The scimitar-horned oryx is listed on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) list as extinct in the wild.
Habitat loss and over hunting are the main threats to the species; they were hunted for their horns, almost to extinction. They once occupied t
he whole Sahara but are now considered to be extinct in the wild.
Tim Rowlands, assistant curator of higher vertebrates, is delighted to welcome the new additions which were all born between May and June.
"These four oryx are very important as they will play a vital part in the conservation of the species," he said.
"This is a new blood line and as they are all males they will eventually go on to form new breeding herds at other collections."
The youngsters coats are currently brown, their faces have white markings and they have small horns coming through. Eventually their coat will be white with a reddish-brown chest and black markings on their face. Their horns grow to about a metre in length and will curve backwards.
Chester Zoo is home to 13 Scimitar-Horned Oryx, including the new additions. They can be found on the west side of the zoo next to the Grevy's Zebra.
All four calves were fathered by male oryx Ronnie, who came to the zoo last year.
The birth of one of the calves will be followed by viewers of the new Zoo Days series, which starts on Five on September 29 and which will once again give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the Upton zoo.
The full article contains 297 words and appears in Evening Leader Wrexham newspaper.
