The Thomson's gazelle is included in the red list of endangered species and the Valencian park collaborates in its preservation.
Each April 22 commemorates the Mother Earth Day and this year the United Nations (UN) has emphasized the need to incorporate a sustainable development model for people and the planet. In this sense, one of the objectives of BIOPARC is the conservation of biodiversity and much of this work is done in the park itself, with the participation in 45 European programs for the reproduction of threatened species. Some days ago a beautiful Thomson gazelle was born fruit of this international collaboration but, on this occasion, despite having raised her before, the mother did not care for her properly. Following the usual protocol for a new birth, monitoring the first hours is essential and it was observed that rearing was not taking place. After carrying out the necessary checks, it was confirmed that the newborn had not suckled and “hand” rearing was immediately activated to save him.
The technical team has had to intervene to prevent the death of the newborn and is raising him “by hand” with bottles.
La Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) is included in the IUCN red list (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Furthermore, due to its danger of extinction, a European conservation program was created in order to guarantee its survival. BIOPARC Valencia actively participates in this project with the group consisting of one male and five adult females with their current offspring, two offspring from last year and the new goat, which is a male. Within these efforts for its preservation, each new life is a reason for hope and requires the maximum attention to ensure their well-being, since it is a very delicate species of gazelle.
Although the BIOPARC technical team has extensive experience in caring for newborns, each baby is a new challenge. Bottle feeding is especially difficult in this species. Because their survival strategy is to remain hidden from their predators in bushes, which implies that they do not develop attachment to the caregiver or go to the bottle. The first days he was nourished with colostrum which provides immunity and, subsequently, the five daily bottle feedings are prepared with a mixture of fresh cow's and evaporated milk. After checking the calf's weight daily, the amount of food to maintain adequate growth is determined. A fundamental part is to favor your natural instinct and to do so his caregivers encourage him so that he urinates and defecates, just as his mother would do. Likewise, for several weeks he will remain in the interior enclosures accompanied by his mother and another female to become accustomed to the behavior of his species and to be integrated into the herd.
Once the first phase of its aging is completed, between 30 and 45 days, it will move to the outdoor enclosure that recreates the Savannah.. A multispecies area of special beauty in BIOPARC where the Thomson gazelles live with giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi); other antelopes like impalas (Aepyceros melampus), kobos (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) and blesboks (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi); various species of ducks; Sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) and eye-catching African jabirus (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis).
