Scimitar-horned oryx

Oryx dammah

Since the 1980s, the scimitar-horned oryx has been considered extinct in the wild. It survives thanks to a few thousand individuals living in captivity.

Lifestyle

Unlike the addax, the scimitar-horned oryx never ventures into the true desert. It confines itself to savannahs, steppes and semi-deserts. This animal is vegetarian with herbivorous tendencies and is mainly a grazer.

At the beginning of the 20th century, large migrations of scimitar-horned oryx were observed across the Sahel during the dry season. These animals, in search of water and food, gathered in their thousands. However, since the 1950s, recreational hunting, competition with livestock and desertification have caused irreparable damage to these populations. No scimitar-horned oryx have been observed in the wild since 1983.

Distinctive features

The scimitar-horned oryx can be recognised by its long horns, white face and coat.

To survive in arid regions where water resources are scarce, this animal is able to rely solely on the water contained in the food it eats: it can go without drinking for several weeks!

The scimitar-horned oryx: an endangered species

The scimitar-horned oryx is a large antelope that has been extinct in the wild since the 1980s. It was decimated by hunting, wars and competition with domestic herds. Only a few thousand individuals of this species remain in captivity.

The Muséum's efforts to protect the scimitar-horned oryx

The breeding programmes in which the Muséum's zoos participate enable the conservation of a viable population, from which individuals have been reintroduced into the wild since 1995 in Morocco, Tunisia, Niger and Chad. Some of these animals are tracked by transmitters during the process of reintroduction into the wild. Upstream, these reintroduction programmes include raising awareness among local populations about the protection and promotion of the Oryx, as well as the sustainable management of their environment.