Scimitar-horned oryx reintroduction
Once roaming freely across Africa’s Sahelian grasslands, the scimitar-horned oryx was declared Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN in 2000, due to overhunting and habitat loss. In 2023, this iconic species made a remarkable comeback thanks to a groundbreaking conservation effort, and was reclassified to Endangered.
Bringing back the scimitar-horned oryx
In a monumental effort led by Sahara Conservation, with the leadership of the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi, and in partnership with the Government of Chad, the Scimitar-horned Oryx Reintroduction Project was initiated in 2008. With support from international partners including the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, the Zoological Society of London, Saint Louis Zoo and others, we embarked on a mission to bring this species back to its natural habitat.
In 2016, the first group of 25 scimitar-horned oryx was flown from Abu Dhabi to central Chad, marking the beginning of an ambitious reintroduction program. After acclimatization in pre-release pens, these oryx were released into the Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve (OROAFR), one of the largest protected areas in the world.
The first scimitar-horned oryx calf was born in Chad in December 2016. Since then, the population has flourished, with over 500 wild-born calves and the wild population now exceeding 600 individuals
Monitoring and sustaining healthy populations
Continuous monitoring and management are crucial to ensure the long-term survival of the reintroduced population. Our team, along with local and international experts, uses advanced monitoring methods including satellite collaring and field-based activities to track the oryx’s behavior, dispersion, reproduction, and feeding preferences.
Recent achievements
The reclassification of the scimitar-horned oryx to Endangered by the IUCN Red List on December 11th, 2023, marks a significant milestone in one of the most ambitious conservation programs ever undertaken.
The project has been an umbrella for a multispecies approach, paving the way for the recovery of other critically endangered Saharan species and our project now includes addax, dama gazelle and North African ostrich. Our combined efforts aim to improve the management and protection of the OROAFR, creating a sustainable environment where both wildlife and local communities can thrive.
The downlisting of the oryx marks a milestone in one of the most ambitious conservation programs ever undertaken and contributes to putting the Sahara and the Sahel more firmly on the global conservation agenda.
It also reminds us that efforts must continue to secure the long-term survival of what is still a threatened species. Further work is required to increase sustainability of the restored oryx population and to improve the management and integrity of the habitat it any many other species need to thrive in the wild.
Our partners
