18th
Zoo welcomes babies from recently aquired species
The Columbus Zoo is experiencing an unusual kind of baby boom this summer.
Though the zoo is used to having new additions each season, some of the animals born at the zoo this are are babies that are the first of their kinds to be born there.
A tufted deer, a silvered leaf monkey, a black-and-white colobus monkey and two flamingos are new additions to the Columbus Zoo family.
Last year, the zoo opened a new exhibit known as Asia Quest. The region has been expand this month after the births of the tufted deer and the silvered leaf monkey.
Because both of the animal species are new to the zoo, this is the first time the zoo has welcomed babies of the two species.
Tufted deer fawns are born the same color as adults, but each fawn also has a row of white spots along each side of it’s spine. The spots will fad as the fawn gets older.
The baby will be dependent up its mother for about six months, zoo officials said.
Baby silvered leaf monkeys are born with orange fur and white skin. Within a few days of its birth, the monkey’s skin will turn black, and in three to five months the monkey’s fur will change to its adult color.
The two flamingos each hatched 14 days apart, each from a different set of parents.
“The Columbus Zoo hasn’t had a flamingo hatch in about 15 years,” said Don Wintsel, assistant director of the living collections for the zoo.
Flamingos are hatched with grayish-brown color and gain their recognizable bright pink color over time. Full color will be shown when the chicks are about 3 to 4 years old.
On July 18, the zoo welcomed a black-and-white colobus monkey as it’s newest addition.
Colobus monkeys are usually found living high in the tree canopies of heavily forested areas. The baby monkeys are born with a white color, which will gradually change into a black-and-white pattern as the monkey matures.
Unlike many animal species, baby colobus monkeys are cared for by not only their own mothers, but by other females in their monkey troop.
This is an exciting time for the zoo, said Wintsel.
“Though each season, we have different animal births; this year we have many unusual animals,” he said. “However, the zoo, obviously, tires to let the animals have a natural birth, but we have some precautions we take for each species.”
The newest members of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium are accepting visitors daily.
The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.n. daily through Sept 3. The zoo will stay open until 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 22. Admission prices are $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 2 to 11, $8 for senior citizens and free to children under 2.
For more information, visit the Columbus Zoo Web site at columbuszoo.org.
