New Baby Buffalo

Our town has a small zoo, mostly run by volunteers.  It's free to visit and is a peaceful escape.  There's large ponds where many ducks and geese winter along with various cages of bear, Timber Wolves, Buffalo, etc.  There are walking paths as well as roads to drive through.  Last night my daughter was visiting the zoo when she noticed a Buffalo was nearing birth.  She tried to reach someone to tell them in case the animal needed assistance but the one person who's number was listed as a contact said he didn't really deal with the zoo. 

It seems that there should be a contact number for the zoo keeper posted for times like these.  With no one manning the zoo daily there needs to be a way the public can contact them if an animal is in trouble or even loose from it's cage.

We decided to go check on her this morning.  First we drove through.  But the Buffalo were not near the side of the fence to be easily seen.  So we parked and walked to the side they were near.  When we did the Buffalo stood up and we were able to see a wobbly baby near one of them.  We began taking pictures as we stepped nearer, afraid with each step they would bolt.  But the baby laid down right by the fence and the mama stayed near him snorting at us.

We know he was very recently born as his umbilical was still very wet.  We were able to get many close-ups of the pair before another buffalo joined them.  The two adult buffalo then coerced the infant into walking further away.  What a joyous sight this cool November morning.