Leipzig Zoo celebrates little peccary piglet: Nike brings joy into the enclosure!

Leipzig Zoo celebrates little peccary piglet: Nike brings joy into the enclosure!

There is good news at Leipzig Zoo: The first young animal of the highly endangered Chaco peccary has been born. The mother, Crêpe, and the father, Chaco, are the proud parents of a lively little girl who was named Nike. Although a total of four piglets were born in spring 2023, only one survived, but it is developing well in its new environment. The news was announced on May 21, 2023 via the zoo's social media.

Nike, now three months old, brings a lot of energy to the enclosure and enjoys extensive cuddles with her parents. It is a happy event as Chaco peccaries are among the critically endangered species. Their survival is threatened by habitat destruction, hunting and natural predators such as pumas and jaguars.

Special attention for the peccary family

In order not to disrupt the bond between mother and young animal, visits to the vet were suspended for the time being. This shows how important Leipzig Zoo takes the development and rights of animals. Daily commentary at 5 p.m. in the enclosure also offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about these special animals and their conservation status.

Chaco peccaries were first described in 1930 based on bone finds, but were considered extinct for a long time. It was not until 1974 that living specimens were discovered. Today, with this new birth, Leipzig Zoo is actively committed to protecting and breeding the species.

Species protection projects and conservation breeding

At the same time, there are numerous initiatives in Europe to preserve the Chaco peccaries. The Berlin Zoo, for example, which has been home to the first offspring from the USA since 2012, is helping to financially support the “Proyecto Taguá” breeding station in Paraguay. These funds go towards expanding the enclosures and into research projects that are intended to ensure the survival of these animals.

A European conservation breeding program (EEP) initiated in 2015 aims to build a population of 80 to 100 Chaco peccaries in European zoos within 8 to 10 years. This is intended to serve as a long-term reserve population to sustainably protect the species.

The positive news from Leipzig Zoo, complemented by the comprehensive species protection measures taken by European zoos, offers hope for the future of the Chaco peccaries. Efforts to conserve these fascinating animals are essential to ensure the survival of the species and to provide visitors and scientists with the opportunity for observation and research.

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Leipzig Zoo provides information about…

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