Youngsters to watch at the zoo
Even though the breeding season in temperate latitudes is long over, there are still young animals to observe in a zoo, because some animals, such as our pets, give birth all year round.
The Bennett's kangaroos have also had offspring. The male kangaroo can often be seen outside its mother's pouch, but still likes to go there in case of danger or for a midday nap.
The exact time of birth is unknown. Bennett's kangaroos are born after a gestation period of around 30 days and weighing less than 1 gram. The tiny kangaroo then crawls into the pouch on its own, sucks on a teat and spends the next few months there. Only when movements are recognisable in the pouch is it clear that there are offspring. At the age of four to five months, the young stick their heads out of the pouch for the first time and leave it completely at nine months.
A visit to the meerkats is also worthwhile. The four-headed offspring from June are extremely lively and keep the whole group busy, which consists of three adult animals and the four older siblings born in January. It is very important for them to gain experience in dealing with the little ones and they support the adults in rearing them.
And in mid-August, a male foal was born to the domestic donkeys. It is the first foal for its mother, who came from Cottbus Zoo three years ago.