New Animal Births at Parco Natura Viva Highlight Conservation Efforts
Not only new births, but also new arrivals, in 2001, at the Parco Natura Viva in Bussolengo (Verona). The Parco Natura Viva is a conservation center for threatened species, and each new birth represents an important step in safeguarding the biodiversity heritage.
These days, visitors to the park can observe a wolf up close, recently arrived from another Italian zoo, and listen incredulously to the peeping of a young vulture. Few, passing by its enclosure, would realize that those chirps resembling a sparrow come from him—an Indian regal vulture. His name is Calvino, he’s funny and awkward. But he is the most important cub in the park, a true jewel, whose reproduction is crucial for increasing the population of these majestic birds that are on the brink of extinction in the wild.
Newborns and Protected Species
In a nearby aviary, a young pair of Kookaburra—an Australian kingfisher named after the call it makes every morning, which sounds like laughter—produced, at the end of June, Martino, a strong and healthy small bird who, now two months old, is almost larger than his parents.
The quietest cubs are, without a doubt, Ronni and Sashi, two beautiful red pandas born to father Chang and mother Zampa Bianca. They were born on July 2nd and only now can their curious little faces be glimpsed as they explore the world outside their den.
Their birth is also very significant because the Red Panda is among the most critically endangered species in the wild.
Births of Young Animals and Others
Once a week, the park’s veterinarians weigh the panda cubs to ensure they are growing well. On July 15th, the most cuddly and adorable cubs in the park were born: eight pink and black Vietnamese piglets.
Their mother is very patient and spends a lot of time nursing them. Unfortunately, she is not as tender with those who try to approach and pet them.
They are difficult to see in their beautiful enclosure, full of small burrows and tall grass, where they hide. And, above all, the three wildcats—Sissi, Rebecca, and Daphne, born in July—do not purr much.
Their parents are successfully raising them, and their birth is very important because the European Wildcat, once very common in the Alps and Apennines, is also at risk of disappearing.
Lesures and New Species
Among the lemurs, there are many pink puffs. The group of ring-tailed lemurs is lively all day thanks to the play of Zelda and Victoria, born in April and May respectively.
On the Lotus Flower Island, home to collarred red lemurs, the little Anouk was born. But the most interesting newcomer is called Emma. She is a young fox with a reddish coat, coming from the Falconara zoo. A wolf, recently arrived from Slovenia, keeps her company.
At the safari, the group of lions has grown with the addition of a very sweet lioness, recently arrived from another zoo.
