Page 7 - Gateways 2018 Spring
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ARRIVAL Brookfield Zoo manages the studbook for
southern hairy-nosed wombats—the studbook
G’day, Adelaide documents the pedigree of each animal in the
population living at AZA-accredited institutions—
When making your list of animals you hope to and so we knew that 5-year-old Darryl would be a
encounter on your next trip to Brookfield Zoo, good match with 17-year-old Kambora, who was
consider the southern hairy-nosed wombats. born at San Diego Zoo and has been here since 2001.
These fuzzy creatures are undoubtedly adorable,
sure, but they are also a rare treat to see, with only Although Adelaide was born last February, like
10 in North American zoos. all marsupials, she spent the first few months of
her life in her mother’s pouch. But now, at a year
That’s one reason why Chicago Zoological old, you can find her exploring the world by her
Society animal care staff were so excited to mother’s side.
welcome joey Adelaide to the zoo family last
year. She became the 10th southern hairy-nosed
wombat in North American institutions, and
her birth not only adds to this species’ overall
population but also plays an important role in
increasing its diversity.
WOMBATS
Most wombats in zoos accredited by the Adelaide is Darryl’s first offspring and Kambora’s
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) were sixth. As with her previous joeys, Kambora is
born in North America, but Adelaide’s father, Darryl, exhibiting fantastic maternal care. Wombats are
was born in Australia and arrived at Brookfield Zoo typically solitary creatures, but Adelaide will be kept
in 2016. He came to live with us because we have with Kambora until she is weaned, which will likely
a long history with wombats: we first received this occur when she is around 2 years old.
species in 1969 and became the first institution to
successfully breed them in North America in 1974.
BROOKFIELD ZOO | SPRING 2018 7
