Four legs better than feathers

Four legs better than feathers

Since the passing of Zardi the zebra last year, Wellington Zoo’s remaining zebra Molly has shared her enclosure with two ostriches relocated to her enclosure to keep her company.

She good-naturedly accepted the big birds, but now has three new companions more suited to the company of a zebra—three male llama.

The llama, as yet un-named, come from a farm in Nelson and will be walked around the Zoo once they’ve settled into Zoo life. As sociable animals they are ideal ‘contact’ animals for visitors and children in particular

To prepare for the South American natives’ arrival late on Wednesday night (4 March), Zoo staff cleared the enclosure of weeds and organised a separate space for the llamas within the enclosure should the two species not gel immediately.

Herbivore team leader Ben Pocock has no doubts, however, that Molly will welcome her new paddock-mates.

“The llama were chosen for their temperaments—they should be good companions for a zebra. I’m sure Molly will click more with four-legged mammals than with two-legged feathery birds.”

Llamas are also in ready supply in New Zealand, unlike zebra that can take years to secure in an international zoo transfer Both Molly and llamas will be fed hay, and with Molly on a diet of two slabs of hay per day, keepers will have to see that she doesn’t get stuck into the llamas’ feed modifying their feeding routines if need be,” Ben says.

Zoo herbivore team leader Ben Pocock says the llamas may also be handy as environmentally-friendly alternatives to lawnmowers.

ENDS

© Scoop Media