Offspring among the Bactrian camels and name search
Path through the South America plant completed
The Bactrian camels at Chemnitz Zoo have given birth. A female foal was born last week. It is the sixth offspring of mare "Siri" (at the zoo since 2007) and stallion "Dschingis" (at the zoo since 1999).
The Bactrian camels shown in the zoos are domestic animals. Today, only small numbers of their wild ancestors remain in China and Mongolia. Their status is estimated to be "threatened with extinction". As domestic animals, on the other hand, Bactrian camels are still widespread in Central Asia today. They are used as pack animals and as a source of milk and meat.
A name is being sought for the young animal. Suggestions will be accepted from now until 29 April by e-mail, fax or post(tierpark(at)stadt-chemnitz.de, 0371/8577693, Tierpark Chemnitz, Nevoigtstraße 18, 09117 Chemnitz). A jury of zoo employees will select the name. The winner will then be notified and receive a small surprise. The camel foal will then receive its name on 1 May.
There is also news about the other camels at the zoo, the alpacas. In the last few weeks, a small path has been built through the upper part of the South America enclosure, which visitors can enter through locks so that the animals can be observed without bars. However, visitors are asked to stay on the path and not to touch or feed the animals. Alpacas are also domestic camels that were bred several thousand years ago in the Andes to produce wool.
Opening hours of the zoo: 9 am to 7 pm, last admission 6 pm
Photo: Chemnitz Zoo