A spring population boom in an endangered species of antelope has Milwaukee County Zoo staff excited.
Three scimitar-horned oryx calves were born late in March to three different mothers, the zoo reported in a blog post. After some weeks of staying close to their mothers out of the public eye, the calves can now be seen in the zoo’s African Water Hole habitat.
The scimitar-horned oryx is a species of desert antelope native to north Africa. Both genders have long, ridged horns that curve backward.
The baby details, as reported by the zoo in its blog post:
Male calf Zaman was born March 22 to mother Zahara, weighing 8 kilograms at birth. His name is Arabic for “keeper of time,” the zoo stated.
Female Yaji was born March 25 to mother Babe, weighing 7.3 kilograms. Her name refers to a spice blend from north Africa.
Female Yashi was born March 29 to mother Moza, weighing 8.3 kilograms. Her name in the Hausa language means “sand” or “sandy,: the zoo stated.
Male oryz Mercutio is the father of all three calves. Milwaukee County Zoo participates in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan program for this endangered species.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Zoo excited about baby boom in an endangered species
Reporting by Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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