Whipsnade Zoo welcomes rare Camel birth
Baby Sally is the first camel born at the conservation zoo in 8 years!
Celebrations are in full swing at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, after a fluffy camel calf named Sally was born to 12-year-old mum Izzy and four-year-old dad Oakley - marking the first birth of its kind at the zoo in eight years.
Sally was born in the early hours of April 11 after a 13-month pregnancy, with zookeepers describing it as a significant moment.
George Spooner, a keeper at Whipsnade, remarked
“Despite their reputation for being grumpy, camels are actually very patient, nurturing parents, and it’s been great for us to see first-time mum Izzy attentively caring for her new-born daughter.”
Sally wasted no time in getting acquainted with her new environment, displaying her determination by beginning to walk within hours of her birth, albeit a bit wobbly.
George further explained, “Sally has very long, gangly legs which she’s still getting to grips with. Visitors can spot her following her Mum and Dad around her vast paddock, getting to know her family.”
The domestic Bactrian camels at Whipsnade Zoo serve as representatives for their critically endangered wild counterparts in Mongolia and China.
According to George, "There are only 950 wild camels left in the deserts of Mongolia and China today, due to hunting, water scarcity, and predation by the grey wolf.”
ZSL, the conservation charity overseeing Whipsnade Zoo, is actively engaged in safeguarding Mongolia’s wildlife, including the endangered wild camels inhabiting the Gobi Desert.
George emphasized, “ZSL is closely involved in the wild camel project, working with conservation partners to contribute towards the scientific evidence which will inform a management plan for these critically endangered animals.”
Visitors to Whipsnade Zoo can now observe baby Sally and the herd of camels along the Passage Through Asia, where they can witness first-hand the importance of conservation efforts.