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Extinct to Endangered: Scimitar-Horned Oryx Population Soars to 600+ in Chad
M
Moneycontrol•28-09-2026, 16:51
Extinct to Endangered: Scimitar-Horned Oryx Population Soars to 600+ in Chad
- •Declared extinct in the wild in 2000, the scimitar-horned oryx population in Chad has grown to over 600 animals a decade after reintroduction.
- •In 2016, 25 captive-bred oryx were flown from Abu Dhabi to Chad, marking the start of a successful reintroduction program.
- •The species' conservation status was upgraded from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered by the IUCN in December 2023, exceeding the target of 500 animals.
- •The recovery highlights the success of captive breeding, reintroduction, and long-term habitat protection through international collaboration.
- •Despite challenges like extreme heat, the population continues to be monitored, with over 500 calves born in the wild since the program began.
Key Questions Answered
The International Union for Conservation of Nature formally classified the species as Extinct in the Wild in 2000.
The animals were brought to the Ouadi Rimé-Quadi Achim Faunal Reserve, a protected area of Sahelian grasslands that served as the center of the reintroduction program.
The IUCN moved the species from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered on the Red List after its wild population exceeded 600 animals, surpassing the program's original target of 500.
