Eleven Oryx Born at Monarto Safari Park

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: October 27, 2021 8:53 pm

Scimitar-Horned Oryx Calves Monarto Safari Park

One of the scimitar-horned oryx calves born this month with an adult at Monarto Safari Park

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

Monarto Safari Park have celebrated the birth of six Scimitar-horned oryx calves, a species which is extinct in the wild. With the six arrivals this month the zoo have now welcomed 11 calves this year.

The new arrivals bring the herd in the Wild Africa precinct to just under 50 but with another calf expected any day now this milestone is not far off.

“There’s still at least one more mum to give birth,” says keeper Haidee Kinter, “so this herd should hit the half-century mark any day soon.”

When the latest newborn was discovered Haidee was on hand to ensure the calf was well. She also determined the gender and microchipped the youngster to ensure accurate record keeping in to the future.

“This little one is a male,” said Haidee. ‘We are giving all the newborn oryx yellow outer ear tags to make them identifiable as being born in 2021. He looks healthy and well,” she finished before carefully returning him to his mother.

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The Scimitar horned oryx was previously found in a wide range across North Africa. Unfortunately in 2000 they were listed as extinct in the wild following uncontrolled hunting, excessive drought and grazing of limited vegetation by domestic livestock.

At Monarto Safari Park an insurance population of Scimitar-horned oryx are adjusting to life in the new Wild Africa precinct. This area will be home to the largest safari experience outside Africa.

Guests staying at the resort hotel currently being built by a private investor, Gerry Ryan will get to view oryx, zebra, giraffe, rhino and Cheetah from open-sided vehicles.

Monarto Safari Park have housed scimitar-horned oryx since 1989 and over 9,000 are kept in zoos, safari parks and ranches around the world.