Happy New Year and Happy Birthday!

On January 1st, 2018, as humans around the world celebrated the start of a new year, Safari West welcomed a brand new baby. Kira, one of our magnificent roan antelope gave birth to a bouncing baby girl!

As a conservation breeding facility, Safari West welcomes babies throughout the year, but the first is always a bit special. This particular baby entered the world not only at the start of the new year, but in the midst of winter rains. Even as the droplets fell, mama Kira nuzzled her newborn and very diligently licked her dry.

As always, our keepers kept vigilant watch from a respectful distance. Though we’re always ready to step in if things go amiss, this New Years, the whole beautiful event unfolded without drama. This baby roan antelope marks the first of 2018 and the eighth new antelope (4 roans, 3 addax, and 1 Nile lechwe) since the outbreak of the tragic Tubbs fire!