The zoological park of Mulhouse announces Monday, July 11 the birth of two small musk oxen. A rare phenomenon in Europe, which the zoo wants to celebrate by offering the public the possibility of choose the names of the two calves.
A rare phenomenon
These two little males were born in May and June from two different mothers. The park has been home to this species – which typically lives in the arctic tundra of Greenland, Canada and Alaska – for eight years and registers first two births.
For the moment, only one of the two cubs is visible to the public, the other still remaining mothered before making its exit. The zoo hopes to make climate change ambassadors that threaten muskoxen in the arctic region.
– Mulhouse Alsace Agglomeration
The public is therefore encouraged to vote for their favorite first name on the park’s Facebook page. Four choices are available:
- Ataneq (king in Inuit)
- Kaskae (chief in Inuit)
- Tekoa (beautiful in the Cherokee language)
- Suka (quick in Inuit)
The park also celebrates the birth of a baby sand cat, also visible to visitors.