As previously announced, Bloom, a Scimitar-horned Oryx at Tama Zoo, gave birth on March 15, 2014. Two weeks later, on March 29, Saffron gave birth to a baby. The baby is female and has been named Sakura.

This is Saffron's second time raising offspring, and she is very calm. On the other hand, her offspring, Sakura, seems to be either very wary or just laid-back, as she rarely shows herself standing up to animal keeper. However, her facial features are firm, and each time the keepers peek into the room, her sleeping position and the direction of her head change, so they see that she is growing well and leave her in the care of her mother, Saffron.

In the past few days, Sakura has been going outside with her mother, and we've even seen her running around the small playground. The cherry blossoms in the park are at their peak right now. Enjoy the cherry blossoms and try to spot little Sakura!

*Saffron and Sakura, mother and child, have not yet joined the group and are currently in the "sub-paddock" (a fenced-in area) near the center of the exercise area. Please understand that they may not be available for viewing due to health management reasons.

Photo above: Mother "Saffron" and child "Sakura"
Photo below: The child sits down to hide.

[Tama Zoo]

(April 7, 2014)