Offspring at the zoo
Tropical house and farm open again from Thursday, 11 June
The zoo has once again announced the arrival of offspring of various animal species.
Offspring of the West Caucasian ibex
A young kid was born to the West Caucasian ibex in May. The group at the zoo has now grown to five animals. The ibex mating season falls in the winter months of November and December. After a gestation period of just under six months, a single kid is usually born in May and June.
The Western Caucasian ibex has the smallest distribution area of all wild ibex species. It covers an area of around 15,000 square metres in the western Caucasus, mainly in Georgia and Russia. This makes the distribution area smaller than the federal state of Saxony. With this small distribution area in the Western Caucasus and a rapidly declining population of only around 5000 animals, the Western Caucasian ibex is considered a critically endangered species. Despite a conservation breeding programme, these impressive horned beasts are rarely exhibited in European zoos. In Germany, this species can only be found in four other zoological institutions. Chemnitz Zoo is therefore all the more delighted to be able to announce that it has once again successfully participated in a conservation breeding programme.
Offspring of the white-fronted geese
In addition to the many zoological rarities on display at Chemnitz Zoo, there are of course also animal species that are kept in many zoological institutions. These certainly include the white-cheeked geese or barnacle geese. And here, too, there are offspring. A pair of geese is currently leading four chicks around the facility.
In their natural habitat - the Arctic - white-fronted geese often breed in groups on steep cliffs. Here they can only reach their nests by flying, but are thus safe from Arctic foxes. The newly hatched chicks, which are not yet able to fly, have to jump from the cliffs, which can be up to 30 metres high, to reach the feeding grounds.
Even if the offspring have a much easier time getting to food in human care, natural breeding is not a matter of course here. At Chemnitz Zoo, natural breeding succeeds very reliably every year. The zoo therefore makes an important contribution to the conservation of this species in zoological institutions.
Incidentally, white-fronted geese are winter guests in Germany. At the end of August, the geese in the wild begin to leave their Arctic breeding grounds. They take up their winter quarters on the British Isles and on the German-Dutch North Sea coast.
Tropical house and farm open again
With the easing of the latest corona protection regulations, some adjustments can also be made at the zoo. From Thursday, 11 June, the tropical house and the farm, including the petting enclosure, will be open to visitors again. Both buildings are integrated into the circular route. Of course, some hygiene rules must also be observed here. Both buildings can only be accessed from one side; you walk through them as a one-way street. Wearing a face mask is mandatory in the buildings. The same applies to the ticket office building in the zoo. In addition, the minimum distance of 1.5 metres must be maintained throughout the zoo.
In order to avoid large gatherings of people, the automatic feeders will remain out of service. A general feeding ban will therefore continue to apply for all visitors to the entire zoo.
Opening hours in summer
Zoo: 9 am to 7 pm, last admission 6 pm
Game enclosure: 8 am to 6 pm, last admission 5 pm
The attached photos are provided free of charge.
- Western Caucasian ibex (Photo: Jan Klösters)
- White-fronted goose (Photo: Sophie Hohaus)