Arabian Oryx

Once widespread across the deserts of the Middle East - from Iraq and Syria to the Negev and Sinai - the Arabian oryx was driven to the brink of extinction by intensive hunting following the introduction of firearms and motor vehicles. The species disappeared from Israel by the end of the 19th century, and the last wild Arabian oryx was recorded in Saudi Arabia in 1972.Fortunately, conservation efforts had begun long before the species vanished from the wild. In 1955, four Arabian oryx from one of the last surviving populations in Saudi Arabia were captured and transferred to the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona, whose desert climate closely resembles that of the Middle East. This ambitious international rescue initiative, known as "Operation Oryx," also included the London Zoo and laid the foundation for saving the species from global extinction.With the establishment of the Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve in 1978, four breeding pairs were brought to Israel from the Los Angeles Zoo, followed by additional animals from the San Diego Zoo. The population thrived under managed care, and by 1997 conservationists were ready to begin returning Arabian oryx to their natural habitat. Since then, dozens of Arabian oryx have been successfully reintroduced into the Negev and Arava deserts, where free-ranging herds once again roam the landscapes they inhabited for thousands of years.The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is proud to maintain a breeding herd as part of this national conservation effort. Animals born at the zoo contribute to the long-term survival of the species, with selected individuals transferred to reintroduction programs that help strengthen Israel's growing wild population.The story of the Arabian oryx is one of conservation's greatest success stories - a powerful reminder that through international cooperation, scientific management, and long-term commitment, a species once lost in the wild can be given a second chance. Thanks mainly to efforts of various zoos, the Arabian oryx became the first species in history whose conservation status was improved from Extinct in the Wild to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, marking a landmark achievement in global wildlife conservation and offering hope for the recovery of other endangered species.

Photo: Shai Ben Ami