New Baby Calves Arrive At Denver Zoo

DENVER, CO – Heading to the Denver Zoo? Make sure to catch the brand new zoo babies who arrived over Labor Day weekend.

The zoo announced the births of a female Cape buffalo named Poncho and a rare, endangered male okapi calf named Romakari.

"Both calves are healthy and thriving under the protective care of their mothers, and being closely monitored by the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary staff," Jake Kubié, zoo spokesman said in an email.

Poncho the female Cape buffalo:

Poncho is the daughter of Rain, and is the second Cape buffalo calf to be born at Denver Zoo in recent months. Rain also has a granddaughter named Mabel. Poncho is already hanging out with in the herd’s outdoor habitat and is often easily viewable to visitors. Cape buffalo are native to Africa and males can weigh up to 2,000 lbs., the zoo said in a press release.

Romakari the okapi

Romakari may be harder to glimpse. Born on Sunday to mother Almasi, Romakari is being watched by keepers until they can make sure the calf has bonded with his mother, the zoo said.

The cuteness factor may be worth the wait, though. Okapis look a like "a cross between a zebra and giraffe with long necks, reddish bodies, black-and-white striped legs, and long, purple prehensile tongues." Okapis are categorized as endangered and rare, found only in the Ituri Forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the zoo said. If you must see an okapi, an older one was born at the zoo in recent months, and is now visible to the public, the zoo said.

Find out more at the Denver Zoo's website.

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