Wheaton's Cosley Zoo welcomes four new animals

Cosley Zoo is celebrating the arrival of four new animals: a Guernsey dairy cow, a Norwegian fjord horse and two miniature donkeys.

The new Guernsey dairy cow, Holly, is 7 years old. Holly comes from a local dairy farm where she has given birth to several calves in the past. Holly was a favorite at the dairy farm because of her friendly personality. She and the zoo's Angus cow, Ember, already have become fast friends.

Gretchen Birka, is a 10-year-old Norwegian fjord mare. She comes from northern Wisconsin, where she was raised alongside many other Norwegian fjord horses. One of the world's oldest breeds, the Norwegian fjord is believed to have been domesticated more than 4,000 years ago. While smaller in stature than many horses, the fjord maintains a drafty or stocky appearance which makes them very versatile and hardy. Fjords are usually a brown dun color and maintain primitive markings, which include a dorsal stripe and zebra striping on the legs.

The zoo also welcomes two new miniature donkeys, Elmo and Jessie. These donkeys resided on a farm in nearby Kane County where they were raised with llamas and goats. Elmo and Jessie's exposure to other unique animals has made them feel right at home at Cosley Zoo. At 13 years of age, Elmo has experience with public settings. In the past, he spent three summers visiting Lord's Park in Elgin. While 11-year-old Jessie was more of a homebody, she is already enjoying all the attention zoo visitors are lavishing on her.

Cosley Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Of approximately 2,800 USDA-licensed wildlife exhibitors, only 213 have achieved AZA accreditation.

For information or to become a Cosley Zoo member, visit www.cosleyzoo.org or call (630) 665-5534.