Doha: Qatar is planning to reintroduce herds of Arabian oryx into the wild, decades after the animal became extinct in the wilds of the Arabian Peninsula.
The Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR) could release the first group of oryx by 2010, after more than 40 years of strenuous efforts to breed the species in captivity.
"A plan is under way to reintroduce this beautiful animal and a symbol of the Arabian Peninsula into the wild soon," Mohammad Barkan, head of the Conservation Section at SCENR, told Gulf News. "The Qatari environmental authorities are working hard to achieve this objective."
The Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) is a medium-sized white antelope with two gently curving horns. Its grace and beauty are legendary and are believed to have given rise to the mythical unicorn.
Abdul Moti Al Adhami, veterinary at the Shahaniyya Conservation Park, said the Arabian oryx, which is also Qatar's national symbol, started disappearing from the Qatari desert between the 1950s and '60s.
Hunted to the brink of extinction for its meat, hides and exquisite horns, the oryx disappeared completely from the wild in the 1970s, like other species such as the gazelle and the houbara bustard. "The oryx and the other animals have been saved through captive breeding. The Qatari leaders decided to fund captive breeding since the end of the '70s, when a breeding programme started with only 20 oryx. Today we have about 700 specimens."
Abdul Moti said that the SCENR today runs one breeding park, two conservation centres and four VIP farms, besides supervising some specimen of oryx at the Doha zoo.
The institution is working to reintroduce oryx into the wild by creating natural oases where the animals can find a suitable environment.
"Hopefully we shall be able to release the first group of animals by 2010.
"However, before that, we must be sure that the right natural environment is ready and that people are educated about the importance of this conservation programme."
The Oryx is the symbol of Qatar and is used by most of the country's most recognisable companies such as Qatar Airways, the Qatar National Olympic Committee and the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee.
The UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia have all started captive breeding programmes and reintroduction of the oryx and other endangered species in the wild, with the aim of repopulating the desert.
However, demographic growth of nations and expansion of cities into the deserts make the task difficult.
