Icon of the Jordanian desert...this is how the Arabian Oryx returned from the brink of extinction

Editor's Note: Earth Call is an editorial series from Ofoq News committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, and the solutions to address them. Through the Sustainable Planet initiative, Rolex has partnered with Ofoq News Network to raise awareness and knowledge on key sustainability issues and inspire positive action Dubai, United Arab Emirates – A herd of Arabian Oryx roams the free-grazing area of ​​the Shoumari Wildlife Sanctuary in Jordan (watch the video above).

When wandering around the reserve, of which 60% of its area is desert valleys, the visitor sees a group of animals that are considered rare in the Middle East, such as ostriches, gazelles, and wild donkeys. Obaida Al-Kharisha, the operations supervisor at the reserve, said that it was established to be a center for the reintroduction of the Arabian Oryx, which has become completely locally extinct in the country, with the last animal recorded roaming in its natural habitat in 1965.

Al-Kharisha added that overhunting and the disappearance of natural habitats were among the factors that led to the extinction of the Arabian Oryx, of which there are currently about 120 heads in the reserve thanks to the efforts made to preserve them. “Introducing new blood” Al-Kharisha said that maintaining a vibrant and sustainable herd is an essential aspect of keeping the Arabian Oryx. This is done by diversifying the genetic sources among the herd members, especially since the reserve has received Arabian oryx from different countries over the past years, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

In addition to improving genetic diversity, this step prevents problems such as the death of newborns due to their inability to adapt to their environment, a problem that the reserve faced in the past. Al-Kharisha pointed out that "the blood samples that were taken from the newborns and sent to specialized laboratories showed that the problem was the result of mating between closely related animals."

The star of the Al-Shomari Reserve The Arabian Oryx is considered the “star” of the reserve, and a safari tour takes eager visitors to see them. The Jordanian architect, Rahma Al-Hiyari, went through this safari experience in 2022, and was keen to document her experience. She said: “I did not imagine that two hours away from my home there was a wildlife paradise in the heart of the Jordanian desert.”