SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX: A case study of conservation efforts.
Fisher S. Pyburn
The scimitar-horned oryx once lived in the entire area from the Atlantic Coast of North Africa across the Sahara Desert
to the eastern border of the Red Sea. This is where they were first described by Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar, a German scientist, in
1826 and given the scientific name Oryx dammah (Gilbert 2008). Originally most populations were along the northern and
southern edges of the Sahara Desert (Iyengar et al. 2007). Journal entries indicate that, in 1936, herds of 10,000 were sighted in
Chad (Iyengar et al. 2007). By that time, populations along the northern rim of the Sahara Desert had vanished and by the
1970s, herds of only fifty animals were found along the southern edge of the original range (SCF 2006-2007). The last known
photo taken of a scimitar-horned oryx in the wild was taken in 1980 in Niger (SCF 2006-2007). Data from Chad in 1987
showed approximately 1,000 individuals, of which were thought to be the last remaining in the wild. An additional survey was
conducted in 2001, and there were none found (Gilbert 2008). Then the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) publicized this information declaring the scimitar-horned oryx “extinct in the wild” on its Red List of Threatened Species
(IUCN 2004; Mungall 2007). Tragically scimitar-horned oryx in the wild went from abundant to extinction in just a few short
decades.
Scimitar-horned oryx have been in zoological collections since the 1890s (Gilbert 2008), but records show in the
1960s, Chad became the base camp for oryx exportation. From here, the oryx were shipped all over the world (Iyengar et al.
2007). As a consequence, two new populations of scimitar-horned oryx were formed: one within zoological institutions and one
in private collections, especially Texas ranches. Zoo populations have 1,675 scimitar-horned oryx among 204 institutions
worldwide according to the 2007 stud book evaluation (Gilbert 2008). Scimitar-horned oryx on private ranches in Texas have
increased from thirty-two animals in 1999 to over 2,000 animals today, and the population is increasing (Mungall 2007).
Currently it appears that Texas ranches are substituting as the “new wild” for scimitar-horned oryx.
So what is to blame for the drastic decline of scimitar-horned oryx in North Africa? The main reason for the decreasing
oryx population is over-hunting, with modern weapons and vehicles (SCF 2006-2007). Reports explain how wealthy Middle
Eastern hunters pay some North African governments dividends to sport-hunt various animals of the Saharan region including,
the scimitar-horned oryx (Youth 2002). The overall cause of scimitar-horned oryx extinction is most likely a combination of
over-hunting along with recent drought due to desertification and competition with the increasing need for agricultural land by
locals (SCF 2006-2007). These oryx are well adapted to the desert; however, they are also accustomed to migrating into arid
grasslands on the outer edges during calving season for additional grazing opportunities. With nomads occupying these areas
for livestock utilization, oryx are pressured into the unforgiving center of the Sahara where resources are depleted. When
resources are limited, oryx will abandon calves or post-pone estrus until favorable conditions (SCF 2006-2007). Unfortunately,
the oryx’s native habitat also falls in a military warfare zone (SAF 2006). Many North African countries have recently suffered
from civil wars. Scimitar-horned oryx are accidently placed in a situation where wildlife conservation is the last concern. With all
these factors contributing, the scimitar-horned oryx has been driven to extinction in its homelands.
Since the 1980s, efforts have been underway to protect the scimitar-horned oryx. Currently fourteen North African
nations are seeking conservation plans to protect and reintroduce six species of Saharan antelope, including the scimitar-horned
oryx (Youth 2002). The overall strategy is to create subpopulations in protected areas under high fence. Each area will consist of
several thousand hectares and will be managed daily. When populations are stable, the fences will be removed, thus allowing
for the scimitar-horned oryx to range freely once again and resume normal behavior in their native environment (SCF
2006-2007). Tunisia started the first reintroduction project in 1985 with the release of ten scimitar-horned oryx into its Bou
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Hedma National Park. This park is completely fenced and became the first ever ex situ project for scimitar-horned oryx (Gilbert
2008). By 2004, Bou Hedma National Park had an oryx population of 120 animals (Woodfine et al. 2004). Also in Tunisia, a
1999 reintroduction of ten scimitar-horned oryx were placed in Sidi Toui National Park and another four in Oued Dekouk
National Park. In 2003, two females were taken from Sidi Toui and placed in Oued Dekouk (SCF 2006-2007). As of 2005,
there were approximately thirty-five oryx in Sidi Toui National Park and nine oryx in Oued Dekouk National Park (Gilbert
2008).
Morocco was the second country to allow reintroduction projects. In 1995, five scimitar-horned oryx were released
into Morocco’s Souss Massa National Park inside a 14,000 hectare high-fenced area known as Arrouais Reserve. Again, in 1996,
more scimitar-horned oryx were added and by 2006 there were approximately 270 scimitar-horned oryx under protection in
Morocco (Gilbert 2008; Woodfine et al. 2004).
