MARWELL Zoo’s baby boom has continued as staff welcomed their second arrival in as many months.

An Arabian oryx was born to seven-year-old mum Renee four weeks ago.

Little Lawrence is said to have settled in well and is often seen bounding around his paddock.

Collection manager Ian Goodwin said: “We are delighted by this birth because not only are the young oryx great to watch as they explore their new surroundings but this male calf was born to the most genetically important male in the programme. He is very important for the future of the Arabian oryx.

“There is still some way to go to help this species thrive in the wild. Building up and maintaining genetically healthy populations of animals such as this is very important.”

Arabian oryx were once widespread on the Arabian Peninsula of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. However, the last wild oryx was shot in 1972 and they are now classified as extinct in the wild.

Earlier this month Marwell’s first anteater pup, Rojo, was born to |mum Chiquita and dad Ernesto.