Because this post has exploded recently, and I’m seeing lots of questions/surprise in the tags, some info on Guinea Pigs:
Yes, they are born eyes open and fully furred and capable of running which is very much unlike the rodents most people are used to. These babies were literally born the night before, so they’re a little over 15 hours old in these photos.
This is in part due to their unusually long gestation period (~60 to 70 days as compared to about 20-23 days for a mouse or rat.)
They can fully wean just after 2 or 3 weeks.
When they’re little like this and they become excited or playful, they will popcorn around. I’m sure you can all imagine what that looks like, and how ridiculously cute these things are when doing it.
While these guys are about 90% head, almost the entire remainder is legs. They are very disproportionate babies. When you see them run you begin to wonder just where exactly their body is as there’s nothing but head and startlingly long legs.
Sacramento Zoo Welcomes 5 Baby Flamingos After Chick Drought
SACRAMENTO (AP) — “Five baby flamingos have hatched at the Sacramento Zoo after an 18-year drought of the spindly-legged creatures.
The eggs hatched between June 28 and July 18. Zoo spokeswoman Tonja Candelaria said the birds are finicky and that a number of factors may have resulted in the baby gap and sudden laying of eggs this season.
The chicks need daily walks to strengthen their legs. Eventually, they will join the others at the zoo lake, which is already home to 36 adult American flamingos.
American flamingos have been at the zoo since 1966.
The American flamingo is native to South America and the Caribbean. Adult flamingos are pink, but the chicks are downy white. Pigments in their aquatic food give the birds their pink coloration.”
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