Media release
7 October 2009

Nyala arrive at Wellington Zoo

The giraffe at Wellington Zoo are soon to share their enclosure with playful, delicately beautiful new arrivals from South Africa.

Three nyala—a species of antelope--will join the giraffe, ostrich, blackbuck and guinea fowl in the African Savannah this Friday.

Herbivore team leader Elise Kovac says that the new arrivals are sure to charm.

“We have one male and two females who are about nine months old. They are very playful, have big black eyes, distinctive red hair and stunning white strips—they are so beautiful.

“Because we are introducing them to so many things, we do it slowly, in a controlled environment. We start by exposing them to different sounds, so they can get use to things such as the other animals, keepers and visitors.”

“Next we give them visual contact, they can see and hear everything around them, and then we prepare them for physical interaction, where they have controlled contact with other animals in the African Savannah. We are really excited about putting them into the African Savannah, the giraffe have been very curious; they have had their heads pushed right up to the gate, trying to sneak-a-peak.”

Elise and the General Manager of Operations, Mauritz Basson, travelled to South Africa in August to collect the animals from Rietkuil--Johannesburg Zoo’s farm in the Free State—and to ensure their safe transfer and arrival.

The nyala at Wellington Zoo will be part of a regional zoo breeding programme.

ENDS

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