AN ENDANGERED Dama Gazelle has been born at Valencia's Bioparc open-air safari centre – doubly good news, since her birth shows animal life at least is carrying on as normal despite the national lockdown.
The Nanger Dama Mhorr, known as the 'Dama Gazelle', 'Addra Gazelle' and 'Mhorr Gazelle' disappeared altogether from its natural habitat and has only survived in captivity thanks to huge efforts by conservationists and leading animal centres such as the Bioparc.
Given that nobody will be able to see her or her fellow 'residents' for some weeks, the Bioparc is calling for the public to vote on a name for her, so they can get involved from behind closed doors.
Possible names given are Esperanza ('hope', in Spanish), Alegría ('happiness'), Azahar ('orange blossom'), or Hope – in English – which can be chosen via the Bioparc website.
Mother and baby are said to be in great health, although they will have to join the human population of the country for the first few days by staying indoors.
After that, provided they continue to do well, they will be able to join the rest of the herd in the 'multi-species' zone set up to resemble the African savannah, their natural home, as far as possible.
The Bioparc has been working on an international conservation programme since 2014 aiming to reproduce the Addra Gazelle in order to keep its population rising and guarantee the continuity of the species.
Thanks to the scheme, numerous baby gazelles have been born in the last six years in Valencia and been moved onto other centres when they reached adulthood to form new herds.
But, clearly, given that the current national situation is unprecedented, none have ever been born during a complete lockdown.
Being born when the entire country is in quarantine has helped delighted staff to overcome the adversity of the situation, and the gazelle as a species has shown itself to be resilient and able to surmount very real threats to its survival.
Gazelles have been reintroduced to their natural habitat over the last five years or so, and have never shown signs of becoming extinct again.
As for the new baby, “she shows that life goes on, despite the strange spring we're having, and is evidence that, working together, united for the greater good, we can keep going and get through this,” the Bioparc says.
The above photograph of the new baby with her mum was taken by Bioparc staff.
