ABU DHABI,Nov 24 (WAM) – Around 200 kilometres away from the hustle and bustle of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city of Abu Dhabi, 14 Arabian Oryx have been given another chance at life in the wild. The Oryx were released into the Qasr Al Sarab Protected Area, as part of the long-running Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Arabian Oryx Reintroduction Programme, led by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).
Once on the verge of extinction, the species will now be able to traverse one of the largest sand deserts in the world – the Empty Quarter – and guests at the Qasr Al Sarab Resort by Anantara will have the opportunity to appreciate and learn about the Arabian Peninsula’s most iconic species in its natural habitat.
The Arabian Oryx is said to have inspired the legend of the unicorn, however, the battle that the Oryx has waged against extinction is legend itself. The animal had long been a coveted trophy for hunters until it eventually became extinct in the wild. However, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was an extraordinary visionary and, in the late 1960s initiated a captive breeding programme to ensure the survival of this species.
On this occasion, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said, “Under the directives and continued support of the country’s visionary leadership, the UAE has succeeded in transforming ecologically distinctive areas into internationally recognised protected ones. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has 6 marine and 13 terrestrial sites, making up 13% and 15.4% of the Emirate’s area respectively, which are supporting some of the most critical habitats and significant species populations. The release of the Arabian Oryx by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi is a key example of how the UAE has placed a high priority on the importance of boosting and preserving biodiversity.”
Thanks to the support of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of EAD, the UAE is home to over 10,000 Arabian Oryx, of which 5,000 are in Abu Dhabi. In addition, the status of the species has been down-listed from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Moreover, the Deleika Breeding and Conservation Centre will help to ensure genetic diversity is preserved for the long-term sustainability of the species. (WAM) (END/2017)