The first ever quadruplets of the rare tayra born in Prague Zoo

Prague Zoo has been keeping tayras since 2004, the first successful breeding of this species was in 2011 and it was the first tayra cub to be born in the Czech Republic. The photo shows one of the females. Author: Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

“Normally a female gives birth to one or two young, so quadruplets are very unusual in this species. A prerequisite for successful breeding is to separate the female from the male prior to giving birth. We also provide the mother with the necessary peace and quiet by putting up a screen between the tayra exhibit and the visitor area. We’ve now removed this and visitors can finally look at the young,” explains Pavel Brandl, the curator of mammals at Prague Zoo.

The three females and one male were born on August 31st to a six-year-old female and an eleven-year-old male, who came to Prague Zoo in 2011 from the Papiliorama Zoo in Switzerland. Prague Zoo has been keeping tayras since 2004, the first successful breeding was in 2011, the first time this species had been successfully bred in the Czech Republic.

Most Mustelidae are active at night. The tayra, however, is also active during the day, which makes it a very attractive species for Prague Zoo’s visitors. According to the keepers, the best time to see the cubs is around 10am and 3pm when they are feeding. They still drink milk from their mother, but they are also starting to taste various kinds of fruits, rats, chickens and quails.