By Wanda Wierzbicki
The Toronto Zoo has a new resident: Carrie the camel. She was born on Thursday, May 5, to the surprise and delight of the zoo visitors present – because she was a couple of weeks early! Carrie was born to 8-year-old Suria after a 13-month gestation period. This is Suria’s second calf.
Baby Carrie is a beautiful silver colour, but her coat will most likely turn darker as she grows.
The Toronto Zoo now has six Bactrian Camels, which are native to Central Asia. These hardy animals are critically endangered in the wild, and as such, the birth of Carrie is good news for the species.
Bactrian
camels have two humps on their backs. Camels store fat in these humps to be
used as energy when food and water are scarce.
These
camels grow to over seven feet tall, they can weigh up to 1,800 lbs and they
live between 20 and 40 years.
Stop by to see Carrie soon. Babies grow quickly.