Three scimitar-horned oryx calves were born at the Milwaukee County Zoo this spring, within eight days of one another.
Zaman, a male, arrived first, on March 22, weighing 8 kilograms. His mother is Zahara and his name is Arabic for “keeper of time.” Yaji, a female, was born on March 25 at 7.3 kilograms to mother Babe, and is named for a spice blend from the North African region the species comes from. Yashi, also female, was born on March 29 at 8.3 kilograms to mother Moza. Her name comes from the Hausa language and means sand.
Why three at once matters
Scimitar-horned oryx are listed as Endangered. The zoo’s oryx came to Milwaukee on a breeding recommendation under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, which coordinates the species across accredited institutions, and Tim Wild, curator of large mammals, points to that as the reason three births in one season carry weight.
The calves spent their first months behind the scenes close to their mothers. They can now be seen in the African Water Hole habitat.
