Baby Antelope Born At Maryland Zoo

BALTIMORE, MD - A 17-pound baby came into the world recently at the Maryland Zoo.

Marcus is a male sitatunga, a type of antelope that is native to central Africa and tends to live in swamps.

He was born to mother Mousse, 4, and father Chopper, 1, with a clean bill of health on Sunday, Sep. 10, according to zoo officials.

"The baby is nursing well, and Mousse has been very attentive to his needs, which we expected, as she is an experienced mother,” Maryland Zoo Mammal Collection and Conservation Manager Erin Cantwell said.

“The two are just beginning to meet others in the herd and explore the outdoor behind-the-scenes area together," Cantwell said in a statement on Monday. "We hope that zoo visitors will able to spot Mousse and Marcus in the sitatunga yard next to the tortoises beginning this week!”

The Maryland Zoo now has a total of nine sitatungas, officials reported.

Photo courtesy of the Maryland Zoo.