Zoo births in the merry month of May

Visitors can meet the first zoo births of the year like the offspringof  nyalas, Murnau-Werdenfels cattle and Dahomey dwarf cattle.

Spring is in full bloom at Hellabrunn Zoo! Visitors can not only discover the fresh green of the Isar Meadows, but also meet the first zoo births of the year. Among the first to produce offspring are the nyalas, Murnau-Werdenfels cattle and Dahomey dwarf cattle. Watching adorable calves romping around in their sunny outdoor enclosures is a real springtime pleasure. With the latest baby boom at Hellabrunn Zoo, there are many new additions to discover, including among the nyalas, where two calves were born in the last few weeks.

Nyalas are an antelope species native to Southeast Africa. They can be easily recognised by their striking shaggy brownish or slate grey coat with white vertical stripes. Males are markedly different in appearance to females: they are substantially larger, darker in colour, and unlike females have long, spiral horns.

In 2023, Hellabrunn Zoo welcomed the arrival of an adult male nyala as part of the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP), and this year he has had his first offspring. Another antelope species at the zoo, the blackbuck, which is native to India and Nepal, has already produced several young.

Antelopes are a diverse group within the bovidae family and can be found predominantly in Africa and parts of Asia. They are adapted to live in a wide range of habitats - from open savannahs to dense forests - and are characterised by their speed and pronounced flight behaviour. Hellabrunn Zoo is currently home to five antelope species: nyala, blackbuck, dama gazelle, nilgai, and greater kudu.

There are also newborns in zoo's Mühlendorf village: healthy calves were born to both the Dahomey dwarf cattle and the Murnau-Werdenfels cattle. The latter is among the heritage breeds native to Bavaria that are threatened with extinction. Hellabrunn Zoo is actively committed to preserving this rare breed through controlled breeding programmes. The Dahomey dwarf cattle is considered the smallest cattle breed in the world and is known for its robustness.

For the Humboldt penguins, the breeding season is still in full swing: several pairs have laid eggs and are currently nesting. The first chicks have already hatched, and more are expected in the coming days. As is typical for this species, both parents take turns caring for their young.

"Spring is truly a special time of year at Hellabrunn! Everything is lush green, the animals enjoy the warm sunshine, and the new offspring offer visitors the opportunity to observe the raising of the young up close," said zoo director Rasem Baban.