Impala Baby Born
on January 10, 2012Proud parents again
Baby Impala Born
The Falls Resort have had more babies – impala babies. The staff at The Falls Resort are, of course, very proud parents.
Impala are medium-sized antelope which live in most of the parks in Southern Africa. They will eat grass or leaves and are therefore very adaptable, making them a successful animal which is found in large herds.
Our impala herd of one male and five females was brought onto the resort in May 2009. Since then they have settled in well and produced two sets of offspring. This year we have had four new babies. The babies are born after a gestation period of about 6 months, but being such a successful animal the impala mums have a trick up their sleeve. If conditions are not good – maybe the rains are late – the impala mums can keep their baby inside them for an extra month. At the Falls Resort our impala dropped their young on time; conditions are excellent in our woodlands around the Resort.
During the coming year The Falls Resort will have to think what is right for their young herd. They are one family. At two years of age, the young females from last year will be ready to breed and will need a new family; they will need a boyfriend.
The Falls Resort are not sure yet how they will cope with this. They have several options. They could move out the male impala and bring in a different one; they could bring in a new herd so that the young impala can move away from their family; or they could move them all away and bring in a new herd. This is not something that The Falls Resort can decide as hotel managers; we need experts. The Zambia Wildlife Authority has many experts so they are not worried; as they are sure to get the necessary advice.
The Zambia Wildlife Authority is used to moving wild animals around, even lions. As the parks become isolated areas surrounded by villages and farms, the gene pool of a particular species can become limited. This is particularly the case with predators because their numbers are not as great as antelopes like impala.
In the meantime The Falls Resort will enjoy the young impala which are full of the joys of spring, jumping around through the trees and playing with each other. The Falls Resort will decide their future during the coming year; as they have their best interests at heart.
