Baby antelope born at the Charles Paddock Zoo
The Charles Paddock Zoo recently announced the birth of a female red-flanked duiker. The red-flanked duiker is a species of small antelope found in western and central Africa.
This is the third red-flanked duiker born at the Charles Paddock Zoo
–The Charles Paddock Zoo recently announced the birth of a female red-flanked duiker. The red-flanked duiker is a species of small antelope found in western and central Africa. The new arrival was born on July 10, and can now be seen by watchful visitors as she begins to venture out into the exhibit and make her presence known. Zoo Director Alan Baker says that “during the first weeks of their lives, baby duikers hide and wait for their mother to return to nurse them. Our new duiker is now old enough to start exploring the exhibit.” This is the third red-flanked duiker born at the Charles Paddock Zoo.
Duikers grow to about 15 inches in height and weigh up to 31 pounds. They have russet coats with grayish black legs and backs and white underbellies. In their natural habitat, red-flanked duikers are territorial and mainly solitary. They feed on leaves, fallen fruits, seeds and flowers.
While red-flanked duikers are not currently considered threatened or endangered, their tropical rain forest home is under constant threat by human encroachment, putting them at risk of future endangered status. Agriculture and logging place significant pressure on the species, but red-flanked duikers are also one of the primary targets of the bushmeat trade and are popular among trophy hunters. In captivity, duikers have a lifespan of 10-15 years.
The Charles Paddock Zoo is owned and operated by the City of Atascadero. The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission prices are $7 for 12 years of age and over, $5 for youth ages 3-11, $6 for seniors 65 and older, and free for children under 2 years of age. The Charles Paddock Zoo is located next to Atascadero Lake Park off of Highway 41 in Atascadero. For more information about the Zoo, call (805) 461-5080, or visit www.charlespaddockzoo.org.
