Desert Antelope Thrives Thanks to Conservation Success

Following conservation efforts in the United Arab Emirates, the population of Arabian oryx in the country’s largest nature reserve has increased by over 20% in under four years, complementing the authorities’ commitment to preserving biodiversity.

“Arabian oryx is an iconic species of the desert landscape and a symbol of our cultural heritage, and was almost hunted to extinction in the wild in the early 1970s and only survived in captivity,” says Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri, secretary general of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. “Thanks to extensive captive breeding of the species undertaken by the late Sheikh Zayed, the species was saved. This project has become an example to be followed across the world and represents great success for protection and captive-breeding programmes.”

In 2007, there were only 160 Arabian oryx on the 6,000-square-kilometer Al Dhafra reserve, hence the establishment of the Arabian Oryx Reintroduction Programme. According to the latest aerial survey, 946 animals now live on the reserve, showing an impressive 22% increase from just four years ago. Today, the whole of the U.A.E is home to around 10,000 Arabian oryx, half of which are in Abu Dhabi alone.