Whether little Tayo knows how important he is when he is romping around his stable with his long, thin legs and big ears is anybody's guess. It is certain that Tayo is the first offspring of a gerenuk in Europe for 49 years, and the small group of gerenuks at Tierpark Berlin, as these gazelles are also known in their native East Africa, is the only one in Europe.
On 27 February 2015, Amelia the gerenuk gave birth to a little boy in the Tierpark Berlin. The first-time mother looks after her young one well. Both still remain in the stable. Only when the temperatures regularly climb to over 16 degrees centigrade shall visitors to the Tierpark be able to marvel over Tayo and his family on the outdoor complex.
This birth is the first result of a successful piece of international cooperation. In July 2014, the American ambassador John B. Emerson and Dr Andreas Knieriem, director of the Zoo and Tierpark Berlin, both signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The ultimate goal of the so-called MOU is to develop close cooperation between Los Angeles Zoo and the Zoological Gardens of Berlin in the field of preserving the breeding of selected species of animals and joint fundraising for projects of species protection, as well as employee exchanges.
Within the framework of the North American conservation breeding programme for gerenuks, the Tierpark Berlin received southern gerenuks from the Zoological Gardens in Los Angeles and Phoenix in May 2013. The male Jack (born 16.9.2007) and the female Amelia (born 23.12.2011) came from Phoenix Zoo, and the male Jess (born 15.6.2012 and the father of little Tayo) from Los Angeles Zoo. After the death of the last gerenuk in Europe in 1979 at Frankfurt Zoo, the gerenuks in Berlin are currently the only ones in Europe.
Now the U.S. Ambassador John Emerson is able to christen the rare offspring together with his wife Kimberly. The Emersons were able to agree on the name Tayo when thinking of a name, and the sensitive young creature is as happy as ever.
'The name Tayo means "born to be happy". We hope that the visitors who see him are aware of the fragile beauty of our wildlife and are committed to their protection – and Tayo will in fact lead a happy life.' Kimberly Emerson, former president of the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, added: 'Tayo is a fitting symbol for the springtime and the fruitful cooperation between the Los Angeles Zoo and the Berlin Zoo and Tierpark.'
'Our joint, long-term aim is to establish the population of this species of gazelle, which is unique in build and behaviour, in Europe. Tayo is the first important step in this direction,' claimed Zoo and Tierpark director Dr Andreas Knieriem.
* The last birth of a gerenuk in Europe was in Frankfurt Zoo in 1966.
