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01st Aug 2018

A rare, extinct in the wild, oryx has been born in Dublin Zoo

Alan Loughnane

dublin zoo

Fantastic news…

A rare scimitar-horned oryx, a species that is classified as extinct in the wild, has been born in Dublin Zoo.

The calf was born on Wednesday, 25 July to the delight of staff at the zoo, with the new healthy new calf weighing approximately 25kg.

The new arrival beings the number of rare oryx at the Dublin Zoo herd to seven.

Due to overhunting, competition with domestic livestock and habitat loss, numbers of the oryx have declined rapidly in the wild.

The species are now classified as extinct in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as there has been no definitive evidence of their presence in the wild since the early 1990’s.

Commenting on the birth, team leader at Dublin Zoo Helen Clarke-Bennet said” “We are so pleased to welcome our newest addition to the scimitar-horned oryx herd and recognise the impact this birth makes on the conservation efforts being made to protect this species.

“Both mother and calf are doing extremely well – we are delighted to report he was up and running about just one hour after birth.”

Dublin Zoo have not put a name on they young fella just yet, but we’re starting the campaign to call him Diarmuid right now.

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