The Palić Zoo has become richer for two new species of animals, which were not in the garden’s collection until now. These are 3 small proboscis monkeys – Senegalese galagos and 16 Axis deer. These animals arrived at the Zoo on April 18. as a form of cooperation with the Zoo of the city of Szeged.
Galagos are housed in the Ecocenter facility, while Axis deer can be seen from the runway in the deer outlet.
AXIS DEER (Axis axis), also known as spotted deer, is a species of deer native to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, where it inhabits grasslands and open forests. The species was first described and named in 1777. Axis is a deer of moderate size, males reaching 90 cm and females 70 cm at the shoulder. While males weigh 70-90 kg, females weigh around 40-60 kg. Sexual dimorphism is present; males are larger than females, and horns are present only on males. The upper parts are golden to ruddy in color, completely covered with white spots that remain on the fur for life. They have a black stripe down the middle of their back. Belly, rump, throat, inside of legs, ears and tail are white. The horns, three-pronged, are almost 1 m long, and the males shed them every season.
SENEGAL GALAGO (Galago senegalensis) is a species of semi-monkey that inhabits the forests, savannas and bushes of a large number of countries in Africa, such as Senegal, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon…
They hide in the hollows of trees, avoiding open spaces. They feed at night, individually. They live in groups of up to 5 individuals or individually. If we disturb them during the day, they can move very slowly, but at night they are active and agile and jump up to 3 to 5 meters in one jump. Young are born once a year, and pregnancy lasts about 4 months. The length of the body is up to 15 cm, and the weight is only 300 grams. They use urine to wet their hands and feet and this helps them cling to branches and can also act in scent marking. Their advertisement is described as a high-pitched, chirping sound that is most often uttered in the morning and evening. The average lifespan in the wild is 4 years, but in captivity they can live up to 10 years. Because they are active at night and have a specific appearance with the typical large round eyes and advertising, they are popularly known as “ghosts”.
In the Palić Zoo, an aviary has been arranged for them in the Eco-center, full of natural elements: tree stumps and branches, the window of which is darkened so that daylight does not disturb them, and it is lit only by blue night light. The night light is used so that visitors can observe the monkeys, but on the other hand, not to disturb them in their activities, because for them, daylight is a clear sign that it is time to – sleep.
