12) ~Scimitar-horned Oryx ~

More about 12) ~Scimitar-horned Oryx ~

**Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) - Sahelo-Saharan (reintroduced projects)

Status: Previously extinct in the wild; reintroduction programs underway.

Range/Countries: Native to Sahelo-Saharan region (reintroduction in parts of Africa).

Habitat: Desert and semi-desert grasslands.

Diet: Grazing herbivore - grasses and desert vegetation.

Lifespan: ~20 years in wild/managed care.

Reproduction: Seasonal breeders; single calf typical.

Ecological role: Grazers that shaped desert grassland dynamics.

Main threats: Overhunting, habitat degradation, competition with livestock.

Conservation notes: Captive-breeding and large-scale reintroduction projects are model conservation efforts; long-term monitoring and community buy-in required.

[A desert icon, the scimitar-horned oryx vanished from the wild in the late 20th century and became a test case for rewilding and cooperative conservation programs. Art of the oryx can carry themes of restoration and the human role reversing local extirpations.]

2025 September 30