European studbook for Arabian Oryx - Marwell Wildlife

122 Pages·2011·0.52 MB·English

European studbook for Arabian Oryx
Oryx leucoryx

2010 Edition
Current to 31.12.2010
Published by

Marwell Wildlife
Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1JH
United Kingdom
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web: www.marwell.org.uk

© Marwell Wildlife 2011

Compiled and Edited by
Ian Goodwin
EEP coordinator and studbook keeper
[email protected]

Front cover: Arabian Oryx and Calf Photograph by
Ian Goodwin, Marwell Wildlife
Contents

Studbook Disclaimer and Acknowledgements 1

Introduction 2 - 3

European Management of Arabian Oryx 4

Age Pyramids 6 - 7

EEP Institutions holding Arabian Oryx in 2010 9 - 12

Living on the 06th July 2011 14 - 20

Births in 2010 22 - 23

Deaths in 2010 25 - 27

Transfers in 2010 29 - 30

Historical listings 32 - 108

Location Glossary 110 - 115

Bibliography 117 -119
Studbook Disclaimer

Copyright 2011 Marwell Wildlife. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in hard
copy, machine-readable or other forms without advance written permission from Marwell Wildlife.
Zoological institutions may copy this information for their own use as needed. The information contained
in this studbook has been obtained from numerous sources and is believed to be reliable. However, given
the nature of institutional records Marwell Wildlife cannot guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, or
completeness of any information.

Marwell Wildlife make no warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied including but not
limited to warranties of merchantability of fitness for particular purpose. Marwell Wildlife disclaim all
liability for errors or omissions that may exist and shall not be liable for any incidental, consequential, or
other damages (whether resulting from negligence or otherwise) including, without limitation, exemplary
damages or lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use of this publication. The technical
information provided in the studbook can easily be misread or misinterpreted unless properly analysed, as
such Marwell Wildlife strongly recommend that users of this information consult with the Studbook Keeper
in all matters related to data analysis and interpretation.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank all those institutions who have responded to various requests for information also
Thanks to Tanya Langenhorst for her support over the last year.

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Introduction

Welcome to the 2010 European studbook for Arabian Oryx. It provides up to date information on the
European captive population (current until 31/12/2010). This includes EAZA member institutions outside
Europe - the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar and Israel. This is my second studbook since taking
on the Arabian Oryx EEP and, with the help of people like you who are reading this; this flagship species
is making some progress and will continue to do so with your ongoing support.

European Population Overview

The total number of Arabian Oryx in European zoological institutions as reported to the studbook keeper
on the 31st December 2010 is 55.116.0 (171) in 22 institutions. Of these 48.105.0 (153) in 16 institutions
live in the EEP.

European institutions

Total births reported: 23.18.0 (41) in 7 Institutions
Total deaths reported: 22.12.0 (34) in 9 institutions
Total transfers reported: 7.0.0 (7) in 5 institutions

Population in the wild (IUCN Red list)

The Arabian Oryx has been upgraded to Vulnerable D1 following assessment in 2011 by IUCN SSC
Antelope Specialist Group.

The 2008 assessment noted that Arabian Oryx no longer qualified for the Endangered category under
criterion D on the basis of increasing numbers, and that Vulnerable D1 was appropriate and would have
applied from 2006. Under IUCN Red List Guidelines, a species only moves to a lower category of threat if
none of the criteria for the higher category (here Endangered) have been met for a period of five years or
more. As this remains the case with Arabian Oryx, the transfer to Vulnerable should take effect from 2011.

Although numbers in the largest population (Mahazat as Sayd in Saudi Arabia) fell between 1998 and
2008 due to drought-related mortality, they have since stabilized. The total reintroduced population is now
ca.1,000, so well over the threshold of 250 mature individuals needed to qualify for Endangered under
criterion D. The population is stable or increasing and the area of occupancy is also increasing as oryx
are released into new sites.

Arabian Oryx have been reintroduced to Oman (Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, from 1982); Saudi Arabia
(Mahazat as-Sayd Reserve, 2,244 km² from 1990; Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve, 12,000 km² from 1995),
Israel (three sites in the Northern Arava and Negev Desert, from 1997); United Arab Emirates (Arabian
Oryx Reserve, Abu Dhabi, from 2007); and Jordan (Wadi Rum, beginning 2009).
Reintroductions in Kuwait, Iraq and Syria have also been proposed. There is a small introduced
population on Hawar Island, Bahrain and large semi-managed populations at several sites in Qatar and
UAE. (IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2011. Oryx leucoryx. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 29 July 2011.)

Press release by the IUCN Species Survival Commission on the 16th June 2011 The regal Arabian Oryx
(Oryx leucoryx), which was hunted to near extinction, is now facing a more secure future according to the
latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Its wild population now stands at 1,000
individuals.
“To have brought the Arabian Oryx back from the brink of extinction is a major feat and a true
conservation success story, one which we hope will be repeated many times over for other threatened
species,” says Ms Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Director General of the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi. “It
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is a classic example of how data from the IUCN Red List can feed into on-the-ground conservation action
to deliver tangible and successful results.”
The Arabian Oryx, a species of antelope found only on the Arabian Peninsula, is locally known as Al
Maha. It is believed the last wild individual was shot in 1972. This year, thanks to successful captive
breeding and re-introduction efforts, the oryx has finally qualified for a move from the Endangered
category to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List—the first time that a species that was once Extinct in the
Wild has improved by three categories.

Thank you for your cooperation
Ian Goodwin
EEP coordinator and European studbook keeper for Arabian Oryx
.

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European Management of Arabian Oryx

Below are the contact details for the EEP coordinator, studbook keepers and TAG chairs involved
in the management of Arabian Oryx:

EEP coordinator &
European studbook keeper International studbook keeper

Ian Goodwin Karen Sausman
Section Manager E-mail: [email protected]
Marwell Wildlife
Colden Common, Winchester
Hampshire, SO21 1JH, U.K.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

European Antelope and Giraffe Taxon Advisory Group:

Chair Co-chair
Frank Rietkerk Angela Glatston
Apenheul Rotterdam Zoo
PO Box 97 Postbus 532
7300 AB Apeldoorn 3039 KE Rotterdam
The Netherlands The Netherlands
E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

Species Advisory Committee
Please note that, at the mid-year Antelope and Giraffe TAG meeting held in Almeria, Spain in
March 2009, it was decided that the TAG would act as a joint species advisory committee for all
the species in the aridland sub-group, including the Arabian Oryx.
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Age Pyramids
EEP Institutions as of 29/07/11

Total Males = 48.0
Total Females = 105.0
Unknown Age Males = 0.0
Unknown Age Females = 0.0

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EEP Institutions excluding AL WABRA,JERUSALEM,SHARJAHBR 22/07/11

Total Males = 16.0
Total Females = 45.0
Unknown Age Males = 0.0
Unknown Age Females = 0.0

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