Today's Edition
Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
Nestled in the heart of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, is a remarkable tale of conservation and resilience centred around the Arabian oryx. Once on the brink of extinction, this desert-dwelling antelope has made a triumphant return thanks to dedicated conservation efforts.
Historically abundant across the Arabian Peninsula, the Arabian oryx faced severe decline due to overhunting facilitated by modern weaponry and vehicles. By the early 1970s, the species was nearly eradicated from the wild.
However, visionary conservation initiatives spearheaded by the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan established a breeding programme in Al Ain, which later expanded to Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Fast forward to today, and the results of these efforts are nothing short of astounding. In 2023, the UAE’s Arabian oryx population reached 8,016 individuals, with 5,679 thriving in the Abu Dhabi Emirate, both in captivity and in the wild.
Rivalling the Camel in Resilience
Physiologically adapted to endure the harsh desert conditions, the Arabian oryx boasts a reflective milky coat that helps deflect the sun’s scorching rays and paddle-like hooves that allow it to smoothly navigate sandy soils.
Notably, oryx raise their guard hairs to expose darker skin for better heat absorption in colder conditions. These hardy creatures rival the camel in its resilience in the arid landscape it calls home. They possess a unique circulatory system that aids in cooling their head as they breathe. This process involves heat exchange: as warm arterial blood travels towards the brain, it passes through an enlarged sinus cavity where it is cooled by venous blood returning from the nasal passages.
According to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the Arabian oryx lives up to 19 years in the wild and exceeds 20 years in some captive breeding programmes. These animals are the most arid-adapted species of oryx, inhabiting desert regions with annual rainfall of 50mm or less. They can survive for long periods without drinking, apparently meeting their water requirements from succulent plants and occasionally from dew.
Crowned with elongated and slightly curved horns, the medium-sized mammal is believed to have inspired the unicorn legend. Its mystique also lies in its ability to detect rain a great distance away through following its air-borne smell in search of fresh grazing land. It’s an instinct that once guided local people in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Arabian oryx is a social animal that exists in cohesive herd structures, often led by a dominant male who undertakes the task of protecting and caring for the herd, including mating with females, determining the numbers in the herd, defending it against any external threats, and regulating the behaviour of individuals within the herd to maintain its social unity. These herds, once numbering up to a hundred, now roam protected areas, contributing to the ecological balance of their habitat.
An Inspiration Fauna
Beyond their ecological significance, the Arabian oryx holds cultural importance in the UAE and the wider region.
The endurance and grace of this desert-dwelling antelope along with its iconic physical features have long been an inspiration for Arab poets, who described their beloveds using its aesthetic characteristics.
It was a frequent muse in Arab poetry and art, symbolizing power, dignity and beauty.
Representations of the Arbian Oryx can also be found in the sculptures of some antiquities of the Arabian Peninsula such as on the Grand Tomb at the Hili Archaeological Park, which is part of the Al Ain UNESCO World Heritage site.
Abu Dhabi: Pioneering Conservation
In 1968, the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, initiated the first conservation breeding programme of Arabian oryx in Al Ain. In 1978, four heads (2 males: 2 females) were transferred from Al Ain to Sir Bani Yas Island of Abu Dhabi, marking the beginning of breeding efforts.
By February 1999, the population of Arabian oryx in the island reached 311, further growing to 450 by the end of 2011. In 2007, the first herd of Arabian oryx was released in the Arabian oryx Protected Area in Umm Al Zumul, Abu Dhabi.
This successful reintroduction initiative was expanded to collaborate with other countries in the region, enhancing Arabian oryx release programmes across their natural range.
In 2011, the Arabian oryx achieved a historic feat by becoming the first wildlife species to improve its threat status from “Extinct” to “Vulnerable” on the threat scale of the IUCN Red List Categories of Threatened Species.
Unifying Efforts in the Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Oryx reintroduction Programme of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was established in 2007 under the patronage and management of the EAD.
The programme’s main objective is releasing Arabian oryx into their natural habitats across the range states and establishing populations capable of independently thriving in desert conditions.
By May 2022, the programme released a total of 437 Arabian oryx into several reserves located in the UAE, Oman and Jordan, successfully increasing the wild populations of these majestic animals.
The EAD also plays a pivotal role in regional conservation efforts through hosting and funding the General Secretariat for the Conservation of the Arabian Oryx (GSCAO), a regional initiative that is instrumental in supporting and coordinating conservation efforts between range states, in line with international best practices and standards.
