Who’s happier than camel on Wednesday? The baby camel born last week at Lincoln Park Zoo.
The male calf born May 9 in the Antelope Zebra Area is the first Bactrian camel calf born at the North Side zoo since 1998, according to a statement announcing the zoo’s newest arrival.
“We’re ecstatic to welcome a Bactrian camel calf to the zoo,” curator Diane Mulkerin said in the statement. “He is still a bit wobbly on his feet but remains quite strong, and is ready to begin meeting the rest of the herd.”
The calf, born to 7-year-old mother Nasan and 6-year-old father Scooter, stands about 4 feet tall and weighed 81 pounds at birth, according to the zoo. He is the first successful offspring for the parents.
Bactrian camels can reach 7 feet in height and weigh up to 1,500 pounds. They have two large humps on their backs, which serve as reservoirs for fat the camel can metabolize if food is scarce in the wild.
The calf will be on display “intermittently” with his mother as he continues to grow, according to the zoo. The exhibit is open daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The male Bactrian camel calf born at Lincoln Park Zoo stands four feet tall and weighed 81 pounds at birth. | Christopher Bijalba / Lincoln Park Zoo
