The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium expanded its animal family over the weekend with the birth of a male dama gazelle and a bonobo whose sex is still unknown.
This marks the 14th bonobo born at the Zoo, and fourth baby for mother “Ana Neema”. The first bonobos arrived at the zoo in 1990 as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for this endangered ape. There are currently 16 bonobos in residence at the Columbus Zoo.
The Dama gazelle is critically endangered and also the rarest of all gazelles. This baby is the third calf for mother, Layla.
The Heart of Africa exhibit will close for the season on November 2, and the newborn calf is not expected to be available for public viewing until the spring.
On June 20, 2014, the Zoo also welcomed Red Panda triplets, two males and a female. They are likely to be on view this fall. Four adult pandas currently reside at the Zoo.
In August of this year, the Wilds celebrated the birth of a greater one-horned Asian rhinoceros, also known as an Indian rhino.
Photos courtesy Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and the Wilds. Photo credits: Grahm S. Jones for Columbus Zoo and Jeff Hammer for The Wilds, Columbus Zoo Facebook page for Red Panda.
For more information, visit ColumbusZoo.org.