"Weighing just 50 kilograms and as healthy as can be," is how veterinarianReinhard Pichler describesthe bison calf"Nemo"in Herberstein. Usually, the bison calves in a herd are born more or less at the same time. "That strengthens the herd, because several mothers can work together to raise them right away," the zoological director in Herberstein adds. The herd has thus grown to a size of 8 animals, with two more calves expected to be born this coming weekend.

Births usually proceed without complications; the bison calves are on their feet just a few minutes later and seek out their mother’s udder. The gestation period for bison is 42 weeks.

“There will be more new arrivals in Herberstein among the duikers and the tapir,” says Managing Director Doris Wolkner Steinberger happily: “This proves to us that our animal guests feel at home here and have optimal living conditions.”