Scimitar oryx is back from the brink

by Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief

Al Ain: The scimitar-horned oryx, believed to be extinct in the wild, is now on display at Al Ain Zoo following the introduction of an exhibit of endangered species.

It is one of the many species the zoo recently acquired in line with its reintroduction and conservation strategy, said Majid Al Mansouri, managing director of Al Ain Zoo. He said the oryx once lived in areas ranging from Morocco and Tunisia to Egypt and south to Mauritania and Sudan.

Occasional sightings of it have been recorded in Chad and Niger but those reports have not been confirmed, he added.

"The arrival of the scimitar-horned oryx is part of the zoo's long-term strategy to identify and conserve endangered species in the region," said Al Mansouri.