Prague Zoo has welcomed its first birth of the year: a West African sitatunga antelope. This New Year’s baby, born on January 1, is thriving and in perfect health. The arrival continues the zoo’s proud tradition of breeding this rare and fascinating species.
The newborn, a West African sitatunga antelope (Tragelaphus spekii), is the 442nd of its kind born at Prague Zoo, which has been successfully breeding this species since the 1960s. According to the zookeepers, the female calf is in excellent health and is nursing well under the care of her experienced mother.
Commonly referred to as the “mud antelope,” sitatungas are well-adapted to their swampy habitats. They are born with long, slender legs that help prevent them from sinking into soft ground. In the wild, sitatungas inhabit areas near rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and they instinctively retreat to shallow water for safety when threatened. Their hooves are uniquely adapted to spread out while walking, functioning like natural snowshoes to aid in navigating marshy terrain.
The West African sitatunga exhibits striking gender differences: females are smaller, rust-colored, and hornless, while males are larger, brownish-gray, and adorned with spiral horns and a long mane.
Visitors to Prague Zoo can usually observe this remarkable species in the ‘Water World’ exhibit in the lower part of the zoo. However, during the cold winter months, the warmth-loving sitatungas are kept indoors. Come spring, visitors will not only have the chance to meet the New Year’s baby but also see three additional females born over the past three weeks.
Prague Zoo (Zoologická zahrada hl. m. Prahy)
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