Scimitar-Horned Oryx Returns to the Wild After 23-Year Extinction

The scimitar-horned oryx, a type of antelope once thought to be extinct in the wild, has seen a positive change in its status. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has downgraded its classification from ‘Extinct in the Wild’ to ‘Endangered.’

Conservation efforts to safeguard various animal species usually follow two approaches. One involves taking care of the animals outside of their natural surroundings. This is known as the ex-situ approach. The other method, called the in-situ approach, involves looking after the animals in their native home or nearby habitat.

The scimitar-horned oryx has seen improvement in its status because of these two types of conservation efforts, according to IFL Science.

The scimitar-horned oryx, a sizable antelope uniquely suited for desert living, has elegant horns that curve like a scimitar sword, hence the name of the species. Once widespread across much of North Africa, these animals faced a severe decline in the 1980s due to extended periods of drought and rampant hunting for their horns and meat.

Consequently, there was a significant population decline. By the year 2000, the species was officially declared “Extinct in the Wild,” surviving only in captive collections around the globe, as reported by IFL Science.

Recovery initiative to reintroduce scimitar-horned oryx

A recovery initiative kicked off in 1985, led by the ZSL London Zoo and Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF). This project delved deep to explore the feasibility of a reintroduction program for the scimitar-horned oryx.

💥NEW RED LIST UPDATE💥

The most recent IUCN red list update, announced today, highlights two exciting conservation successes.

Both Saiga antelope and Scimitar-horned Oryx have now been classified at lower risks of extinction as a result of continued conservation action. pic.twitter.com/t7KqYHSk7o

— IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (@AntelopeSG) December 11, 2023

Surveys carried out in 2009 and 2013 identified promising locations for potential reintroduction, specifically within Chad’s Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve. Tim Wacher, ZSL’s senior conservation biologist, highlighted the significance of the scimitar-horned oryx’s return, attributing it to a prolonged conservation effort for the species.

He highlighted the careful planning and steadfast support from the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi. In a statement to IFLScience, Wacher noted, “All Saharan antelope species are severely threatened, but this project is proof that with the right will and resources, we can secure a future for them all.”

In 2016, a significant milestone was achieved as twenty-one scimitar-horned oryxes were reintroduced to the wild in Chad within a secure fenced area. Each animal was equipped with a GPS satellite collar, enabling experts to closely monitor their movements.

The team experienced joy when, approximately six months post-release, the first scimitar-horned oryx calf was born in the wild after more than thirty years. Building on this success, in January 2017, an additional fourteen oryxes were released into the same area, as reported by IFL Science.

Since the project’s inception, the objective has consistently been to establish a robust, self-sufficient oryx population. The effort in Chad thus far has seen remarkable success, with the birth of over five hundred calves in the wild.