• Switzerland edition

Zurich Zoo celebrates new births

Published: 12 Jul 2012 11:54 GMT+02:00 | Print version
Updated: 12 Jul 2012 10:38 GMT+02:00

Zurich Zoo presented its latest additions on Wednesday, including a baby snow leopard, a rare white owlet, and six baby coatis.

The snow leopard cub was born at the end of April and has been named Mohan. It is the fifth cub to have been born at the Zurich Zoo. The cub’s father, named Villy, has been assisting in the raising, a phenomenon rarely seen in the wild due to the animal’s solitary nature, news site NZZ Online reported.

He has had the cub between his paws and been licking him clean, while mother Dshamilja, originally from Kazakhstan, looked on. The cub is very lively and interested in its environment, the zoo reported.

(Photo: Zoo Zurich, Corinne Invernizzi)

Six baby coatis have also been born to two mothers. The animals have only recently been united together in one family, having started off their lives in separate boxes until the young were mobile. The group was able to expand thanks to the introduction of a male to the group last autumn.

Coatis are also known as Brazilian Aardvarks, and are members of the racoon family. The babies, which were all born in April, will be suckled for approximately four months, and will reach sexual maturity at two years old.

The arrival of three Great Grey owlets, one of the largest species of owl in the world, has also been celebrated. To the zookeepers’ amazement, one of the chicks was born albino – the birth of an albino owl chick in captivity has never before been recorded. It is unclear whether the chick will retain its snowy white down as it proceeds into adulthood.

(Photo: Zoo Zurich, Corinne Invernizzi)

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Swiss lose to Swedes in world ice hockey final
Members of the Swiss team celebrating during earlier win against Sweden. Photo: AFP

Swiss lose to Swedes in world ice hockey final

After going undefeated throughout the world ice hockey championship tournament, Switzerland finally succumbed to home town favorite Sweden in the final, losing 5-1 in Stockholm on Sunday. READ () »

Swiss to face Sweden in world ice hockey final

Switzerland will play hosts Sweden in the final of the world ice hockey championships on Sunday after each side registered a 3-0 semi-final victory over the United States and Finland respectively. READ () »

Thieves pinch Swiss jewels from Cannes
US actress Eva Longoria poses on Friday at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. Photo: AFP

Thieves pinch Swiss jewels from Cannes

Jewellery worth more than $1 million made by Swiss luxury watchmaker and jeweller Chopard and due to be loaned to stars walking the red carpet at the Cannes film festival were stolen from a hotel, French police said on Friday. READ () »

Chinese premier set to visit Switzerland
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Photo: AFP

Chinese premier set to visit Switzerland

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang embarks this weekend on his first foreign trip since taking office, with a stop in Switzerland on the itinerary and free trade talks between the two countries close to completion. READ () »

Sally Ann band bows out of Eurovision contest
The former Salvation Army band, Takasa, shorn of their uniforms. Photo:Eurovision

Sally Ann band bows out of Eurovision contest

The Salvation Army band carrying Switzerland’s hopes into the Eurovision Song Contest was vanquished on Thursday night in Malmö, Sweden. READ () »

Over a third of Geneva workers live elsewhere
Photo: Romano

Over a third of Geneva workers live elsewhere

More than a third of Geneva’s active working population lives outside the canton, with the majority residing in neighbouring France and the rest largely in the canton of Vaud, according to a report issued on Thursday. READ () »

Cycling union's head wins Swiss backing
World Cycling Centre in Aigle, canton of Vaud, home to the UCI. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Cycling union's head wins Swiss backing

International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid can count on the support of the Swiss federation in his bid for re-election, the sport's global governing body said on Thursday. READ () »

Swiss advance to world hockey semifinals
Swiss goalie Martin Gerber prepares to celebrate victory with team-mates. Photo: Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images

Swiss advance to world hockey semifinals

Switzerland headed to the world ice hockey championship semifinals after a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic on Thursday in Stockholm. READ () »

Chairman purged from Glencore Xstrata board
John Bond, just one of several former Xtrata executives sacked from Glencore Xstrata board. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Chairman purged from Glencore Xstrata board

The chairman of newborn mining and commodities giant Glencore Xstrata, John Bond, was on Thursday axed by its annual general meeting in Zug, just weeks after the Swiss-based group was created via a merger of two key players. READ () »

Kenyan nominated to head UN trade body

Kenyan nominated to head UN trade body

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has nominated former Kenyan minister and member of parliament Mukhisa Kituyi to lead the UN's Geneva-based trade and development body when the current chief steps down at the end of August. READ () »

Highlights
Furniture Leasing Corporation
Henrik Trygg/imagebank.swede.se
Latest news from The Local in Sweden

More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no