Monarto Zoo’s nine eland calves continue to thrive amid storm deluge

MONARTO seems far removed from Africa’s savanna following this week’s deluge but nine baby antelope are managing to thrive in their unusually soggy surroundings.

Eight of the nine eland calves together at Monarto Zoo. Picture: Geoff Brooks

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MONARTO seems far removed from Africa’s savanna following this week’s deluge but nine baby antelope are managing to thrive in their unusually soggy surroundings.

The Eland antelope calves are the newest addition to the Monarto Zoo family, all born at the zoo over the past few weeks.

Monarto Zoo keeper Vaughan Wilson said the zoo was expecting about 12 calves this year to join their herd of 20.

Mr Wilson said the summer births were part of an Australia-wide breeding program.

“They’re doing remarkably well this year,” he said.

“They are all growing quite rapidly.

“It hasn’t been too hot so hopefully they survive well in the weather.”

In 2015 only four calves survived due to hot conditions.

But Mr Wilson said this year the calves’ chance of survival was improved and some were already three weeks old.

Once born, a female Eland with a young calf spends the first week hiding in grass or bushes.

“It’s only after a week or two old they join the other babies in a creche,” Mr Wilson said.

“They basically just wonder around with the herd ... but those eight babies stay together.”

During the erratic weather the Elands had shelter areas where they the could seek relief.

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“They normally do, do better in the hot weather though than in cold weather — which is why we do breed them, or get them to have calves over summer,” Mr Wilson said.

The Eland antelope calves have an even gender split and will not be named.

Originally published as Monarto Zoo’s nine eland calves continue to thrive amid storm deluge