Arabian Oryx

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The Arabian Oryx is a stout, well-muscled antelope of striking appearance. This is the smallest species of the Oryx genus (Oryx dammah, Oryx gazella and Oryx leucoyx). The height is about 90 cm the shoulder, the weight is 65-70 kg. The horns are slender, pointed and have a slight curve rearward. They grow up to 75 cm. Most of the body is either creamy or bright white in colour, which contrasts with dark markings on the head, legs and tail. The dark markings are a rich, chocolate brown, which may vary in intensity. The Arabian Oryx is highly specialised for its desert environment as the bright upper coat reflects the suns rays.

Did you know?
that the Arabian oryx is the most highly specialized of the oryx for living in true desert extremes? Their light colour reflects the desert heat and sunlight, and they can erect their hair on cold winter mornings to capture warmth to hold in their thick undercoats. Their legs also darken in the winter to absorb more of the sun's heat.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	ARTIODACTYLA
Suborder	RUMINANTIA
Family	BOVIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Oryx leucoryx
Name (English)	Arabian Oryx
Name (French)	Oryx blanc, Oryx d'Arabie
Name (German)	Arabische Oryx, Weisse Oryx
Name (Spanish)	Oryx blanco, Oryx de Arabia
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Zachi Evenor

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Reintroduced in: Bahrain, Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia
Habitat	Arid plains and deserts
Wild population	Approx. 1.000 (reintroduced) (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	734 reported to ISIS (2005)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 73 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Alisdair

Why do zoos keep this animal

The Arabian oryx became extinct in the wild by the late 1960s due to indiscriminate hunting. In an effort to help save these animals, nine Arabian oryx from private collections in Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, as well as from the London Zoo, were moved to the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona. These nine oryx became known as the World Herd. A second breeding group of three, from a zoo in Saudi Arabia, was started at the Los Angeles Zoo, and subsequently many other zoos joined this conservation breeding programme, from which animals could be reintroduced to various of their former range states.

How this animal should be kept

Arabian oryxes should be kept in social groups of one adult male and several females with their offspring. For up to five adult animals an outdoor enclosure of at least 800 m² is required, which should be enlarged by 80 m² for each additional adult. The enclosure should be well structured, frequently used areas, e.g. at the entrance to the stables, should be paved. The soil should be well drained. Landscaping may involve tree roots, large natural stones or trees. Because horned animals may injure each other in confined, some in confined spaces, it is vital that they should be stabled separately.

The indoor stabling is dry and free of drafts, and it is heated to 14-16 degrees Celsius during winter. Arabian oryxes are grazing animals and eat low-protein food. It is important therefore for feeding that they have continuous access to normal good hay. Supplementing this diet with concentrates shoulfd therefore be restricted to very small doses. The animals are happy to eat soft wood twigs with or without leaves at any time of the year.