yay.ie

There’s nothing wrong with a bit of squee (as Broadsheet.ie will tell you) and I’m as much a sucker for it as the next person.

So a Press Release entitled “Dublin Zoo Welcomes Summer Babies” was top of my list to post about today.

Here’s the press release in full – with photos:

May was a fruitful month for Dublin Zoo as they welcomed a host of new arrivals in the World of Primates, the Kaziranga Forest Trail and the Family Farm.

Sulawesi Crested Macaque

The Sulawesi Crested Macaque Island celebrated yet another addition to their troop. Since Sumo the alpha male arrived in 2009 the group has welcomed five youngsters with the most recent addition born last month (May).

Ciaran McMahon, team leader of the macaques said, “Macaques are an endangered species and it is a real accomplishment that our troop is growing so fast. We have a cohesive group of twelve macaques who can regularly be seen grooming and spending time with each other.

He added, “Male macaques are not monogamous primates and Sumo is enjoying great success with his six breeding females. We hope to welcome more new arrivals throughout the year.”

Blackbuck

Over in the Kaziranga Forest Trail blackbuck parents Honey and Basil welcomed their first newborn and the first ever newborn blackbuck to Dublin Zoo. Male bucks are a distinctive black and white with long twisted horns; while females are fawn coloured with no horns. Contrary to what their name suggests the young female calf is a light fawn shade.

Team leader Ciaran McMahon, said, “We are thrilled with the arrival of the first blackbuck calf in Dublin Zoo. We hope to grow the herd to approx seven or eight and the new calf is a great start. The youngster is fit and nimble but still quite shy; however she can be seen bouncing around the elephant habitat between 1.30pm and 3pm every day.”

A blackbuck is a species of the antelope and one of the fastest terrestrial animals in the world reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h. In India, their country of origin, blackbucks live side by side with elephants and in Dublin Zoo the blackbucks also co-habit with the herd of Asian elephants in the Kaziranga Forest Trail. They can sometimes be seen on the elephant cam on Dublinzoo.ie.

Tamworth Piglets

In the Family Farm, Ginger the Tamworth pig welcomed nine piglets, five males and four females.

Eddie O’Brien, team leader of the Family Farm said, “The piglets are thriving and full of beans.

During the first couple of weeks we kept a close eye on the one little runt of the pack as he was smaller and weaker than the others.

There was no need to worry as we soon realised he is equally as fit and able as the rest of his siblings and never he misses a meal.”

You’ll find Dublin Zoo online at www.facebook.com/dublinzoo, www.dublinzoo.ie and www.thefamilyfarm.ie.

Thanks to Kelley in Pembroke Communications who sent over the photos. Squee!