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Rhesus Macaque

Origin-Rhesus macaques are native to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Afghanistan, Vietnam, southern China, and some neighboring areas. They have the widest geographic ranges of any non-human primate, occupying a great diversity of altitudes throughout Central, South, and Southeast Asia

Lifespan- About 25 Years

Diet-Rhesus macaques have an omnivorous diet that includes roots, seeds, fruit and bark. They also consume insects and have been observed eating bird eggs. Rhesus macaques live in troops which may contain as many as 10-80 individuals.

Description- The rhesus macaque is brown or grey in color and has a pink face, which is bereft of fur. It has, on average, 50 vertebrae, a dorsal scapulae[clarification needed] and a wide rib cage. Its tail averages between 20.7 and 22.9 cm (8.1 and 9.0 in). Adult males measure about 53 cm (21 in) on average and weigh about 7.7 kg (17 lb). Females are smaller, averaging 47 cm (19 in) in length and 5.3 kg (12 lb) in weight. The ratio of arm length to leg length is 89%.

Conservation- The rhesus macaque is a species of Old World monkey. It is listed as least concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and its tolerance of a broad range of habitats.

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Asian Short Clawed Otter

Our otter Gem is very curious and loves to bite his keepers boots! His brother Obi is shy but likes to tap his keepers leg with his paw to get their attention. They both love beef mince.

Origin- The Asian short-clawed otter ranges in coastal regions from southern India to Southeast Asia including the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Palawan. It inhabits freshwater wetland systems such as swamps, meandering rivers, mangroves and tidal pools as well as irrigated rice fields. They spend most of their time on land unlike other otter species.

Lifespan-Up to 15 years in captivity but can live up to 20 years with excellent care.

Diet- Asian short clawed otters are carnivorous feeding on a variety of crustaceans, mollusks, freshwater fish, rodents and insects. There is seasonal variation in their diet. A large group of otters will also take on larger prey if the opportunity arises.

Description-  Asian short-clawed otters are the smallest species of otter. Weight can range from 1 to 5.4kg. Its body is slender and streamlined. Dark, greyish-brown fur covers most of the body with a lighter cream fur on the face and neck. Otters have a double coat with a fine, waterproof undercoat.

They have sensitive whiskers which sensitive to touch and to underwater vibrations and are important in detecting the movements of prey.

They have very sensitive and dexterous partially webbed paws which they use to catch their prey instead of their mouth. They have small, short claws.

They have a long tail which is used for propulsion when swimming at high speed, to steer when swimming slowly and for balance when standing upright on hind legs.

Short clawed otters are social and have over 12 different vocalizations. They live in large family groups made up of one breeding pair and their offspring.

Conservation- The IUCN lists short clawed otters as vulnerable. They are seriously threatened by rapid habitat destruction, hunting and pollution. Their popularity in the illegal pet trade is also causing wild populations to declineotterthing.

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Alpaca

Origin- There are two types of Alpaca- Huacaya and Suri defined by coat type. Alpaca’s do not have hooved feet, they have two toes covered by a nail. They have been domesticated for over 6000 years. They are mainly used for their fine fiber coats, but are also kept as pets for showing and protecting other herd animals. Alpacas do not usually spit at humans but will spit at another if in an argument. They are a flock animal and need to be kept in a group or in pairs and get stressed if on their own.

Lifespan– 15 to 20 years

Diet– Mainly consists of grass in summer months. In winter they are supplemented with hay and meal.

Colour-Their hair (fiber) comes in 22 basic colors with many variations. Lily is brown and white with big brown eyes and nose.

Gestation– 11- 12 months, producing 1 single Cria

Conservation- Vicunas are protected in South America and the IUCN supports conservation programs to protect them.

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Pygmy Goat

Origin– Pygmy goats originated in the Cameroon Valley of West Africa. They were imported into the United States from European zoos in the 1950s for use in zoos as well as research animals.

Family– Bovidae

Diet– Goats are herbivores. Their main diet consists of grass and they are supplemented hay and meal in winter.

Description-Females, called does, weigh 24 to 34 kg (53 to 75 lb) and males, called bucks, weigh 27 to 39 kg (60 to 86 lb).  The colour and pattern of their coats vary significantly, and can be categorized into caramel patterned, agouti patterned and black patterned. Within these categories, there are caramel with black markings, caramel with brown markings, brown agouti, grey agouti, black agouti, black with white markings, and solid black.

Gestation– Pygmy goats can have one to four young every nine to 12 months after a five-month gestation period. Newborn kids will nurse almost immediately, begin eating grain and roughage within a week, and are weaned by ten weeks of age.

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Snowball the Pony

Snowball was born in 1993. He is a Cremello pony. Snowball loves to give children visiting the farm a pony ride. His favorite treats are apples and carrots. As snowball is getting older we have to take extra care of him so that he will have a long and happy life at the park.

Origin- Horses and ponies are domesticated and found all over the world. The only remaining wild horse is the Przewalski’ horse which is classed as endangered.

Family- Equidae

Lifespan– 25-30 years

Diet- Mainly consists of grass in summer months. In winter they are supplemented with hay and meal.

Description- Cremello ponies or horses have cream to gold coloured coats with pink skin and blue or glass eyes. Their mane and tail can be white or cream. Horses and ponies exhibit an array of colors and markings. Chestnut, bay and black are the basic colors. Other colors are palomino, pinto and piebald. White horses/ ponies are born with white coats/ pink skin. There are no true albino’s having pink skin and red eyes.

