Toronto Zoo welcomes adorable baby camel
Posted May 5, 2023 4:31 pm.
Last Updated May 5, 2023 4:37 pm.
Spring has sprung at the Toronto Zoo with the arrival of a baby camel.
Suria, an eight-year-old Bactrian camel, gave birth to a female calf on Thursday.
A zoo spokesperson said it’s Suria’s second calf, and the initial stages of nursing have been challenging. As such, the zoo will implement sound strategies to ensure a positive outcome for the mother and calf.
“We are thrilled to welcome this little one to your Toronto Zoo,” said Dolf DeJong, CEO of the Toronto Zoo.
“Our mission is to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. Some guests were fortunate enough to watch Suria give birth right there in the habitat. The experience of witnessing a life beginning is one they will likely never forget.”
A Bactrian camel calf typically stays with its mother for three to five years until it reaches sexual maturity.
The zoo says the first 30 days are critical, and staff will closely monitor the mom and baby. The calf’s dad, named Zip — a seven-year-old Bactrian — will remain separated in another habitat area.
The Bactrian camel stands out from other members of the species because it has two humps.
Wild Bactrian camels are critically endangered, with a population of fewer than 1,100 in the Gobi desert of Mongolia.
