[oman-l] Arabian Oryx catastrophe

[wyrwoll@stud.uni-frankfurt.de]

The Arabian Oryx catastrophe

The Arabian Oryx (Oryx gazella leucoryx), probably the most famous game in
the Arab tradition, seems to disappear from the wild a second time. 

The reason for the decline of the original population of this desert animal,
endemic only to the Arabian Peninsula, was poaching. The use of firearms and
jeeps led to an extinction of the precious game in most parts of Arabia
until the 1960s. In 1972, finally, the last wild Arabian Oryx was killed by
a poacher in Oman. 

Fortunately, some Arabian Oryxes were kept in captivity and could form the
breeding stock of a restored population. Some of these were released in
central Oman in 1982 and 1984, where H.M. the Sultan Qaboos has always been
very supportive to protecting the country's natural treasuries. The oryx
thrived well in Oman, even there was a severe draught and poaching to a
certain level continued. In 1996, their number reached about 400 heads.

What could have been a unique success story in nature preservation, being a
model for the rest of the world, was destroyed by certain elements showing
an irresponsible behaviour. These poachers captured animals from the wild in
order to sell them to private zoos abroad. The main victims of their
activity were females and their calves, an important part of which died
during and after capture. As some 40 animals could be secured in captivity,
there is now - due to continuing poaching - a number of less than 100 oryxes
in the wild, with about ten of them being females. Such a population is not
viable anymore.

The Diwan of the Royal Court of Oman and the WWF started a programme in
order to prevent further poaching and trade of Arabian Oryxes. May we hope
that their efforts will allow Arabia's high game to re-cover and to be
preserved for generations to come.

Thomas W. Wyrwoll