Tuesday, 17 July 2007

two's company


You hear some strange stories in the animal world about mothers and young ones. I've seen photos of tigers with piglets, and cats curled round chicks.


I have written about our baby alpaca, Cocoa, whose mum rejected him, and so was destined to be a bottle-fed babe. well, events have moved somewhat, on the mothering front. Paprika, the matriarch female of the group (and Cocoa's adoptive 'auntie') - produced her own cria (baby alpaca) towards the end of June. This one is a little girl, and is called 'Black Olive' - no prizes for guessing what colour she is!


Cocoa knows a good thing when he sees it, and he has muscled his way in on this mother/baby bonding process. It has been quite a difficult time - as Paprika, the mother, very demonstrably did not want this 'cuckoo in the nest' but Cocoa does not give up so easily. We kept mum and newborn on their own at night for the first few days, to give the little one chance to get her share of the milk, but we have pretty much let nature take its course. Cocoa has wanted less and less of his bottle milk, until we were confident enough to leave him to his own devices.


Paprika is now successfully rearing 2 youngsters. It is rare, but has been known - though the incidence of natural twins occurring is even rarer, with the prospect of both surviving, practically zero. Olive was quite a large cria when she was born, and so does not look much different in size to the older Cococa. I for one, am extremely grateful to this obliging mother, and have put away the feeding bottles and powdered milk (again!) until next year.

If at first you don't succeed.....

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