You Can See Your First Baby Guanaco at Tautphaus Park Zoo

By Bill Gersonde 

Idaho Falls, ID - The Tautphaus Park Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of a 15 pound female guanaco born on Monday July 6th at approximately 4:30pm. “We’re thrilled with this new baby”, says Zoo Superintendent Bill Gersonde. We’ve worked very hard to put together a breeding group of these animals and it’s so rewarding to see our efforts become a success,” said Gersonde. “We’re only one of two or three zoos in this country breeding these beautiful animals and we want to be sure we do our part towards preserving the captive population”. The zoo has exhibited guanacos for over 20 years but has never had a successful birth.

Guanacos are members of the South American camel family which includes the domestic llama and alpaca and the wild vicuna. Inhabiting the mountainous areas of southern Peru to eastern Argentina these sure footed herd animals survive on a diet of grasses and shrubs. Young are born following a gestation period of 300 – 330 days.

The baby has been named Taquina which means “to sing” in the native Incan Quechua language. The name was selected by long time zoo volunteer and supporter Paulette Kirsch who has a great love for the South American camelids. Taquina will go on display with the guanaco herd on Thursday July 9th.

The Tautphaus Park Zoo, founded in 1935, is dedicated to preserving wildlife and educating and entertaining Zoo guests. Located in Tautphaus Park off South Blvd, the Zoo is home to over 350 animals of 98 different species exhibited in a variety of naturalistic displays. Admission is just $5.00 for adults 13-61 years old, $3.50 for seniors 62 and older, $2.50 for children 4-12 years old, and children 3 and under are free. For more information visit the Zoo online at www.idahofallszoo.org.

Photo credit: Ray Thomas/Tautphaus Park Zoo