Rare Oryx Born at the National Zoo in the United States

The National Zoo's Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia recently welcomed a new and extremely rare, and I must say undeniably adorable, addition to their family.

A female oryx calf was born on April 9, 2010 to 3-year old Jena and 13 year-old Dr. Bob. This is the first birth of its kind at the National Zoo in 13 years.

Oryx are extinct in the wild. The National Zoo is working to breed the oryx to help the numbers grow. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute currently has 16 and there is one at the zoo in Washington.

You can see a photo of the new calf here. You can read a bit more about the calf at the web site of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.