DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Africa. Semi-arid areas, wooded depressions between the dunes, savannah.
BEHAVIOUR
It lives in small herds that either disperse or merge, depending on the availability of food. Usually, the dominant male decides where the herd migrates. Perfectly adapted to life in dry areas. It is very resistant to long-term water shortage. Thanks to the specific work of the kidneys, it tolerates long periods of drought very well. Spreading hooves make it easier to navigate on soft sands.
DIET
Grasses, herbs, juicy roots, buds, fruit.
REPRODUCTION
Gestation: an average of 247 days. The female gives birth to one young weighing from 9 to 15 kg. Life Expectancy: Up to 27 years in the zoo.
GOOD TO KNOW
Hunting for skins, meat and horns and wars caused such a drastic situation for this species in nature. The saber-horned oryxes from the Gdańsk Zoo were selected by the EEP coordinator for the project of returning these antelopes to the natural environment.
- Latin name: Oryx dammah
- IUCN –Red List – EW – extinct in the wild/ wymarły w naturze
- CITES – Appendix I
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