Picnicking with mara at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Saturday 3 March 2007
Pack up your picnic and head over to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo for the chance to relax in the sun with our free ranging mara.
© ZSL - Daniel Sprawson
When you visit ZSL Whipsnade Zoo one of the things that will grab your attention, apart from the beautiful rolling parkland, are the seven species of free roaming animals which have access to all of the Park’s 600 acres.
One of the most fascinating of these species is the strange looking mara, which looks like a cross between and hare and a small antelope. They even have hoof-like claws on their hind feet.
During the summer months the mara are busy looking after their latest babies having paired up in late winter and early spring. Each pair usually has two offspring which are minature replicas of the adults, but they grow at a surprising rate. Several pairs can easily be seen with their offspring in the white rhino paddock.
These Argentinean rodents graze on the paddocks and grasslands all year round, with added supplements of hay or animal feed.
