Idaho Falls Zoo welcomes baby guanaco - East Idaho News
Idaho Falls

Idaho Falls Zoo welcomes baby guanaco

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The following is a news release from the city of Idaho Falls.

IDAHO FALLS — Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park is proud to announce an addition to the animal family with the birth of a guanaco on Tuesday, September 20.

The new baby, also known as a chulengo, is a female. Zoo officials knew the mother was expecting her fourth chulengo. To the delight of some visitors who were in the right place at the right time, she was born on exhibit and was walking within minutes after birth.

Baby guanaco has not been named yet and can be seen in the Patagonia area of the zoo with her mother, brother and aunt. The father is being housed off-exhibit as male guanacos can sometimes be aggressive toward newborns.

Guanacos are often confused as llamas with good reason. The guanaco is a member of the camelid family from South America, is the wild ancestor of the llama and is very similar in appearance to domestic llamas. Guanacos and llamas are cousins to camels – minus the humps.

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