MARWELL Zoo is celebrating its latest births of threatened species including a Przewalski's horse foal and a scimitar-horned oryx calf.

Both species became extinct in the wild and became reliant on captive breeding and reintroduction for their survival.

Keepers say the newborn Przewalski's horse foal and the scimitar-horned oryx calf, the second born in recent weeks, are both thriving.

Other new arrivals include a Hartmann's mountain zebra and a dorcas gazelle calf both classed as 'Vulnerable' extinction in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Director of Conservation, Dr Tim Woodfine, said: "These births are welcome additions to their respective European Ex situ Programmes (EEPs), which are specially managed assurance populations. Our Przewalski's horse foal and scimitar-horned oryx calf are reminders that these species disappeared from their natural ranges but have since been successfully reintroduced.

"Our Tunisia team has helped reintroduce scimitar-horned oryx and continues to monitor them to four protected areas. We have also contributed animals and technical support to re-establish the species in the huge Ouadi Rimé‐Ouadi Achim Wildlife Reserve in Chad as part of an ambitious project undertaken by the Government of Chad and the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Sahara Conservation Fund.

"Przewalski's horses had disappeared from the wild by the end of the 1960s. Marwell played a key role on forming a cooperative breeding programme for this species and planning its reintroduction.

"We since provided animals for reintroduction in Mongolia and Hungary, and for grazing management projects in European nature reserves".

The charity recently published its Impact Report for 2020 detailing its work around the world to restore nature and promote sustainable living.