Scimitar-horned Oryx
    Image: Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Scimitar-horned Oryx

    Oryx dammah

    Antelope & Gazelle
    Endangered

    Best Months to Spot

    JFMAMJJASOND

    Most sightings recorded in Feb, Mar, Nov. Data from GBIF - a global database of verified wildlife observations by researchers and citizen scientists.

    Conservation Status

    Conservation hub
    EN - EndangeredIncreasing population

    Faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

    The scimitar-horned oryx faced extinction due to hunting and habitat loss. Remarkable reintroduction programs, primarily in Tunisia and Chad, have led to a growing wild population. Responsible safari tourism provides vital funding for these conservation efforts and raises awareness, helping to ensure the long-term survival of this magnificent species.

    The scimitar oryx, also known as the scimitar-horned oryx and the Sahara oryx, is an Oryx species that was once widespread across North Africa and parts of West and Central Africa. In 2000, it was declared extinct in the wild on the IUCN Red List, but in 2023, it was downlisted to endangered, with a reintroduced population in Chad. This particular oryx is adapted to harsh desert conditions and can survive for months without drinking water. A grazing animal, it derives most of its daily moisture intake from plants.

    Description adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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