Zoo babies herald the start of spring
SPRING has sprung at the Darling Downs Zoo with an influx of new additions to the family.
The zoo has five new members after the birth of two baby Indian blackbucks, a rhesus macaque monkeys and two baby baboons.
The new births have made it an exciting time with zoo keepers doing their best to keep the young ones happy and healthy.
Darling Downs Zoo director Steve Robinson said the new babies were a positive sign for the zoo.
"These new babies are really good for the zoo because it means the animals are healthy and happy living here," Mr Robinson said.
"Baboon numbers in Australia and New Zealand are low so these new babies will hopefully be able to be paired off when they get older. We also have another macaque monkey on the way so there is plenty happening here."
The Indian blackbucks are an antelope species and are beginning to run with the herd. During the first week after their birth, the blackbuck mothers hide the babies in the long grass. However, now they are out causing mischief with their elders.
The macaque monkey baby was born last week and is settling in well with mum, dad and three sisters.
The zoo is especially proud of its hamadryas baboon births. The Darling Downs Zoo imported two female baboons from Warsaw Zoo in Poland to provide unrelated bloodlines for male baboon Rameses.
Rameses and the Polish girls have now rewarded the zoo with two beautiful babies.