Gestation– 335-340 producing one foal, twins are rare.

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Llama

Origin- Llamas were domesticated from guanacos in the Andean highlands of Peru 4000-5000 years ago, and are among the oldest domestic animals in the world. Llamas are known to in habitat elevations up to 4000 meters above sea level.

Family– Camelid, other members of this family include alpacas, guanacos and vicunas

Lifespan– 15- 20 years

Diet– Llamas are a modified ruminant with a three- compartment stomach. They chew their cud like cattle and sheep. Due to their low protein requirements and efficient digestive system, Llamas are economical to keep. They are mainly fed on grass and are supplemented with meal and hay in winter.

Description- Their fiber (hair) ranges from white to black, with shades of beige, brown, red and is solid, spotted or marked in many patterns. They are social animals need the companionship of their species. Independent yet shy Llamas are gentle and curious. Llama vocalizations include high pitched trills, snorting and shrieking, shrieking is usually used to alert the rest of the group of danger. Another form of communication is spitting.

Gestation– 350 days producing 1 single cria and can be bred at any time of the year.

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Donkey

Origin- The Donkey is a domesticate member of the horse family. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African wild Ass. Donkeys around the world are used for riding, as pack animals or for pulling carts for the last 5000 years.

Family– Equide

Lifespan– 35-45 years

Diet– Herbivore. They feed mostly on grass and are supplemented with hay and meals in the winter.

Description- A variety of colours, including brown, black and white. Donkeys are herd animals and very socialable, they do not like to be kept on their own. There are 189 breeds recorded. A female donkey is called a Jenny and a male a Jack. A male donkey crossed with a female horse is called a Mule. A male horse crossed with a female donkey is called a Hinny. Donkeys were domesticated around 3000 BC.

Gestation- 11-14 months producing normally one foal

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European Rabbit

The European rabbit is the only rabbit to be domesticated. Domesticated rabbits do not always look much like wild rabbits due to selective breeding to create morphologies from dwarf to giant sizes, various colour variations and fur length variations.

Origin – The European rabbit is native to southwestern Europe and northwest Africa. It has been widely introduced elsewhere, now being found in many countries. It is found on every continent except Antarctica.

Lifespan – 9 years

Diet – Wild rabbits graze and browse. Grass is their primary food source, however they also eat leaves, buds, tree bark and roots. If available they will also eat lettuce, cabbage and grains.

Description – The wild European rabbit is relatively small, between 34 and 50 com in length. It usually has greyish brown fur. They have four sharp incisor teeth (2 top, 2 bottom) that grow continuously throughout its life, but is worn down by gnawing. They have long ears and strong back legs; both traits to help avoid predators. They are social animals and live in groups called warrens.

Gestation– Although it varies, gestation of the European rabbit is around 31 days. Rabbits can give birth to litters of 2 to 12 offspring. Baby rabbits are called kittens and they suckle for 4 weeks. Rabbits reach sexual maturity at 3 to 4 months of age. Rabbits can have between 4 and 7 litters per year; that’s a possibility of around 70 kittens a year!

Conservation – While European rabbits are considered a pest and threat to biodiversity out of its natural range, within its natural range of southwestern Europe (Spain and Portugal) the population has declined by an estimated 95% since 1950. It is an important species within its native range and occurs in some protected areas in Spain. It is currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.Near threatened iucn

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Snowball the Pony

snowball-the-pony(Equus caballus)

Snowball is a big softy and loves to rest his head on his keepers shoulder and have a nap.

Snowball was born in 1993. He is a Cremello pony. Snowball loves to give children visiting the farm a pony ride. His favorite treats are apples and carrots. As snowball is getting older we have to take extra care of him so that he will have a long and happy life at the park.

Origin- Horses and ponies are domesticated and found all over the world. The only remaining wild horse is the Przewalski’ horse which is classed as endangered.

Family- Equidae

Lifespan– 25-30 years

Diet- Mainly consists of grass in summer months. In winter they are supplemented with hay and meal.

Description- Cremello ponies or horses have cream to gold coloured coats with pink skin and blue or glass eyes. Their mane and tail can be white or cream. Horses and ponies exhibit an array of colors and markings. Chestnut, bay and black are the basic colors. Other colors are palomino, pinto and piebald. White horses/ ponies are born with white coats/ pink skin. There are no true albino’s having pink skin and red eyes.

Gestation– 335-340 producing one foal, twins are rare.

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Shetland Pony

shetlandpony(Equus ferus caballus)

Mike and Molly are miniature Shetland ponies and arrived on the farm from Cork in May 2012. Molly is the boss and Mike gives her a wide birth.

Origin- The Shetland pony is a breed of pony originating in the Shetland Isles off Scotland

Family– Equus

Lifespan- Many ponies are long-lived; it is not unusual for a Shetland pony to live more than 30 years

Diet– Mainly consists of grass in summer months. In winter they are supplemented with hay and meal.

Description– Shetlands can be almost every colour, including skewbald and piebald (called pinto in the United States), but are mainly black, chestnut, bay, grey, palomino, dun, roan, cremello, and silver dapple. Shetland ponies are the strongest breed in relation to their size but are generally gentle, good-tempered, and very intelligent by nature. They make good children’s ponies, and are sometimes noted for having a “brave” character, but can be very opinionated or “cheeky”, and can be impatient, snappy, and sometimes become uncooperative. Due in part to their intelligence and size, they are easily spoiled and can be very headstrong if not well-trained.

Gestation– Average gestation of 11 months, giving birth to one single foal.