ZooParc Overloon is experiencing a real baby boom. With three forest dogs, four Asian small-clawed otters and three African penguins, the baby counter is at ten. The zoo is very happy with the births, because these animals are vulnerable or even threatened in the wild.
Especially the birth of the forest dogs, a predator species, ZooParc calls ‘very special’. It is the first time that little ones of this species have been born in the park. “In addition, these animals can only be seen in three places in the Netherlands,” says chief zookeeper Steven van den Heuvel.
The three young forest dogs are males and both mother Kima and the puppies are doing very well. The little ones are still in their indoor enclosure. Once it gets warmer, they will also explore their outdoor enclosure. Forest dogs are native to the wet and woodland areas of Central and South America.
Asian small-clawed otter
The Asian small-clawed otter lives in the wild in southern India and southern China. This mother and four young are also doing well. The little ones can already be seen outside regularly.
The African penguin originally lives in Southwest Africa. Three little ones have now hatched from their eggs in the zoo. “We are very happy with the birth of the penguins, because this species is endangered in the wild. This is because the habitat of the animals is disappearing due to, among other things, oil dumping at sea and overfishing,” says Van den Heuvel.