Flamand J.R.B. 1994. Arabian oryx: run wild, run free. Arabian Wildlife 1(1): 12-13.

Summary: In 1990 the first Arabian oryx were released back into their natural habitat, within the Mahazat as-Sayd reserve, since their extinction in the wild approximately 20 years previously. This account summarises the actions of the NCWCD and its research centres in Taif and Thumamah, in securing disease free populations of the Arabian oryx for a national captive-breeding and re-introduction programme. The Taif herd initially faced an outbreak of tuberculosis that was successfully treated through the creation of a buffer generation by removing the calves from their mothers at birth. In addition to oryx originating from the Thumamah collection, animals from Jordan, San Diego, Qatar and Bahrain have contributed to both the release and captive breeding programmes. New release sites have been designated for the next phase of the programme.

#2-1994-006