Zoo earns its stripes as it welcomes Arthur the bongo
ZOO workers are celebrating the birth of a mountain bongo calf called Arthur.
He is one of several babies from critically endangered species welcomed this summer as part of a conservation programme.
Other new arrivals at Marwell Zoo include a black-and-white ruffed lemur baby.two blesbok calves and a Sclater’s crowned pigeon chick have also resulted from the breeding programme at the 140-acre site near Winchester, Hampshire.
Arthur, who has been described as “strong and lively”, was born to first-time parents Ituri and Canela last month. He is the second calf to be born at the zoo during the past decade.
Mountain bongos, a type of antelope with white stripes and big ears, have been decimated by hunting and habitat loss.
There are fewer than 100 left in the wild in mountain regions of Kenya.
The black-and-white ruffed lemur has been named Zephyr and was born to parents Breeze and Shorty during the lockdown.this type of lemur is found in Madagascar and has also suffered from hunting and habitat loss.
Blesboks are indigenous to the open grassland of South Africa and, while not as threatened as Arthur and Zephyr, the species has suffered a massive decline in numbers due to over-hunting.
Sclater’s crowned pigeons live in the southern forests of New Guinea and are classed as a near-threatened species. They have bright red eyes.
Ian Goodwin, the zoo’s animal collection manager, said: “These are incredibly important births, not just for us as a zoo but for the conservation of the species. “Without action, we are on the brink of losing many of these species for ever.to have these animals born within weeks of each other is fantastic.we’ve reopened so guests can join us and watch their development.”
● Visitors to the zoo must book online first by going to marwell.org.uk