ZooTampa Welcomes New Nyala Baby

TAMPA, FL — Meet the newest member of the ZooTampa family.

This baby boy nyala was born June 26. Up until now, he has been behind the scenes bonding with his mom, but recently made his first public appearance.

Young male nyalas are notable for their striking white strips, which they don't begin to lose until the age of 10 to 12.

The lowland nyala or simply nyala (Tragelaphus angasii), is a spiral-horned antelope native to southern Africa. A herbivore, the nyala feeds upon foliage, fruits and grasses, with sufficient fresh water. A shy animal, it prefers water holes rather than open spaces.

They live in single-sex or mixed family groups of up to 10 individuals in thickets within dense and dry savanna woodlands.