Leipzig Zoo: Dramatic Pudu birth – zookeepers worried!

Leipzig Zoo: Dramatic Pudu birth – zookeepers worried!

There is currently a lot of exciting news from the animal world at Leipzig Zoo. The offspring of various animal species in particular creates excitement and joy among visitors and employees. After two years, rhea rooster “Hannibal” has finally had offspring, which is a reason to celebrate for the inseparable father duo of rheas. The zookeepers can look forward to further hopes for offspring, but nothing has been made yet with the Amur leopards, especially in the case of Kitan.

Another highlight at the zoo is the pregnancy of the female pudu “Penelope”. This was only noticed late, and when labor began, there was great excitement because it was the first Pudu birth at Leipzig Zoo. “We have never done anything like this before!” said animal keeper Janet Pambor, who is also aware of the risks of first births. After the contractions, however, it had to be stated that two-thirds of the cub was born, but was already dead. To better understand the incident, the zookeepers checked the weight of the cub.

The challenges of the lions

Another animal that has been causing a stir lately is the Kigali lioness. She killed her first litter in 2019 and also killed two cubs from the second litter in 2020. However, the lion father Majo has raised three remaining cubs. In 2021 there was finally a litter of four, while another cub, born in September 2022, had to be rescued after it was seriously injured. A cub born in January was euthanized because Kigali did not accept it. But now she gave birth to four new kittens on July 5th and is taking exemplary care of the offspring, which looks extremely well-fed.

The young lions are looked after by Kigali in the mother's room, which is not visible to the public. A team of biologists, veterinarians and animal keepers ensure the animals' well-being and coordinate all processes with the lions. The decisions about mating, feed amounts and daily management are not always easy and are made carefully.

Scientific networking and research

Leipzig Zoo is not only a place of joy and excitement, but also a center for scientific research. The Zoo Science Library lists publications from international journals and shows the important role that zoos and aquariums play in the global scientific network. Its goal is to transfer knowledge and promote nature and species protection. Employees not only conduct research on site, but also use data from the wildlife database Species360 ZIMS to expand international knowledge.

Conclusion: Leipzig Zoo remains a place of hope and challenges for zookeepers and visitors alike. With every new animal and every research success comes new responsibilities. So let’s see what the next few weeks will bring!