Chester Zoo Chester Zoos Tigers

I think the groups remaining in Britain are all single sex now, but that may not be deliberate.

I admit I don't know what the regional plans are for this species....it may well be that there are sufficient in situ activities brought about in part by the zoos participating in the captive-breeding programme to warrant a 'winding down' of Arabnian oryx breeding in this country. I can kind of buy the argument that space is required for ungulates in more urgent need of conserving, but I wouldn't say Warthog or Red River Hog for example are of higher conservation priority. They are just very in vogue at the moment as display animals.

The really weird thing is that the Scimitar-horned oryx, in a similar situation in some ways (in the wild), and being less well-known as a success story for zoos, is still kept in large numbers in this country. Even the safari parks hold some groups.

I missed what happened to Edinburgh and the Arabian oryx....there was outrage when they culled some males a few years back and now they don't have any at all. Dudley also stopped keeping them in the last year or so.

I could be missing something, maybe the Arabian population was very old or inbred compared to the Scimitar-horned, or possibly you can keep the latter on grass easily which makes for a better-looking display. Any ideas?
 
The Scimitar horned, with its long sweeping horns is probably a more spectacular species as an exhibit, than the Arabian. Arabian Oryx are the smallest oryx too. Maybe that has something to do with it?
 
Nope, it has something to do with the 5000 or so individuals in captivity in the Middle East. Also, stock are currently not required for any reintroduction projects in range countries. That somehow makes them a lot less endangered and the urgency to keep them on is lacking ...........

Still being firm favorites with myself, I think it is a shame that these days Arabian oryx are ordained to live out their reproductive lives in sub-standard accomodation with no public appeal.

I will check with the EEP people what the future targets for Arabian oryx in Europe are.

On the contrary, both scimitars and addax are right in the middle of various projects for release in North Africa. This makes them more wanted in EAZA zoos. Nonetheless, in particular some zoos with addax are still discontinueing keeping them (contrary to EEP policy on the matter).
 
What a turnaround from the situation in the 1960's.

'Caroline' the female at London that went to join the World Herd in Phoenix was considered a great rarity. Other zoos would have given their eyeteeth probably to exhibit such a rare and high profile species.

And now they are relegated to '2nd class' exhibit status...
 
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