A Pup among Giants

Congratulations, Vonjy and Armand! The zoo’s two new giant jumping rats welcomed a pup into their lives in April. Both first-time parents, the pair keeps a close watch on their baby. Unlike many other rodents, giant jumping rats typically produce only one offspring a year, so a new pup merits a big occasion.

Vonjy and Armand arrived at the Prospect Park Zoo in early January. They are the first residents of the nocturnal wing in the Animal Adaptations exhibit. When the pair gave birth, zookeepers ensured their privacy, covering the exhibit front and restricting access to their holding area.

Giant jumping rats are about as big as rabbits, with extra-large rear paws shaped like a kangaroo’s, which are equally good for hopping. Gregarious animals, they live in complex burrows and communicate with a wide array of trills and barks. Parents mate for life, and often live with their offspring for long periods of time.

The North American population of this endangered Madagascar mammal is quite small, so the zoo’s growing family is making a big contribution to the species. In the wild, a low birth rate, coupled with the threat of predation by feral dogs, contribute to the stresses on its population.

Updated: 6/16/2009