Reinforcement for the smallest wild cattle in the zoo
Last week, two lowland anaas from Gdansk Zoo came to Chemnitz Zoo. The two bulls "Belik" and "Darek" belong to the smallest species of wild cattle still in existence today. Even though Chemnitz Zoo currently only keeps the species as a non-breeding animal, the two new additions are an important step for the conservation breeding programme for anoas. What's more, the Chemnitz anoa enclosure is now more lively and the aged anoa cow "Natascha" has company of the same species again.
The Chemnitz Zoo 2030+ masterplan no longer envisages keeping anoas. But until the rebuild on the Huftierberg takes place, the zoo is using its existing enclosures to help the international zoo community in its efforts to save this beautiful and rare cattle species.
Anoas are native to the island of Sulawesi and come in two species. In addition to the lowland anoas, there are also the mountain anoas, which are rarely kept in European zoos. Both sexes of the anoas have horns pointing backwards, which are mainly used for intra-species ritual fights, but can also be dangerous to other creatures.
Like all animal species with a small distribution area, anoas are particularly affected by human intervention in nature and are therefore highly endangered. Habitat loss and hunting are particularly detrimental to the species. The population in the wild is still estimated at around 2500 animals
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