Arabian oryx makes historic recovery from ‘Extinct in the Wild’ to ‘Vulnerable’

RIYADH — The Arabian oryx is the first species to recover from “Extinct in the Wild” to “Vulnerable”, following conservation breeding and reintroduction efforts in Saudi Arabia. In 2011, the Arabian oryx’s classification on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List improved from Endangered (EN) to Vulnerable (VU), marking a three-category improvement for a species previously classified as Extinct in the Wild (EW). After the species disappeared from the wild in the 1970s, Saudi Arabia embarked on a long-term effort to restore the Arabian oryx and return it to its historical habitats. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, making it a symbol of the region’s desert environment and an important part of its identity and culture. It also plays a key ecological role through seed dispersal, tree pruning and supporting vegetation growth, helping sustain desert ecosystems. **media[2756916]** The national experience has been documented by PANORAMA – Solutions for Nature, highlighting efforts led by the National Center for Wildlife Development (NCWD) through conservation breeding, reintroduction, habitat conservation, and post-release monitoring and management. According to NCWD data for 2026, around 3,064 Arabian oryx are living in the wild across 11 sites, with populations continuing to grow. International efforts to save the Arabian oryx date to the early 1960s, when the IUCN, in cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund, launched Operation Oryx to establish a conservation breeding herd as wild populations declined rapidly. **media[2756918]** Saudi Arabia participated in these early efforts before developing a national program. A structured conservation breeding program began in 1986, paving the way for the species’ return to the wild. The first reintroduction efforts began in 1989 at the Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, formerly known as Mahazat as-Sayd. Saudi Arabia’s approach is based on scientific assessments before each release, including habitat suitability, conservation status, carrying capacity, and the resources required for long-term management and monitoring. Founder animals are selected based on health, genetic and behavioral factors, with local communities also involved. The Environmental Law and its implementing regulations, along with the Special Forces for Environmental Security, have further strengthened the Kingdom’s conservation framework. **media[2756917]** Conservation breeding provides animals for new populations, while protected areas provide suitable habitats. Regulations and enforcement help reduce threats, phased reintroductions expand the species’ range, and continuous monitoring tracks animal movements and population health while enabling early identification and response to risks. The result has been a shift from individual releases to an integrated system for species restoration and long-term management in the wild. The program has also built national expertise in conservation breeding, protected-area management, veterinary care, monitoring, applied research, and ranger and technical capabilities, while strengthening coordination among organizations responsible for breeding, releases, monitoring and long-term management.