Double the joy: Como welcomes two baby nyala

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is celebrating two new arrivals! A male nyala calf named Hubert was born October 3 to mom Stevie, followed by a female calf born Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 to first-time mom Meadow. Ollie is the father of both calves. Stevie and Hubert now have access to their public indoor habitat, where visitors may catch a glimpse of them, while Meadow and her calf continue bonding behind the scenes.
“Nyala calves are absolutely adorable, with their big ears and beautiful striped coats, and having two arrive so close together makes this an especially exciting time,” said Senior Zookeeper Jill Erzar. “Visitors may now catch a glimpse of Stevie and Hubert in their indoor habitat, while we’re giving Meadow and her little one more time to bond behind the scenes.”
Hubert weighed 13.6 pounds at birth and is the third calf for four-year-old Stevie, who arrived at Como from Pittsburgh in 2023. Keepers describe Stevie as personable and especially fond of snacks from her care team.
Seven-year-old Ollie arrived from Baton Rouge in December 2025 on a Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding recommendation. Shy around people but considerate of the females in his group, Ollie became a first-time father with Hubert’s arrival and welcomed his second calf just 20 days later.
Guests at Como Friends’ “Como After Hours” event on Oct. 22 selected Hubert’s name from three choices provided by Como’s zookeepers. Each name belonged to a participating keeper’s grandfather. Hubert earned 41.5% of the vote, followed by LeRoy with 37.8% and Gary with 20.7%.
The newest arrival weighed 9.3 pounds at birth and is the first calf for two-year-old Meadow, who was born at Como to Stevie in January 2024. Female nyala calves are typically smaller than males at birth. With Meadow’s arrival into motherhood, Stevie is both a new mom and a new grandmother this month!
The honor of naming Meadow’s female calf will go to Como’s dedicated volunteers during a Volunteer Recognition event on Nov. 5. It’s a special opportunity to celebrate the people who give their time and talents to Como while welcoming its newest animal family member.
Both births follow SSP breeding recommendations. These cooperative programs help Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) institutions maintain healthy, genetically diverse animal populations. Nyala are classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Native to southern Africa, nyala are spiral-horned antelope that thrive in woodland and thicket habitats. Females and calves have chestnut coats adorned with white stripes and spots. As males mature, they develop impressive spiral horns and a darker coat. Nyala pregnancies last approximately 210–230 days, or about seven months.
Visitors may now see Stevie and Hubert in their indoor habitat. Meadow and her female calf remain behind the scenes as they bond. Como will share updates about the female calf’s public debut and her name on its website and social media channels.
For more photos and information, visit comozooconservatory.org.