Musk oxen last bred in Korkesari twenty years ago.
The zoo says a new arrival was born in the stables of the musk ox at Korkesari last week.
The musk deer was born to a female who had come to Korkesari half a year ago. Kili came as a surprise to the zoo, as the female’s thick winter fur concealed her pregnancy.
Young musk oxen are called kili because, despite the name of the species, it is a goat animal.
Louma happily accepts the kilt. One young female in particular was so excited about the newcomer that the herd had to be set aside for a few days. Now little Kylie has learned to walk with more confidence, so she can dodge her teammates’ fastest butts and other violent play attempts.
The little musk ox has gained confidence in his pace. Photo: Annika Sörjonen / Korkesari Zoe
– The first months are the most critical in terms of survival, and that is why we closely monitor Kili’s condition, comments Korkesari curator Ulla Tuomainen.
The musk ox is an arctic tundra-adapted animal found in northwestern Canada and northern Greenland. In the 20th century, the species was also introduced to Alaska, Russia, and Norway.
The species was on the verge of extinction about a hundred years ago due to overhunting, but since then the musk ox has been protected. Even in Korkesari, the goal is to amass a growing herd and thereby preserve the valuable genetic heritage of the species to secure the future of the musk oxen.
About 80 musk oxen live in European zoos. According to Korkesari, the goal is to increase the number of individuals to about 150, so that the genetic diversity of the species is more likely to be conserved.
