A keeper admires an Arabian oryx newly arrived at what is now called the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Today we see national and international news coverage announcing that the Arabian oryx is officially saved in the wild. This is a tremendous step for endangered species and shows what collaborative conservation can do. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park was instrumental in this recovery effort, as most of the animals that are in the wild today have descended from individuals born at the Park or were collected from other institutions, brought to the Park, and readied for their return to Oman in the early days of our endangered species breeding program. These animals, more than 20 in all, were sent back to Oman from 1980 to 1989 in a series of 6 moves.
Two Arabian oryx await shipment to Oman in 1980.
Back then, reintroducing animals to their native country was a new thing. I remember the first flight: long journeys from the Safari Park to New York, then to Amsterdam, and finally to Oman. The last flight was in a small cargo plane flying 300 miles (480 kilometers) into the desert to the reserve area with just me and a few young oryx. It was a long flight for the animals as well as the staff who took care of them en route. I will never forget unloading the oryx at the site. I am still not sure who was more relieved when they were unloaded—the animals or me!
Safely arrived!
Because animals like oryx are naturally shy of predators and flighty in their behavior, we usually moved oryx that were young and very used to the presence of humans. Once they arrived in Oman, they were placed in highly managed areas and supported by people caring for them—surrounded by the desert but cared for much as they had been at the Safari Park. It took years for them to become fully acclimated, and it is really their descendants that are truly wild again in the deserts of Arabia.
Any animal release into the wild is wonderful. But I wish you all could have been there to see these beautiful, long-legged white antelope as they moved out into the pale desert sands of their native home—and the look of pride and caring given them on the faces of the Omani caretakers. These memories will always be some of my best.
Randy Rieches is curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Well done, Randy. Thanks for sharing this with us.
What wonderful news Randy. I remember reading about the reintroduction back in the 80′s and about the villagers that would follow the Oryx to help keep them safe. There also was a great documentary done on them in the early 90′s.
I then didn’t hear anything new and forgot about them so it was a pleasure to read this article. The one thing I do remember is that they never drink water! Makes sense since they live in the desert but that is what first comes to mind when I see this beautiful animal.
Great news! I hope it inspires people to support collaborative conservation.
What wonderful news, Randy! Thanks for sharing. A beautful animal saved from extinction ~ this is yet another reason for HOPE!
So wonderful to hear this!! I remember so well those early days at the Wild Animal Park (now called Safari Park)–I always looked forward to that moment on the WGASA monorail when we could see these living ‘Unicorns’. So proud of all that the Park has done to help save these beautiful creatures and that the people of their homeland have watched over them so well. Blessings to you all!!
It was because of that first release of the Arabian Oryx that I chose to support the Zoo — I’ve been a member ever since, and appreciate the good work being done to support endangered species!
Moderator’s note: We appreciated your continued support, Janet. Thank you!
What a wonderful success story! All the hard work done by you guys is fantastic. Thanks for keeping me motivated to continue to support wildlife conservation and education on shaylatansey (dot) com….you’ve inspired me to do a piece on the Oryx and I can’t wait to donate part of my profits to you guys! You deserve it!
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Shayla.