arms. Nevertheless, they quickly and independently find their way into the pouch. There they suck on a teat and are thus supplied with their mother's milk. Usually only a single cub is born, twins are rare.
New residents can also be discovered in the tropical house. A young hop pigeon can be observed there, and numerous young eyespot cichlids swim through the aquarium.
Opening hours at the zoo and wildlife park:
Daily 9 am to 5 pm
Last admission and closing time one hour before the zoo closes.
www.tierpark-chemnitz.de