(taken from Conservation International e-news updates)
A Grain of Hope in the Desert: Arabian Oryx Rises Again
The regal Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx), a species of antelope that was nearly hunted to extinction, now faces a more secure future.
According to the latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the oryx’s wild population now stands at 1,000 individuals. That might not seem like a lot, but consider that the species was once believed to be extinct in the wild. It was only through a successful captive breeding and reintroduction program that the animals have been able to thrive.
This success story shows how data can make a difference in bringing species back from the brink. It’s why CI helps facilitate the production of the IUCN Red List — and why our scientists work around the world to learn as much as we can about the biodiversity all around us.
LEARN MORE: Read the press release | VISIT: IUCN Red List | WEBSITE: CI + Biodiversity
