2 rare oryx die at National Zoo
31-10-2009 Associated Press, The Washington Examiner, USA
WASHINGTON — The National Zoo says two older Scimitar-horned oryx, which are extinct in the wild, have died.
The IUCN Red List counted these animals as extinct in the wild from 2000 to 2004. There are now populations in Israel (introduced) and Tunisia (re-introduced) and there may also be some in Chad. There are over 1,250 in zoos and wildlife parks around the world and over 2,000 on ranches in Texas where they are hunted. This beauty was seen at the London Zoological Society's Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, England.
A 17-year-old female oryx died at the zoo's main campus on Oct. 24. The animal had been anesthetized two days earlier for a routine health assessment, but during her recovery she became agitated. She died while being anesthetized again for an emergency follow-up exam.
A 16-year-old male oryx died at the zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va., on Oct. 14. He died while also being anesthetized for a routine reproductive assessment.
Zoo spokesman Pamela Baker-Masson says it's always risky to anesthetize animals.
Scimitar-horned oryx once lived in northern Africa. The zoo now has one remaining on exhibit and a herd of 13 surviving at its research center.
(Bron: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/)
(Bron foto: http://www.flickr.com/photos/67307569@N00/2481253292/)
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