New arrivals at the life-saving zoo...
A ZOO has welcomed the arrival of two newborns from species it helped save from extinction with its breeding programme.
Keepers at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire say the scimitar-horned oryx calf and Przewalski’s horse foal are both “thriving”.
Scimitar-horned oryx were once widespread in north Africa but became extinct in the wild in
2000, while Przewalski’s horses, also known as
Mongolian wild horses, were lost in the 1960s.
Both species have been successfully reintroduced to their natural habitats from UK breeding programmes, including at the zoo near Winchester.
The oryx species, which is now classed as critically endangered, have been established in four protected areas oftunisia and reintroduced into a wildlife reserve in Chad.
The wild horses were reintroduced to Mongolia in the 1990s and later to Hungary. This species is now classed as endangered.
Marwell Zoo has also celebrated the recent arrival of two other newborns, a Hartmann’s mountain zebra and a dorcas gazelle calf, which are both vulnerable species.
A Humboldt penguin chick, another threatened species, was also born at the zoo two weeks ago. Drtimwoodbine, its director of conservation, said: “These births are welcome additions. Our Przewalski’s horse foal and scimitar-horned oryx calf are reminders these species disappeared from their natural ranges but have since been successfully reintroduced.”
He added: “Przewalski’s horses had disappeared from the wild by the end of the 1960s. Marwell played a key role in forming a co-operative breeding programme and planning its reintroduction.
“We since provided animals for reintroduction in Mongolia and Hungary, and for grazing management projects in European nature reserves.” He said the full reopening of the zoo will be vital to generate income to support its conservation work.
Marwell was broken into in February by intruders who hurled objects at the terrified animals. Four people arrested in connection with the break-in were released and police last week said their investigation continues.