The orphaned male Scimitar Horned Oryx has been placed with the male goat kid to ensure he learns the essential social behaviour he needs to interact with other animals.

Veterinary nurses have played ‘mother’ to the oryx in the first weeks of his life after his own mother died during labour, leaving staff with no alternative but to hand-raise the calf.

For the past month the nurses have been regularly bottle-feeding ‘Bou’ - named after a river system where the species comes from in Africa - ensuring he continues to grow and develop as normal.

“Bou has been growing quickly and is already showing signs of a true male oryx - kicking his legs into the air and trying to spar with his little horns,” VCQ supervisor Jane Burgess said.

The male goat kid is encouraging the specific animal behaviours he needs to coexist with other oryx.

“The pair is getting along really well, they both enjoy playing with each other and are becoming close companions,” Ms Burgess said.

The goat kid will act as the oryx’s companion until spring when he will be introduced back to the Scimitar Horned Oryx herd on exhibit, at which time the goat will be retired to a farm.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is the first institution in the Australasian region to hand raise a Scimitar Horned Oryx calf.