"Developing Splendidly": A Visit to Schönbrunn's First Kirk's Dik-dik Offspring
December 21, 2024: The life of a small Kirk's dik-dik begins in Vienna. The birth of the 290-gram female proceeds without complications, even though it was doubted: "Everyone thought it was a joke," recalls Zoological Department Head Folko Balfanz of the special day. Until then, the Kirk's dik-diks had not given the zoo any offspring - even though the first of them had been introduced to the zoo back in 2014. After the death of the then male, the breeding group was changed, and the current parents have been together in Schönbrunn for two years.
A Lot of Attention for Schönbrunn's Kirk's Dik-dik
The end of the offspring-less period was not kept from the public. The newborn made its way through the media, and Balfanz can now report a "huge crowd in front of this small window" behind which the new star is housed. In terms of size, the two-month-old animal is now similar to its father and mother. "It is growing and thriving splendidly," says the 47-year-old about the young female, which he describes as "adorable," "exciting," and "interesting." "I believe it feels very comfortable and is relatively strong in character." The antelope is certainly not too shy: During a local inspection on Tuesday, it cautiously ventured into the front part of the enclosure to the feeding bowl.
The question of the newcomer’s main activity is not so easily answered. "It depends a bit on the time," explains Balfanz. However, there are not only feeding times and rest periods - but also foraging. In the future, the zoo might have to take care of more Kirk's dik-diks. There is still a breeding mandate for the zoo, Balfanz explains: "We can continue to hope for young animals."
(BP/Red)
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