The Los Angeles Zoo is proud to announce the birth of several new animals this week.

On May 5th, 2009 one of the Zoo's markhor, an endangered species of wild goat, gave birth to twins.  Markhor are native to Asia where they live in mountainous terrain at elevations up to 11,000 feet.  Markhors live in groups with an adult male and several females and their young. Male markhor have long twisted horns that are much larger than those of the females. The youngsters are on display with the rest of their family in their rocky Zoo habitat.

On Friday May 1, 2009 the Chacoan peccary, a distant relative of the wild boar, gave birth to three youngsters which are currently on exhibit with the rest of their group.  Native to Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay, the Chacoan peccary was thought to be extinct until 1972 when it was rediscovered by scientists.  The species is listed as endangered and there are 52 peccaries living in 11 U.S. zoos which work together to manage this population.

These latest births are in addition to the April 5th birth of a male giraffe and the March 30th birth of twin Peninsular pronghorn, a critically endangered species that numbers less than 250 in the wild.

These youngsters will be available to the media on Friday, May 8 from 9:30 A.M till Noon.

If you plan on filming these animals please arrive early as they are most active in the morning.  Park in the Zoo's main lot and proceed to the bus circle where a cart will transport you to their habitats.  Media may request photos or RSVP for Friday by calling (323) 644-4273.