This week has been an emotional rollercoaster for staff and their furry friends at the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm.
Spring usually means new baby goats for the popular petting zoo, but this past Tuesday, momma goat, Moon, suffered from complications while going through labour.
As staff struggled to deliver her newborn, Moon sadly gave birth to a stillborn baby.
Soon after, Moon’s sister Venus went into labour, where she gave birth to a large baby boy.
Within minutes, Venus unexpectedly gave birth to her second baby goat while unaware and occupied with cleaning her son, Jupiter.
In a Facebook post, staff recalled the emotional events of the birth, “While she was busy cleaning up her little son she gave birth to a second baby – a tiny girl. This little one was so small that Venus barely had any contractions and really didn’t seem to feel her slide into this world,” staff wrote.
While mourning the loss of her newborn, staff moved Venus’ daughter into momma Moon’s pen as a way to mend the mothers broken heart.
“Venus was entirely occupied with her son and didn’t pay attention to what else was going on so we – unnoticed by her – lifted her little daughter over into Moon’s stall who was still calling and looking for a baby.” staff wrote.
“After a short but tense time during which we encouraged Moon to lick and smell the baby girl, she decided that she would take on this little girl as her own: she became her daughter- her light at the end of her sadness – her Solaris!”
Despite the sad outcome of Moon’s delivery, staff at the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm are happy both Moon and Venus can now enjoy motherhood in peace as they watch their children grow healthy.
To see the furry family, visitors can stop by the farm every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Beacon Hill Children’s Farm
- Where: 815 Circle Drive
- When: Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
