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| Baby Boom on UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve! - 29-Nov-07 |
29th November 2007
For Immediate Release
Baby Boom on UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve!
Colchester Zoo is delighted to report a baby boom on its Private Nature Reserve, UmPhafa in South Africa. The reserve, operated by its charity Action for the Wild and situated approximately 20 km southwest of Ladysmith in KwaZulu Natal South Africa has seen the birth of its fifth baby giraffe this year, seven Blesbok lambs, a zebra foal and a number of Impala lambs.
At the end of October, the reserve celebrated as the fifth giraffe calf to be born onto the reserve since their release last year, arrived. The park rangers have decided to call the baby Marsha as her horns stick out slightly at odd angles making her look like a Martian!
There has also been great success with the Blesboks this year as seven Blesbok lambs were born into the herd of 15 individuals that live at the top of UmPhafa Mountain. The lambs have just turned three weeks old and it is very much hoped that they will all survive, as unfortunately last year they were all predated on by Black-backed Jackals. It is certainly hoped that the Blesbok have more luck this year and as they have now been on the reserve over a year, it is thought that they should be more settled and can avoid predation.
There has also been great joy with the birth of a zebra foal. In total, 38 zebras were released onto the reserve in September 2006 and May of this year so hopefully more mares will give birth soon.
The most successful breeders this year though have been the Impala. Colchester Zoo's director, Anthony Tropeano, and Conservation Officer, Rebecca Perry, recently returned from a week long trip to the reserve, and on arrival there were four impala lambs near to the lodge and by the time they left a week later, there were 11 babies in just one group alone! The impala lambs were also popping up in other groups all over the reserve. On the 22nd November, Doreen and Hannes, the UmPhafa Project Coordinators, sadly found a dead Impala ewe. Unfortunately she had a lamb with her, which Doreen and Hannes have started to hand rear. The death of its mother remains a mystery but the lamb looks fine despite being a very hungry little lamb! Doreen and Hannes have started to hand feed it a milk solution and, as there are no major predators on UmPhafa, this lamb will hopefully survive.
Anthony Tropeano and Rebecca Perry visited UmPhafa to look into the possibilities of a rhino release in the near future. Reserve manager, Mike Wood, is currently working to electrify the existing fencing around Elworthy farm and once this is complete we will be in a position to look to release rhinos onto the reserve. Anthony and Rebecca had numerous meetings whilst on the reserve with Richard Emslie, Scientific Officer of the African Specialist Rhino Group, Keryn Adcock, a habitat / nutrition specialist currently working on a black rhino nutrition project and Dave and Erica Robertson from the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Game Reserve. These meetings were incredibly helpful, enabling them to increase their knowledge of rhino release protocol, monitoring and security. The next translocation season starts in May 2008 and there is potential, all being well with funding and fencing, to release rhinos onto the reserve in 2008.
Colchester Zoo has an online blog for visitors to keep up to date under the Latest News at www.umphafa.com If you would like to help support the release of this majestic endangered species then there is a donations page also at this address.
ENDS
For further information or images please contact Alex Downing, Business Development Director on 01206 331292 ext 226.
Colchester Zoo is a member of BIAZA. BIAZA is the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. They are the professional body representing the best zoos and aquariums in Britain and Ireland. Member Collections pride themselves on their excellent animal welfare, education and conservation work. BIAZA supports them in their work and helps promote the work of good zoos and aquariums.
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