A nyala calf has been born at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Gazipur. Because nyala are shy, they are rarely seen, but a calf born a few days ago was spotted recently.

The nyala is an animal of the African savannah region and is also described as a spiral-horned deer.

According to the safari park authorities, the nyala roam in the park's natural surroundings. A calf was born in the park once before, but it was eaten by a jackal, and an old male nyala later died. Although a nyala calf was born recently, it was not seen at first. The calf and its mother were recently seen in the park's zebra enclosure. Because staff could not get close, the calf's sex has not yet been determined.

Sarowar Hossain Khan, wildlife inspector at Bangabandhu Safari Park, said the animal looks like a deer species. Female nyala have no horns, and although males have horns, they are unbranched. They are herbivores that prefer short grass and leaves. Being shy, they hide as soon as they sense people, staying hidden for most of the day and becoming active in the morning and late afternoon. A female nyala gives birth to one calf at a time.

He added that their bodies are 135 to 195 cm long and they weigh 55 to 140 kg, with more than 10 white stripes on the body. Their numbers are falling because of smuggling, habitat destruction, farming and livestock grazing, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the animal as least concern.

Tabibur Rahman, officer in charge of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, said the park now holds a range of local and foreign animals and has opened the door for visitors to enjoy themselves and meet unfamiliar animals. A nyala calf was born before but was eaten by a jackal; the calf born this time is growing up safely, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.