Alpaca Chico and donkey Marta: an unusual friendship at Tbilisi Zoo - video
In this video blog series from Tbilisi Zoo, we tell the story of an unlikely friendship between an alpaca and a donkey
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Life at the Tbilisi Zoo: video
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Chico is the only alpaca at Tbilisi Zoo, but he is far from lonely: he lives alongside donkeys and happily spends his time playing with them. He has a calm temperament and enjoys being around people, rolling in the hay and eating well.
Chico’s parents — a pair of South American alpacas, Thomas and Carmen — were gifted to Tbilisi Zoo by Riga Zoo many years ago. The pair quickly adapted to their new environment, and were soon joined by a neighbour: a donkey named Karaman, who was placed in their enclosure.
Karaman arrived by chance. He had been wandering the streets of Tbilisi, and as his owner could not be found, he was brought to the zoo.
Some time later, a similar situation occurred: another stray donkey was found in the city — this time a white female. She was also brought to the zoo, where Karaman found a companion, Masho.
Donkeys are highly social and friendly animals, and like alpacas, they get along easily with others. Their shared enclosure proved to be a harmonious one.
Today, the zoo is home to a large and lively donkey family, the youngest member of which is Marta, born in February 2026. She is still shy and keeps her distance from people — she needs time to get used to them.
Tbilisi Zoo‘s history spans nearly a century. It was founded on 10 February 1927 on the basis of the Caucasian Society for the Acclimatisation of Animals, which had been keeping wild animals since the early 20th century, though without official zoo status.
The zoo was originally built on 70 hectares in the Vere River gorge. Over the years, the expansion of the capital — and later the devastating flood of 13 June 2015 — significantly reduced the territory of the old zoo. Today, it covers five hectares and is home to around 1,500 animals, each with its own story..
In this video series, we will introduce you to the residents of Tbilisi Zoo. We will show how their day unfolds, how they interact with other animals and people, and how their behaviour changes depending on the weather and the season. Get ready to hear many fascinating stories.
Alpacas at Tbilisi Zoo
