Maryland Zoo has welcomed Astrid, a 9-year-old yellow-backed duiker who arrived in Baltimore from Dallas Zoo in June. She is the first animal of her species to live at the zoo and can now be seen near the Giraffe House, Baltimore Chronicle reports. The arrival was officially announced by the Maryland Zoo on September 29.
Astrid Is Getting To Know Askari The Okapi
Astrid completed the zoo’s standard quarantine before meeting Askari, the resident okapi. Keepers expect the animals to regularly share the same yard.
The pairing reflects conditions found in Africa. Yellow-backed duikers and okapis occupy similar forest habitats and can tolerate sharing space with other species.
Maryland Zoo Mammal Curator Erin Cantwell Grimm said the two animals also have similar temperaments. Despite their appearance, however, they are physiologically very different.
Key facts about Astrid include:
- Age: 9 years and 8 months when announced
- Weight on arrival: more than 180 pounds
- Previous home: Dallas Zoo
- Species: yellow-backed duiker
- Scientific name: Cephalophus silvicultor
Astrid is unusually large even for her species. The zoo lists the typical yellow-backed duiker weight at roughly 100 to 175 pounds.
Why Yellow-Backed Duikers Are Unusual
The yellow-backed duiker is the world’s largest duiker species. Its name comes from the Afrikaans word meaning “diver,” describing how the animal quickly dives into vegetation when frightened.
| Feature | Yellow-backed duiker |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Central and western African forests |
| Diet | Fruits, leaves, seeds and bark |
| Typical height | About 2.5 feet |
| Typical length | About 4 feet |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened |
These forest antelopes have short horns and a distinctive yellow patch of hair across the back. Their populations face pressure from hunting and habitat disturbance. The IUCN category “Near Threatened” applies to species approaching a threatened classification.
Maryland Zoo Already Has Much Smaller Duikers
Astrid is not the zoo’s only duiker. Maryland Zoo also keeps blue duikers, including animals visible seasonally in the African aviary.
The size difference is striking. An adult female blue duiker usually weighs about 8 to 16 pounds, while Astrid weighed more than 180 pounds when she arrived. Visitors can find her in the African Journey area near the Giraffe House.
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