Maryland Zoo welcomes addra gazelle calf

The Maryland Zoo has announced addra gazelle, Blanche, has given birth to calf, Jinx. The zoo’s gazelle herd now consists of 3 animals.

“We’ve been keeping Jinx warm and dry in the barn to bond with her mom. She’ll make forays outdoors as she grows and the weather warms up,” expressed Erin Grimm, mammal curator at the Maryland Zoo, in an organizational release.¹

Addra gazelles (Nanger dama) are also referred to as the dama gazelle and mhorr gazelle. They make up the largest and tallest gazelle species. Native to Africa’s Sahara Desert area, these beautiful animals are critically endangered as a result of habitat loss and overhunting.

The birth was the result of a recommendation from the Addra Gazelle Species Survival Plan (SSP) coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).¹ SSPs offer breeding recommendations to promote genetic diversity, aiming to ensure the health of the individual animal, plus the long-term survival of the species population to help save animals from extinction.

The Addra gazelles can be found in the warmer seasons in the African Watering Hole habitat adjacent to the rhino, ostrich, and zebra.

Reference

Maryland Zoo announces birth of gazelle calf. News release. Maryland Zoo. January 24, 2023. Accessed January 25, 2023.