Bramble Park Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a male yak calf on July 3. The calf is healthy and can be seen on exhibit with his mother, Nina, and sister, Hershey.
The baby yak is white with some black, in contrast to his mostly black sister. While he still sleeps often, like most newborns do, guests may see him playing near his sister during the day. He is calm, independent, and loves to venture off on his own already.
His father, Igor, is currently off-exhibit to give the calf time to adjust and grow. Zoo staff are monitoring the family closely to ensure continued health and safety. The calf is viewable in the yak habitat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with extended hours until 7 p.m. on Saturdays. A name will be announced at a later date.
Yaks are native to the Himalayan region and are used for wool and as pack animals. Adult males can reach up to 1,300 pounds—about twice the size of females.