Happy Holidays from yours truly, Pico! I have several new sitatunga friends at the Zoo. Read below to find out more!
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden is proud to boast the largest herd of sitatungas (Tragelaphus spekii) in the United States! This summer and fall, there was a population growth in the Zoo’s sitatunga collection due to our institutions successful breeding program. A total of seven sitatungas were born at the Zoo from late July through mid November, four being male and three female. These sitatunga babies all have the same father, but each have a different mother. The father was born on February 13, 2009 and came to Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden from the San Diego Safari Park, where he was born and hand reared. He is owned by the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. The herd is exhibited in the Zoo’s African Rift and can be viewed during all seasons.
According to Dr. Susan Lindsey, Animal Curator, “There are just a few institutions currently holding this species and even fewer with successful breeding programs. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden is making an extremely significant contribution to the conservation of this species of antelope. Our ability to breed this number of females and produce these precious calves is made possible by the large natural exhibit that we have in place. The calves are certain to have an important impact on the future of this species.”
Sitatungas are an African swamp-dwelling antelope and are called the most aquatic of all antelope species. The current 48 sitatungas in North America are managed by five participating Association of Zoos and Aquariums institutions. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden boasts a total of sixteen sitatungas at this time and contributed seven of the fourteen sitatunga births in 2011. We invite you to enjoy these animals on your next visit to our Zoo.
Mother and baby in their exhibit.
