The Patter of Tiny Hooves

Keepers at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park near Ashford were delighted to announce two new arrivals to their herds this month - a baby waterbuck and a baby bison were born within a couple of days of each other.

Bob Savill - Head Hoofstock Keeper said: ‘It's fantastic to have two new additions to these respective herds. Both of them are doing well and will definitely be on view over the October half term.'

The Defassa waterbuck is a large robust antelope with a long-haired, often shaggy brown/grey coat. Despite its name the Waterbuck is not really aquatic but often takes refuge from predators in water and swamps.

Waterbuck give birth to a single calf after a gestation period of 9 months. The calves may be born at any time of year, but calving peaks occur in the summer.

Port Lympne is home to a herd of ten European bison or Wisent as they are sometimes known. This species was once widespread throughout Europe and parts of Northern Asia but by 1900 hunting for skins, horns and sport had driven them to virtual extinction in the wild. With the onset of World War I and the Russian Revolution the last two remaining herds were wiped out.

Luckily some of the species survived in zoos and thanks to a captive breeding programme there are more than 3000 alive today and several herds have been established in semi - wild conditions in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Bob said: ‘It's a credit to captive breeding programmes like ours when herds can be introduced to protected areas - It proves how important these births are for the continuation of this species and others.'

Visitors to Port Lympne Wild Animal Park can watch these two babies develop over the next few weeks and months when they take advantage of the passport offer where for the price of a standard entry fee they can return to the park an unlimited amount of times for free over a 12 month period.

Posted 03/11/2011