Oryx dammah
The 21st of May 2021 is observed as Endangered Species Day, and to mark the occasion we’re featuring a very special antelope, the Scimitar-horned Oryx, which is officially classified as extinct in the wild.
Naturally the Scimitar-horned Oryx occurred in a band across the Sahel and Sahara from Senegal and Mauritania in the west to Sudan in the east, and also in the countries along Africa’s Mediterranean coast from Morocco to Egypt. Sadly however, these beautiful antelope were driven to extinction in their native haunts by overhunting and competition with livestock and haven’t been seen in the wild since the early 1990’s. That we have any left today is thanks to zoos and game farms all over the world, including here in South Africa – it is estimated that there are at least 15,000 oryx in these collections stemming from a captive breeding programme initiated in the 1960’s. Most excitingly, attempts are currently being made to reintroduce the species to reserves in Chad, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia sourcing animals from these facilities.
In their natural distribution range Scimitar-horned Oryx lived nomadically in herds usually numbering between 12 and 70, though larger congregations were not unheard of. They inhabited the semi-desert ecotone surrounding the Sahara, moving into the true desert only when periods of exceptional rainfall resulted in good grass cover there. They’re predominantly grazers but also feed on herbs and leaves, and are independent of open water for drinking, being very well adapted to hot and dry environments. Cows give birth to single calves at any time of year, following an 8 month gestation. Adults stand about 1.2m high at the shoulder, with their graceful horns growing to that same length! At up to 210kg, bulls are bulkier than the cows which weigh up to 140kg.
DeWetsWild 
Oh, they are such gorgeous creatures. 😍 Wonderful photos, Dries. I’m so glad they’re being protected. 👏🏻
Thank you very much, Sylvia. I also hope that the reintroductions are most successful; I’d love to see them wild where they belong!
They are beautiful!
Oh most definitely, Kathy. Imagine how beautiful a large herd of them trekking through the desert would be!
Such amazingly beautiful animals, Dries. Terrific photos. I hope they are protected and thrive.
Thank you very much, Jane. I’m glad we still have some remaining to be able to give them another shot at life in the wild, where they belong.
It’s sad that such beautiful creatures are in danger of extinction. I just hope that they prevent that from happening. Thank you, D. 🙂
I think their continued existence in “captivity” is at least assured, H.J. and I have real hope that the attempts at reintroducing them to their native haunts will prove successful.
Sorry to see a beautiful animal disappear into extinction. Hopefully reintroduction into the wild will start them out in new herds. The American Bison was also close to extinction but laws and thoughtful husbandry brought them back to roaming the wilds of protected parks.
I think that’s the exactly the kind of example the mentioned countries are hoping to emulate, John.
Indeed!!
What spectacular horns! I’m happy to read that they’re being saved.
Sometimes we humans do seem to realise that we can do good to the environment too.
What a sad state of affairs. If they are reintroduced into their native regions I hope that they will be safe there this time round!
I also hope that they find a new-found love and appreciation form the human inhabitants on their return.
I hope so too.
“Sabelgemsbok” is ‘n wonderlike naam vir hulle – die horings het my juis aan die gemsbok laat dink. Dis ‘n pragtige dier, dankie dat jy ons van hom kom vertel het, Dries.
Dankie vir die gawe kommentaar, Tannie Frannie. Hulle is ook redelik naby verwant aan ons inheemse gemsbokke, vandaar die fisiese ooreenkomste – lyk bekend, en tog so anders.
This is fascinating – I had no idea we had some here, albeit not in ‘the wild’ as it were. Thank you for highlighting these oryx.
It makes me think of that last lonely quagga mare, far from home at a zoo in Amsterdam at the end of the 1800’s, being the last of her kind on the planet. Thank goodness that fate need not befall the Scimitar-horned Oryx.
What a sad image you have conjured up!
I think that’s exactly why we need a day like “Endangered Species Day” so that we can be reminded of our mistakes and be jolted into not making them again.
Hulle is pragtig. Wat is hulle Afrikaanse naam?
In Afrikaans word hulle sabelgemsbokke genoem, Toortsie.
Dankie 😁
Goeiste maar hulle is mooi!
Ons stem heelhartig saam, Una!