Operation Oryx: Resurrecting Arabia's Ghost Antelope

The Arabian oryx became extinct in the wild in 1972, surviving only in private collections and zoos. This episode chronicles the unprecedented international collaboration that gathered the last remaining oryx from global collections to establish a founding population in Phoenix Zoo. Our hosts analyze the challenges of breeding desert-adapted ungulates in captivity, the political negotiations required for reintroduction in Oman's Jiddat al-Harasis, and the innovative tracking methods developed to protect released animals. The discussion explores how this success story created a blueprint for species reintroduction programs worldwide and examines current efforts to establish new wild populations across the Arabian Peninsula. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.