Senegal also participates in repatriation for scimitar-horned oryx. It started in 1999 with the release of eight animals
into Guembeul Fauna Reserve. This reserve is 720 hectares of acacia woodland and is completely fenced. By 2003, the herd had
an estimated twenty-six animals and eight were then taken from the Guembeul Fauna Reserve to a neighboring park called
Ferlo National Park with 600 fenced hectares. By the end of 2004, the two parks had a total of thirty scimitar-horned oryx
(Woodfine et al. 2004). Senegal is also the partner country for more repatriation work from North American contributors.
Currently the Second Ark Foundation is working with the Exotic Wildlife Association and the Sahara Conservation Fund to send
ten to twelve more oryx to increase genetic diversity of the Senegal populations. (SAF 2006).
Just recently in 2007, eight scimitar-horned oryx were taken from Bou Hedma National Park in Tunisia to Dghoumes
National Park in Algeria. Nine more animals were added shortly afterwards, and by the end of the year twenty-one oryx were
counted in a census of Algeria’s national park (Gilbert 2008). So far, reintroduction projects under fenced areas in North Africa
are producing thriving herds of scimitar-horned oryx.
An international stud book for the species has been created. It maintains the annual birthing and deaths for every oryx
kept in zoos worldwide. The stud book was created by Alan F. Rost at the Dickenson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri (Mungall
and Sheffield 1994). Only zoos use the stud book records to manage their scimitar-horned oryx populations in what is called
the Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSP is a program among North American zoos that strives to manage and conserve selected
species in captivity. The SSP for scimitar-horned oryx is a cooperative breeding plan that was designed to preserve our captive
population, in case anything happened to the existence of the species in the wild. The National Zoo at the Smithsonian
Zoological Park has started artificial insemination with its scimitar-horned oryx. They believe this can help ensure their herd has
the highest genetic potential without having to transport animals between zoos (SNZP 2008). Even though zoo management
has had many advances and maintains a healthy and viable population, the system is not perfect. Zoos have limited space and
have restricted many breeding programs to a minimum (Mungall 2007).
In addition to zoos working to maintain good genetics among captive herds, there are multiple international programs
working together to protect the scimitar-horned oryx as a newly reintroduced species. The Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group
(SSIG) is working together in North Africa to protect the wildlife of that area (Gilbert 2008). They work in conjunction with
non-government groups like the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) and the Conservation and Restoration of Sahelo-Saharn
Antelope (CRSSA) to get animals back into their native lands (Woodfine et al. 2004). The SCF is in charge of the
reintroduction of animals into Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia (SCF 2006-2007). Scimitar-horned oryx are also protected
by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on the
Conservation of Wild Animals (CMS) (Woodfine et al. 2004).
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It is difficult to imagine that as big as the Sahara Desert is, there is no real safe areas outside fenced parks where
oryx can thrive. Maybe the scimitar-horned oryx is just the beginning of a chain reaction that may accelerate the extinction of
other species. The scimitar-horned oryx is not the only animal struggling right now; other species are on the brink of extinction
including the addax (Addax nasomaculatus), dama gazelle (Gazella dama), and slender-horned gazelle (Gazella leptoceros). In
contrast, one must argue that without trying to reintroduce scimitar-horned oryx and similar species, then all the captive work
around the world would have no true conservation purpose. Maybe someday with the success of recent reintroduction projects,
scimitar-horned oryx can tiptoe their way back into the Sahara; nevertheless, they are going to need a little help from North
African governments, funding partners with serious commitment, adequate protection, favorable climate conditions, - and luck.
Literature Cited
Gilbert, T. 2008. International studbook for scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammah. Marwell Preservation Trust. Colden Common,
Winchester, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
Iyengar, A., T. Gilbert, T. Woodfine, J.M. Knowles, F.M. Diniz, R.A. Brenneman, E.E. Louis Jr., and N. Maclean. 2007. Remnants of
ancient genetic diversity preserved within captive groups of scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). Molecular Ecology
16: 2436-2449.
Mungall, E.C. 2007. Exotic animal field guide. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas.
Mungall, E.C., and W.J. Sheffield. 1994. Exotics on the range: the Texas example. Texas A&M University Press, College Station,
Texas.
(SAF) Second Ark Foundation. 2006. Project brochure. http://www.secondarkfoundation.org
(SCF) Sahara Conservation Fund. 2006-2007. SCF projects: Tunisia and SCF species profile: scimitar-horned oryx. The Living
Desert, Indian Wells, California, USA. http://www.saharaconservation.org
(SNZP) Smithsonian National Zoological Park. 2008. Reproduction and reintroduction of desert antelope. Smithsonian
Institution, Washington D.C., USA. http://nationalzoo.si.edu
Woodfine, T., T.C. Gilbert, and H. Engel. 2004. A summary of past and present initiatives for the conservation and reintroduction
of addax and scimitar-horned oryx in North Africa. European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, Executive Office,
Kolmarden, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Youth, H. 2002. Saving the Sahel. ZooGoer 31: 3-12.
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