Did you know?

Scimitar-horned oryx are diurnal and active at dusk and dawn. They live socially in groups of 3 to 20 animals. The overhunting of this species led to their extinction in the wild at the end of the 1990’s. Due to a oordinated breeding program with the remaining individuals in captivity, the population of scimitar-horned oryx was able to recover and they were reintroduced into safe refuges in Tunisia, Senegal and Morocco.

European Endangered species Program

This animal is managed by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) under the European Endangered species Program.

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Characteristics

ClassificationOrder: even-toed ungulates, family: bovidae, subfamily: hippotraginae
DietGrasses, herbs, leaves, roots, fleshy fruits such as melons, tubers and bulbs
HabitatSemi-deserts, deserts and dry steppes on the southern edge of the Sahara
ReproductionGestation period: 242–256 days, a single offspring; suckling period: ca. 8 months; sexual maturity at 2 years; maximum age: over 27 years

Status according to Red List

More information you will get on the web page of the IUCN Red List.

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