You’ve heard of a baker’s dozen, but what about a Bison’s?

Six fluffy American Bison calves have been born at Monarto Safari Park and are finding their hooves on the Mallee Plains.

Assistant Curator of Ungulates, Mark Mills, said it was an exciting time for the herd.

“It’s has been a couple of years since we’ve had bison calves, so it is really exciting to welcome not just one, but six, little ones this month,” he said.

“Bison calves are standing and moving around soon after they are born, but they stick close to their mum for the first few months.

“Once they are more independent, the little ones form a crèche group and start playing together.

“We actually have two more pregnant females, so it’s been a real success this season for the species.”

And it’s not just the bison herd, which has grown at the park!

Twin Barbary Sheep lambs and an Eland calf have also joined the fold, with a stripey Plains Zebra foal born in the behind-the-scenes Wild Africa precinct.

“It’s been an amazing start to spring for all of our Ungulate species at Monarto,” Mark said.

“All of these species are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, so each birth is a win for their conservation.”

Characterised by their long, shaggy brown coats, the American Bison herd spend the majority of their days grazing in their fifteen-hectare habitat.

Tens of millions of American Bison once dominated the grassy plains of North America, however during the 19th-century commercial hunting, habitat loss, and bovine diseases drastically reduced their numbers, almost to the point of extinction.

The American Bison population has today partially recovered but is still classified as near threatened with only 15,000 individuals remaining in the wild.

For more information, please visit monartosafaripark.com.au.