ANIMAL HIGHLIGHT

The Arabian oryx or white oryx is a medium-sized antelopeand is the smallest member of the genus Oryx, native to desert and steppe areas of the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian oryx was extinct in the wild by the early 1970s, but thrives in private reserves, primarily on hunting ranches in Texas. The Arabian Oryx was reintroduced into the wild starting in 1980. 

In 1986, the Arabian oryx was classified as endangered and in 2011, it was the first animal to revert to vulnerable status after previously being listed as extinct in the wild. In 2016, populations were estimated at 1,220 individuals in the wild, including 850 mature individuals, and 6,000–7,000 in captivity worldwide.

The Arabian oryx' coat is an almost luminous white, the undersides and legs are brown, black stripes on the neck,  forehead, nose, and going from the horn down across the eye to the mouth. 

Both sexes have long, straight or slightly curved, ringed horns. It stands between up to 4 ft tall at the shoulder and typically weighs between 350 to 450 lb

Historically, the Arabian oryx probably ranged throughout most of the Middle East. In the early 1800s, they could still be found in theSinai, Palestine, the Transjordan, much ofIraq, and most of theArabian Peninsula. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, their range was pushed back towards Saudi Arabia, and by 1914, only a few survived outside that country. A few were reported in Jordan into the 1930s, but by the mid-1930s, the only remaining populations were in northwestern Saudi Arabia and in the south.

By the middle of the 20th century, the northern population was effectively extinct. The last Arabian oryx in the wild before reintroduction was reported in 1972. 

Like the Addax and so many other animals who are threatened or endangered or even extinct in the wild, the Arabian Oryx thrives in Texas on hunting ranches. The Arabian Oryx' value as a trophy animal funds the efforts to increase the number of Oryx. Without hunting, there would be very few people who would pay to raise herds of Oryx.

Arabian oryxes have been reintroduced across their native range. The total reintroduced population is now estimated to be around 1,000. This puts the Arabian oryx well over the threshold of 250 mature individuals needed to qualify for endangered status.