UNDER MUM'S GUARD: Monarto hyena Forest with her new cub. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL Source: adelaidenow
THIS shy little ball of fluff didn't want to leave mum's side when it showed its face to the public for the first time since its miracle birth.
The images of the yet-to-be-named cutie captured first-time mum, Forest, keeping watch over her newborn as they poked their heads out of the off-limits exhibit on Thursday.
Monarto Zoo staff are thrilled with the birth, for which they were forced to perform the first ever hyena caesarean in Australia.
As Forest struggled to deliver her cub naturally, zoo keepers and veterinarians had to step in after her labour lasted nearly three days.
Senior carnivore keeper Claire Geister said the cub's birth was touch and go.
"We revived it. When we removed if from mum, it wasn't breathing," she said.
"It could have gone wrong so many times (but) it seems to have gone really smoothly."
Ms Geister said Forest was a great mum.
"She is protective, but she's also pretty relaxed as well," she said.
"It (the cub) doesn't venture out without mum. I'm pretty sure it was the wind that scared it today."
Like all spotted hyenas, no one will know whether it's a male or female until official DNA results confirm this in a few weeks.
Forest will decide when it's time to bring it out with the rest of the hyena clan.
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