Press Releases
Minnesota Zoo Welcomes Four New Additions
Big horses, second camel calf, and newborn snow monkey make debut
Apple Valley, MINN – June 30, 2010: A few new animal faces, including two big Percheron horses, a second camel calf, and a newborn snow monkey have popped up at the Minnesota Zoo and are making their public debut.
Percheron Horses
The Wells Fargo Family Farm at the Minnesota Zoo is ten years old, and as part of its celebration, has welcomed two big additions. Half-brother Percheron horses “Bo” and “Luke” – ages 4 and 5 – stand 18 hands-high and weigh approximately 1,800 pounds each. They will eventually be mixed with the popular duo “Prince” and “Duke,” American Cream draft horses that have been at the Farm since it opened in 2000. The new horses will be used to pull trams at the Farm every day for a few hours, or can be seen out in the horse pasture. The Minnesota Zoo purchased the horses from an Amish farmer in southeastern Minnesota.
Bactrian Camel Calf
A second Bactrian camel calf this season is now on exhibit. Born May 23 weighing approximately 100 pounds, the male calf has been kept off-exhibit with his mother to ensure that he was healthy and gaining weight. Camels usually gain approximately two pounds per day, and will reach adult size (1600–1800 pounds and eight feet tall) in 3-4 years. The calf joins his half-brother, born March 4, on exhibit. Gestation periods for Bactrian camels are just over one year. The calf will nurse for a full year, will be independent at age four, and fully mature at age five.
Snow Monkey Infant
The Minnesota Zoo is excited to announce the birth of an endangered snow monkey, adding one more to its popular exhibit. Born June 26, this is the seventh snow monkey born at the Zoo since 2004. Snow monkeys can only be seen at nine other accredited zoos in the United States. Although its mother has been keeping it very close, the infant is just starting to become more visible to the public. The gender of the baby is not yet known.
The Minnesota Zoo is located in Apple Valley, just minutes south of Mall of America. For more information, call 952.431.9500 or visit mnzoo.org. The Minnesota Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
