01/07/2009 06:49:00
A Cornwall zoo has had the honour of reporting the first black wildebeest calf born into the UK in several decades.
Newquay Zoo released photographs of the calf, which was born a week ago but so far has been kept hidden from the public. Now that it appears to be in good health, Newquay Zoo is cautiously revealing images of the new arrival, whose gender has so far been undetermined due to the protective natures of its parents.
The animal collections manager at the south-west England zoo, John Meek, told the BBC that the parent wildebeest Malaga and Lazar were brought to the UK in March to form part of Newquay Zoo's new African Savanna collection. They were originally situated in the Czech Republic at Zoo Dvur Kralove.
The calf is the first of its particular species to be born in the UK in decades. Mr Meek said: "The baby was up and about within 20 minutes and is doing extremely well."
The new arrival is one of a string of births taking place at the zoo recently. Just weeks ago, a litter of meerkats were born in the Cornwall zoo, adding four new animals to the enclosure. They are now part of the public display and spokeswoman Michelle Turton said: "They have great characters and are certainly a mischievous little bunch with lots of play fighting and rolling around."
The wildebeest calf is currently unnamed and is being severely guarded by its parents at the zoo, which is open daily from 9:30am to 6pm.
