2 days ago
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Vizag announces birth of red necked wallaby, mouse deer
Visakhapatnam: The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in the port city announced the birth of a Red-Necked Wallaby and a Mouse Deer. The authorities say that Red-Necked Wallabies have a breeding season from December to May, though it can occur year-round in favourable conditions.
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Females give birth to a single joey after a gestation period of about 30 days. The newborn joey is tiny and immediately crawls into its mother's pouch, where it will continue to develop and nurse for around seven months. After leaving the pouch, the joey continues to suckle for several more months until it is fully weaned at about 12 months old.
The Mouse Deer is the smallest deer species amongst the deer family. It is a rare species to spot in the wild because of its shy and cryptic nature.
The Mouse Deer, or Indian Chevrotain, plays a major role in the forest ecosystem as a seed disperser and forms important prey for many small and large carnivores. Though it is commonly found in most forested areas, it is listed in Schedule I and considered endangered in the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) due to frequent hunting for its bushmeat.
"This achievement is a result of our dedicated team's hard work and expertise in animal care and breeding programmes. The zoo continues to focus on conservation breeding programmes and wildlife protection, providing a safe and naturalistic habitat for its animals' welfare," the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park curator, G Mangamma, said.
