Baton Rouge Zoo welcomes birth of one of the 'most endangered gazelles in the world'

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — There is a new addition at the Baton Rouge Zoo.

The zoo's first dama gazelle calf was born around noon on Saturday, Aug. 16.

The BR Zoo welcomed a female and male dama gazelle in December of last year. They arrived at the same time as the zoo's oryx.

When they arrived at the zoo, staff thought the male was about 2 years old and the female was around a year old.

According to the BR Zoo, the female was bred toward the end of her quarantine period, which led to the pregnancy.

The gestation period for dama gazelles can range from six to six and a half months.

The BR Zoo stated that dama gazelles are among the most endangered gazelles in the world, with only a few hundred remaining in the wild due to habitat loss, hunting, and human disturbance.

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