Abu-Zinada A.H., Habibi K., & Seitre R. 1988. The Arabian oryx programme in Saudi Arabia. In: Dixon A. & Jones D. (eds). Conservation and Biology of Desert Antelopes. Including the Proceedings of the 25th Anniversary Celebration of 'Operation Oryx'. Christopher Helm, London. Pp. 41-46.

Summary: Although once prized amongst the Arabs for its beauty and power the Arabian oryx had been hunted to extinction in the wild by the early 1970s. This paper describes the efforts of conservation authorities in Saudi Arabia to restore the species through a programme of captive breeding and re-introduction. Founder animals arrived at the NWRC, Taif, from the World Herd and from collections in the Middle East. Oryx are kept in large enclosures at Taif, where breeding groups of one male and five or six females are maintained. Initial plans are to increase the size of the captive herd to 80 animals, at which time the first releases could take place. On the basis of recorded social behaviour, migration patterns and former distribution, release sites along the western edge of the Rub' al-Khali are being considered. The release phase will make use of the experience gained through the oryx re-introduction programme in Oman.

#2-1988-001