New breeding hopes as Whipsnade Zoo welcomes male antelope
A male antelope has arrived at Whipsnade Zoo, bringing hope for the extinct-in-the-wild species
Last updated 4th Dec 2023
A male scimitar horned oryx named Sabre has arrived at Whipsnade Zoo, in Bedfordshire, to join other desert antelopes of the same breed.
The species is on the brink of extinction, with a handful left in the wild which partly resulted from previous breeding efforts from the Zoo.
Over the past few years, only females had been living at Whipsnade, proving a healthy adjustment to British climate, however showing little hope for breeding.
"The species was actually listed in the year 2000 as extinct-in-the-wild..."
The arrival of Sabre from a zoo in Denmark is bringing back hope for the future of the species.
Zookeeper at Whipsnade, George Spooner, said: "The species was actually listed in the year 2000 as extinct-in-the-wild so the conservation efforts of the zoo breeding them up has allowed Abu Dhabi to start a wild herd."
"In 2004, we sent two of our females to live there."
Breeding programmes work across borders, with zoos often sending animals overseas to give each species the best chance at repopulating and taking species from extinct-in-the-wild to critically endangered, and out of the critically endangered category.
"...it's good to bring Sabre into the group so that we can start breeding again and hopefully start contributing to Abu Dhabi again."
Mr Spooner said: "We have the potential to gave eight babies a year, and there is also the potential to swap with other zoos."
"They're quite happy and we have had quite a successful rate in breeding them in the past so that's why it's good to bring Sabre into the group so that we can start breeding again and hopefully start contributing to Abu Dhabi again."
Each species living at the Zoo is given the best chance at survival, with closely monitored care, food, and living conditions.
"They adapted quite well because obviously we have a nice summer, where there is nice lush grass for them where they also have plenty of space, and in the winter we provide them with a nice hot yard that we heat up so it replicates the temperature they would be used to in the wild", added Mr Spooner.
Whipsnade Zoo has proved successful through its various breeding programmes in the past, showing hope for the future of the scimitar horned oryx desert antelope.