Asmodé J. F. & Khoja A.R. 1989. Arabian oryx captive breeding and reintroduction in Saudi Arabia. In: Seal U., Sausman K., & Mikolai J. CBSG Aridland Antelope Workshop, San Antonio, Texas. Pp. 109-127.

Summary: Saudi Arabia has long been involved with captive breeding of Arabian oryx. Four of the founders of the World Herd came from collections of King Saud bin Abdulaziz. An additional pair was acquired from Saudi Arabia by the Los Angeles Zoo. His Majesty the late King Khalid established a herd of Arabian oryx on his farm at Thumamah near Riyadh using oryx from American zoos and from various Gulf countries. Thirty one oryx were received in 1982. Unfortunately, after the King's death crowded conditions in the enclosure led to high calf mortality and numbers ceased to increase. It was decided in 1986 to establish a captive breeding programme based on scientific principles. This resulted in the creation of the Taif Center in 1986. Of the 72 oryx at Thumamah, 57 (32:25) were transported by air in communal crates to Taif in April 1986. Between June and October 1986 a severe outbreak of bovine tuberculosis manifested itself in Taif, with a total of 21 animals dying directly or indirectly from the disease. To tackle the tuberculosis problem, the following strategy has been adapted: (1) animals born before November 1987 were considered members of the infected herd and isolated in individual pens where they received a nine month treatment of three antibiotics; (2) calves born in the infected herd since November 1987 are considered members of the filter herd, removed from their mothers at birth; (3) calves are tested for TB from the age of two and a half moths, using skin testes, three different ELISA tests and a BTB test; (4) calves produced by the filter herd that prove to be clear of TB will be considered members of the clean herd. Currently (August 1989), the oldest females of the filter herd are pregnant with possible clean herd calves. The first calves may be ready for reintroduction in late spring 1991. The oryx herd was reduced to 37 animals by October 1986. Births during the following winter increased numbers to 43 by April 1987, and until September 1987 births almost balanced deaths. No deaths occurred from almost a year and the herd increased to 59 by September 1988, and to 71 by August 1989. This report details the sanitary management of the herd, the breeding results of the Center, and the plans for the reintroduction of oryx into the Mahazat as-Sayd protected area.

#2-1989-003