Feeding time
Friday 19 March 2004
Read on to find out how Whipsnade keepers are helping to feed one of the Park's new additions...
One of the females of the herd successfully gave birth to a male calf five weeks ago, however, despite being an excellent mother, she just didn't have enough milk to suckle him.
The Park's keepers stepped in to help and they are now 'job sharing' the calf's care by providing three bottle-fed meals a day. After each meal, Ronan, as he is now known, returns to his mother to be cleaned and cared for.
'They say that parenting is all about team work and this partnership is working well,' says David Field Curator of Mammals for the Park. "The keepers ensure that the calf gets enough nourishment but the bond with his mother is still maintained which will help him to be integrated into the herd."
Roan Antelope are one of the largest African antelope. They have long, tufted ears, backward-curving horns and an erect mane. They are found across Africa, but their numbers are declining rapidly due to poaching and habitat loss.
