Suricates
You love to go in to them. You get disillusioned as they sleep side by side cuddled up. And when they’re not sleeping, they scamper around in their aviary for hours. Who are we talking about? Our fur-babies, of course. Zuza and Zenek are our pair of these curious creatures. But don’t let the friendly faces fool you. In the wild, they can be fierce predators who bravely defend their colony. And while we’re at it, we’d like to tell you a little more about them. Suricates love warmth and do not tolerate low temperatures well. This is why we give them the opportunity to bask under the uvb lamp, which emits the sun’s rays perfectly. They are omnivorous. They will happily eat a grape, but even more readily a rat pup or a cockatoo. Although suricates multiply perfectly in enclosed conditions, their 100th generation raised in gardens or parks does not lose its defensive instinct. Even at their most playful, there is always one individual watching to make sure they are safe. Our specimens love to cuddle, but don’t forget that they are pets that can scratch and even bite. Whether their colony numbers two or even 30, one female always rules the herd. Only this female has the right to give birth to young, which are then taken care of by the rest of the herd.
Lemurs katta
This is unique among primates in that they are the only ones that can hibernate. Unfortunately, through human impact on their environment, it is estimated that their population in the wild has declined by more than 90 per cent. There are around 100 species of these beautiful herbivores. Like humans, they have fingerprint lines on their hands and the tail itself is half the length of their body. Although they lack facial expressions, they make a multitude of sounds to communicate within the herd. Why exactly are katta lemurs so special? Because they are the only ones that are active during the day. Yes it’s true, the rest of the species of these animals are typical nocturnal brands. Our herd consists of two males and one female. This is also unique among vertebrates. And it is the female who rules the herd, what we expertly call matriarchy.
Tri-coloured squirrels
Tri-coloured squirrels are incredibly cute and fascinating creatures. They have beautiful, fluffy fur of three different colours. Their natural habitat ranges from forests in the north of Borneo to tall, old-growth forests in the west of Malaysia. Tri-coloured squirrels are very agile and skilful. They have long tails that help them keep their balance when jumping and running through tree branches. They are also great acrobats, able to perform various tricks such as hanging on one leg or jumping from tree to tree with great precision. Tricoloured squirrels are very curious and are always keen to explore their surroundings in search of new adventures. Keepers ensure that the squirrels are well fed and have everything they need for a healthy and active life. Tricoloured squirrels also have their own characteristic sounds that they make to communicate with other squirrels. They make a variety of noises, such as squeaking, whining and tapping, which serve different functions, from warning of danger to showing interest.
Alpacas
Alpacas are currently one of the most popular animals in existence. They owe their popularity to the fact that they look apparently cute and the fact that there is currently a very high demand for alpaca therapy. It is a species native to South America that does not have hair, but wool. It is not found in the wild. It is simply a species bred by man. Among the alpacas, we have two breeds: the huacaya and the suri. And although everyone loves their soft wool, they should be sheared once a year in spring. This avoids the risk of overheating. It is worth mentioning that there are 22 colours of wool. Not counting the hundreds of shades. Not only are they herd-like, but you can see a definite hierarchy among the individuals concerned. They are perfectly compatible with other farm animals. To the delight of those cleaning up after them, alpacas do their business in one place. And one thing that can be disappointing is that they do not get completely attached to their keepers. For them, the most important thing is life in the herd.
Dwarf goats
Dwarf goats are the perfect flipper to keep as mowers . These small goats were first brought from Cameroon. However, their ease of adaptation to all sorts of conditions has become a huge draw card for those who want goats in the backyard all year round. Of course, even a small stable cannot be forgotten. They are also characterised by the fact that they love to play. And they really do play a lot. Which you can see all the time in our paddock. Even a two-day-old goat climbs up onto the stumps and hooks his uncle. They must be able to see everything that is going on around the paddock, and they don’t mind accosting our alpacas. Although they are really small animals, they can live up to 14 years. This is really a lot for such small ruminants. Our goats are visited every few months by our vet, who looks after their hooves. This treatment, which is probably not very pleasant for the animals, is necessary for them.