Everyone is overjoyed about Django, the unexpected baby wildebeest. “We’re especially careful with first-time births, because inexperienced animal moms are sometimes overwhelmed by the situation,” explains Reinhard Pichler, veterinarian and zoological director of the Herberstein Animal Kingdom. But everything went well; Mom Julia never takes her eyes off the little one, and even the zebras, which live in the same enclosure as the wildebeests, have accepted the baby wildebeest.

Breeding among zoo animals isn’t always successful. It’s not only important that the animals “take a liking” to one another, but they also need a species-appropriate environment and a sense of security. In Herberstein, the animals find ideal conditions; this year alone, around 110 young animals have been born. There was a record number of births among the pygmy goats—the petting zoo has grown by 20 kids—and the macaw family is caring for three young birds for the first time.