Endangered Baby Oryx Born at National Zoo

A baby scimitar-horned oryx was successfully brought into the world at the National Zoo’s conservation center. It weighed twenty pounds at birth.

Steve Monfort, director of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute said of the birth, “Because most of the species we work with are critically endangered or extinct in the wild, each offspring born here is a real treasure and a testament to our scientific efforts.” Scimitar-horned oryx were hunted to near extinction for their horns. They are extinct in the wild. Sixteen now live under the Smithsonian Institute’s care.

Their native home is Saharan Africa, and there is a plan to eventually re-introduce them there. Such a plan, of course, depends upon success in the endangered species captive breeding program. The baby that was born is female. It has been over ten years since the birth of an oryx at the Virginia location.

Image Credit: Smithsonian Institute

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1:19AM PDT on May 5, 2013

good news,thank you for sharing

May 5
send a green star

Terry V.

6:18PM PDT on Mar 31, 2013

thanks

March 31
send a green star

Donna H.

4:14AM PDT on Jun 22, 2012

Good news! Thanks for the article.

June 22
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Danuta W.

12:13AM PDT on May 2, 2012

Thanks for the great post.

May 2
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Heather M.

9:13PM PDT on Apr 28, 2012

So glad that a baby scimitar-horned oryx has been born and may they continue to multiply in leaps and bounds but what an indictment on humanity when these animals are hunted to extinction in the wild. We were put on the Earth to care for Her!!! For those working to save endangered animals and bring them back from extinction, keep up your good work.

April 28
send a green star

John B.

8:55AM PDT on Apr 28, 2012

Thanks for the wonderful story Jake.

Sandi C.

9:03AM PDT on Apr 27, 2012

HOPE THEY MAKE A COME BACK AND AREN'T ENDANGERED ANYMORE!

April 27
send a green star

Waltraud U.

9:23AM PST on Jan 3, 2012

Fine to them - feeling well.

January 3
send a green star

Carole R.

6:50PM PDT on Sep 26, 2011

I would love to see these beautiful animals have a come back in the wild. It might never happen but if they continue to have successful captive breeding, who knows?

September 26
send a green star

Jonathan Y.

2:07PM PDT on Oct 22, 2010

Very cool! I hope our National Zoo does not follow the insanely wrong practices of the EEP in culling 'excess' endangered animals.

How can there be an excess of an endangered species?