Things To Do This Week! Page 2
It’s Kitten Season
Recipe: Roast Pork
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Brain Health Series Page 11
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Babies in Bloom at The Living Desert The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is excited to announce the March births of six animals at the zoo - an African Crested Porcupine, three warthog piglets, a Cuvier’s gazelle, and a Bighorn Sheep. “We are so excited to welcome all of these spring babies,” said Allen Monroe, The Living Desert’s President/CEO. “Each birth represents an important step in the conservation of these desert species.” The three warthog piglets were born on March 9 to mom, Leia, and dad, Squiggy. The three piglets were born on exhibit and have been spotted outside of the den in their exhibit in Village WaTuTu. The piglets were born after a gestation of almost six months, the longest of all pigs. This is the second birth for both Squiggy and Leia, who had two boy piglets born last March. The entire family is currently on exhibit. The male African Crested porcupette was born on March 10 and weighed in at 573 grams (about 1lb 4oz) at his well-baby check. He is the seventh birth to mom, Skittles, and dad, Nasura. Skittles and Nasura have welcomed twins in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The African Crested porcupine is one of the continent’s largest rodents, with adults growing up to 29 inches long and weighing anywhere from 18 to 51
Porcupette born March 10 pounds. Female crested porcupines typically have one litter per year. The porcupette made his first appearance on March 22, and can be seen by guests when he ventures out of the den. The Cuvier’s gazelle male calf was born on March 23. This is the first calf for mother, Belle, and the fourth for father, Francois. At his well-baby check, the calf weighed 3.4kg (about 7lb 8oz). Native to Northern Africa, the Cuvier’s gazelle is listed as an endangered species and is extinct in many regions. This is the first Cuvier’s gazelle born at The Living Desert since 2011. The calf is currently on exhibit with the herd.
Cuvier’s Gazelle male calf born March 23
“The birth of the Cuvier’s gazelle is a great asset for the future of the species’ human-care population,” said Wendy Enright, The Living Desert’s Senior Animal Care Manager and the Cuvier’s Gazelle North American Studbook Keeper. As Studbook Keeper, Wendy manages the entire demographic history of the species and develops recommendations for breeding, as a part of a larger management, research and conservation plan. “Each birth is important and the calf will help provide genetic diversity to our managed populations.” The Bighorn sheep lamb was born on Tuesday March 29, to mom, Nolina, and father, Dante. The male
lamb weighed in at 4kg (about 8lb 8oz) at his well-baby check. He was born on exhibit and can be seen with the rest of The Living Desert herd. Bighorn lambs are born with a soft, woolly, light-colored coats and small hornbuds. Within a day, a lamb can walk and climb as well as its mother. A lamb will stay with its mother for the first year of its life. This is the second bighorn lamb born at The Living Desert in 2016. The Living Desert is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call (760) 346-5694 or visit www.livingdesert.org. The Living Desert is located at 47-900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert.