News & Politics

Prepare to Fall In Love With the New Baby Gazelles At the National Zoo

And all the other cute little creatures over in Woodley Park

Two critically endangered dama gazelles, a female and male, were born Sept. 16 and 18, respectively, to mothers Fahima and Zafirah. Photo by Michelle Chatterton.

The National Zoo has welcomed three baby gazelles in the past month, contributing to a veritable “baby boom” of these critically endangered–and dangerously cute–ungulates. The three calves (two males and a female) were born between August 30 and September 18 to three different female gazelles and a male gazelle, Edem.

The zoo posted pictures of the first baby at the beginning of September.

Cheetah Conservation Station keepers are celebrating the arrival of a critically endangered dama gazelle! The male calf was born Aug. 30 to mother Adara and father Edem. He's bonding behind-the-scenes with mom for now; we will provide an update when he's on exhibit! Learn more: http://s.si.edu/2gPhCk5. (Link in our profile)

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A spokesperson from the zoo says keepers are closely monitoring the calves, who appear to be healthy, nursing regularly, growing, and behaving normally. Although the baby gazelles will remain off-exhibit throughout this month, you’ll be able to catch their public debut in late October.

The gazelles are not the only baby animals to flood the zoo’s social media feeds with cuteness this year.

Two litters of red panda cubs were born in July.

This baby orangutan is still tiny enough to cuddle its mother. 

And who could forget the adorable tiger cub who had to be transferred to the San Diego Zoo this month?

?The cub sleeping on the plane. He is cuddling with one of his toys our team brought with them. #TigerStory

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It may be a while before we have a new baby giant panda, but until then, there’s plenty of cuteness to go around over in Woodley Park.

Courtney Vinopal is a former Washingtonian editorial fellow. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, and previously worked as a press attaché for the Embassy of France in Washington, where she ran the institution’s social media accounts and newsletters. She lives in Woodley Park.