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Akron Zoo welcomes Speke's gazelle calf

The gazelles live in the zoo's Landon and Cynthia Knight Pride of Africa habitat.

AKRON, Ohio — History has been made, there's a new baby in town. 

For the first time in history, the Akron Zoo has welcomed a Speke's gazelle calf named Aluna. 

The calf was born to Gambella and Gondar, also residents at the zoo. 

Speke’s gazelles are classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. Populations are declining due to loss of habitat, poaching and overgrazing by livestock, such as cattle and goats.  

The Akron Zoo participates in the Speke’s Gazelle Species Survival Plan (SSP) a program that works to establish a genetically-diverse population of endangered species as a safeguard against extinction.

The gazelle's live in the Landon and Cynthia Knight Pride of Africa habitat, a new area of the zoo.

Aluna was born, January 4 and is "doing great." She will make her public debut once the weather warms up, according to Akron Zoo's website. 

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