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Louisville Zoo welcomes baby addax as species faces possible extinction

Louisville Zoo welcomes baby addax as species faces possible extinction
REPORTS, I’M JACK KEENAN. THE HENRY DOORLY ZOO AND AQUARIUM CELEBRATES A SIGNIFICANT BIRTH. THIS IS A DAMA, THE ZOO’S NEW PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS. ZOOKEEPERS SAY SHE WAS BORN IN JUNE. SHE NOW WEIGHS ABOUT 50 POUNDS AND HAS A LOT OF GROWING TO DO. THE ZOO SAYS A FULL GROWN PYGMY HIPPO CAN WEIGH ANYWHERE FROM 300 TO 300 AND 50 TO 600 POUNDS. RIGHT NOW, ADAMS IS ENJOYING HER TIME SWIMMING AND EXPLORING HER HABITAT IN THE LEIGH JUNGLE. ZOOKEEPERS SAY PYGMY HIPPOS ARE
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Louisville Zoo welcomes baby addax as species faces possible extinction
A baby boom continues at the Louisville Zoo.Related video above: Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo announces birth of female pygmy hippopotamus calfThe zoo announced Thursday that it had welcomed a baby addax. That's at least the third baby to be born at the zoo in the last several weeks.The female calf arrived on Aug. 23 and weighed 19 pounds.The zoo said the baby's parents are Reesie and Winfield, both 6 years old.The calf, who has not yet been named, will be off-exhibit for now while she bonds with her mother.The zoo said it has had a successful breeding program with addaxes, which are experiencing critical challenges in the vanishing wild.It said the animal's population has drastically diminished, and some say they are on the verge of imminent extinction. "It is important to note these births are all recommended and carefully planned via the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. Aimed at maintaining the genetic diversity of managed animal populations in human care, the SSP contributes to the conservation of various species,” Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney said in a news release. “We look forward to celebrating the arrival of all our newborns at the Zoo with our guests.” This latest birth brings the total of addaxes born at the Louisville Zoo to 61. Recently, the zoo welcomed a tiger cub and a baby giraffe. They also welcomed an infant gorilla for fostering, so there will be lots of babies to see at the zoo.

A baby boom continues at the Louisville Zoo.

Related video above: Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo announces birth of female pygmy hippopotamus calf

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The zoo announced Thursday that it had welcomed a baby addax. That's at least the third baby to be born at the zoo in the last several weeks.

The female calf arrived on Aug. 23 and weighed 19 pounds.

The zoo said the baby's parents are Reesie and Winfield, both 6 years old.

The calf, who has not yet been named, will be off-exhibit for now while she bonds with her mother.

The zoo said it has had a successful breeding program with addaxes, which are experiencing critical challenges in the vanishing wild.

It said the animal's population has drastically diminished, and some say they are on the verge of imminent extinction.

"It is important to note these births are all recommended and carefully planned via the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. Aimed at maintaining the genetic diversity of managed animal populations in human care, the SSP contributes to the conservation of various species,” Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney said in a news release. “We look forward to celebrating the arrival of all our newborns at the Zoo with our guests.”

This latest birth brings the total of addaxes born at the Louisville Zoo to 61.

Recently, the zoo welcomed a tiger cub and a baby giraffe. They also welcomed an infant gorilla for fostering, so there will be lots of babies to see at the zoo.