How are Arabian oryx doing?

[DavidBrown]

Does anyone know how the Arabian oryx reintroduction project is going? There were reports several years ago of massive poaching in their reintroduced range (in Jordan?).

They seem to be disappearing from zoos in California (Los Angeles, Sacramento), and I'm wondering (and hoping) if this is because the reintroduction process has gone well enough that widespread captive breeding is no longer needed.

Any information/insights that people have will be appreciated.

 

[Saro]

Currently, there are probably around a thousand Arabian Oryx in zoos and private collections, so that is not so bad. The situation in the wild is much more difficult and I have no recent updates regarding poaching, but it seems to be a major problem, even in Oman.

 

[Arizona Docent]

The last Phoenix Zoo members magazine had an article about their vet and keeper going to the middle east (Jordan I think, but maybe another country) at the request of officials there to do a checkup on the wild herd. So that at least is a good sign. Unfortunately, I don't know if I saved that article or not (I am not at home right now), so I cannot give any updates beyond that.

 

[condor]

there are probably around a thousand Arabian Oryx in zoos and private collections.

Much more: The IUCN estimates 6000-7000 animals are held in captivity. Most are in big fenced in enclosures in the Middle East. Only a relatively small percentage are in zoos. The wild (reintroduced) populations in Oman, Saudi Arabia and Israel numberd around 1100 animals in 2008. Most are in two proteced areas in Saudi Arabia. Around 800 in Mahazat as Sayd alone but that reserve has reached its carrying capacity and unless it is made larger that population will stabilise or fall a bit. Population in Israel is relatively small (around 100) but growing. David, the problems you think about are in Oman where the small population that remain (about 50) looks doomed but that population was almost ten times higher before illegal capture started happening. With the big political and security problems in Oman I don't think we should expect any conservation work in that country in the next few years at least. They have just started reintroduction in United Arab Emirates and Jordan but that is very new and remains to be seen how well it will go there.

 

[DavidBrown]

Thanks for the information everyone. I appreciate it.

 

[Saro]

Much more: The IUCN estimates 6000-7000 animals are held in captivity. Most are in big fenced in enclosures in the Middle East. .

That really is a surprisingly high number - thank you for posting. Considering where this species was only a few decades ago, it gives a little hope for some other endangered hoofstock. I assume most of these animals are not managed in any way, therefore it will be interesting to see what happens genetically in the future.

 

[Greywolf]

The Lisbon Zoo has a conservation program also and there were animals that were born in the Zoo that were later reintroduced in the wild.

 

[KatherineAlex]

I recently (two days ago) watched a program that said there were about 70+ oryx now running around in Jordan from the original 11 that were re-introduced. Admittedly so, I am not sure if this was just a re-introduction sample for a particular area in Jordan or the entire reintroduced population. However, they did say they were quite happy with the results and continued growth in the oryx population there. BUT they are worried about the possible genetic inbreeding effects of this entire new population coming from the same original 11. As far as I could tell, they regularly take samples from them and the ones found on the show were vary healthy and strong.

I have a question though, is it not possible to recapture a (wild) descendant of the reintroduced oryx and mate it with fresh DNA from a sample of captive (zoo) oryx to open up the gene pool?

 

[Arizona Docent]

Well I am at home now and I found the Phoenix Zoo article I was referring to, but it does not give much detail about overall numbers or health. It basically just says the zoo sent a team of three to Jordan in April 2010 to take blood samples and train Jordanian staff on darting and capture techniques. This took place in the Shaumari Reserve near Azraq, Jordan.

Sorry I cannot be of more help, but it does say they developed a good rapport and plan on collaborating in the future. So the outlook for the Jordanian population at least looks good.