Dubai zoo gets a new baby

Dubai - The zoo in Jumeriah is celebrating the birth of the Arabian gazelle, an endangered antelope species.

There is a new kid on the block to welcome visitors to the Dubai Zoo. But you have to wait till the New Year to get a glimpse of the baby gazelle born three weeks ago at the zoo.
However, the zoo in Jumeriah is celebrating the birth of the Arabian gazelle, an endangered antelope species.
The baby gazelle was born to the oldest couple among the one dozen Arabian gazelles in the zoo, a senior official told Khaleej Times on Wednesday.
"The fawn is a girl and I wish to name her Reem, which means gazelle in Arabic," said Abdulla Al Ali, the head of Animal Keeping Section at the Zoo. He said both the baby and the mother are doing well.
"Our veterinary specialists ensured it was a safe delivery. The baby started wobbling and standing up on its feet within half an hour after the birth. That was the first sign that she is healthy."
The fawn is currently fed on mother's milk and fresh grass. However, she has been kept away from everyone else, including her father.
"Male gazelle can get jealous when his partner is giving more attention to the baby and sometimes it can bite its own baby," explained Ali.
Both the mother and baby have been housed in a separate enclosure. "Thousands of people visited the zoo during the National Day holidays. But, we could not keep her out for them to see as she was just a couple of days old at that time. Visitors will be able to see her from the New Year," he added.
sajila@khaleejtimes.com 

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