San Francisco Zoo welcomes baby guanaco to family

Bay City News
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
San Francisco Zoo welcomes new baby guanaco
A female guanaco was born at the San Francisco Zoo.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Zoo family has grown by one more after the birth of a guanaco Saturday, according to zoo officials.

PHOTOS: SF Zoo welcomes new baby guanaco

A guanaco was born on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at the San Francisco Zoo.
Marianne Hale

The infant made her arrival around 2 p.m. in the Puente al Sur Exhibit, and took her first steps about an hour after birth.

RELATED: Surprise! Giant panda gives birth to two cubs in Austria

Zoo officials said mother, "Milagro", and her young female guanaco, also known as a chulengo, are in excellent condition.

RELATED: Baby elephant enjoys first dip in kiddie pool

President of the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, Tanya Peterson said in a statement, "Animal births are always exciting, but this one is extra special because it's the first guanaco birth at the SF Zoo."

According to zoo officials, the chulengo, who has not yet been named, weighs between 15 and 30 pounds and will not be publicly visible as she bonds and nurses with her mother.

Zoo officials said the animal care team will determine in a number of weeks when mother and baby will rejoin the other animals.

Click here for more stories and photos about cute baby animals!