Tierpark Chemnitz: New offspring among the alpacas
On 2 October, the animal keepers at Chemnitz Zoo discovered a cria - the name given to young alpacas in South America. The parents of the female cub are mare Uschi and father Jacob. At the beginning of August, the alpaca mare Rafaela had already caused a happy surprise with a female foal at the South American enclosure of Chemnitz Zoo. The alpaca herd at the zoo now comprises a total of six animals.
Alpacas are not bound to fixed mating times and can have young all year round. The gestation period lasts just over eleven months. A single cub is usually born, which is suckled by its mother for six to eight months. This is mum Uschi's eighth offspring since she has lived at Chemnitz Zoo since 2005.
At the moment, the youngest alpaca mare can easily be seen exploring the enclosure - usually accompanied by her half-sister - and cautiously approaching her fellow alpacas. The alpacas at Chemnitz Zoo share the enclosure with the nandus all year round and also with the capybaras in the summer months.
Opening hours in October:
Zoo: 9 am to 5 pm, last admission 4 pm
Game enclosure: 8 am to 5 pm, last admission 4 pm