The Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Sahara Oryx or Scimitar Oryx (Oryx dammah) is a large African ungulate featured in the Conservation Pack DLC for Planet Zoo.
Zoopedia Description
General[]
Population In Wild: 140 - 160
The scimitar-horned oryx (or Oryx dammah) is an antelope that used to live in and around the Sahara desert in Northern Africa. The fur of the scimitar-horned oryx is cream-white in color, fading to tan patches on neck, chest and legs. Their face is white with brown markings. They are named for their most distinctive feature, the long, ridged and backwards curving horns which exceed 3.3ft in length. Scimitar-horned oryxes measure 4.3ft to 8ft in length and are 3.3ft to 4.3ft tall at the shoulder. Males are slightly larger and heavier than females, weighing between 308lb and 462lb, whereas females weigh between 198lb and 308lb.
Since 2000, the scimitar-horned oryx is considered to be extinct in the wild. The species was driven to extinction by habitat loss--both natural and man-made--and overhunting. At present, only reintroduced populations exist in managed nature reserves and national parks in North Africa. There are large numbers of scimitar-horned oryxes in successful captive breeding programmes, however conservation efforts run into difficulties when reintroducing the animal to its natural range: The oryx travels large distances during foraging, but due to habitat fragmentation it is difficult for this species to enact its natural behaviors and find enough sources of food and water. Besides these problematics, there have been a number of successfully reintroduced herds, and there are hopes the scimitar-horned oryx will no longer be classified as extinct in the wild when it is assessed again in the future.
Social[]
Scimitar-horned oryxes live in herds of interrelated females and their offspring. These herds usually have a headcount 10 to 40 individuals and are often led by a dominant male. Younger males form bachelor herds until they are mature enough to secure and maintain their own territory and female herd. Males will only be territorial when there is competition for mates and resources.
Reproduction[]
Scimitar-horned oryxes have adapted to both mixed groups and territoriality. Usually, dominant males will lead their own herd, though males will secure their own territory instead if access to resources and mates is limited. A solitary male may court and mate with female oryxes who roam around his territory; in mixed herds the dominant bull will mate with all receptive members of his herd. He will smell their urine to detect signs of oestrus, and attempt to initiate mating with a receptive female by nudging and nuzzling her. If she allows him to, he will then mate with her.
After a pregnancy of about 9 months, the female isolates herself from the rest of the group to give birth to one calf, though twins do occur on rare occasions. For the first day of its life, the newborn calf remains hidden in the shrubbery, with the mother returning to it often in order to feed it. Soon after, the calf joins the rest of the herd with its mother and begins grazing. At this time, the mother is also likely to mate and get pregnant again. Weaning begins at 3 to 4 weeks old and will be complete at 3.5 months old, although the calf will remain close to its mother within the herd.
Scimitar-horned oryxes reach sexual maturity around 1.5 to 2 years of age. Young males may form bachelor herds and are often only mature enough to secure their own herd or territory at around 4 years old. Females remain with their natal group until they are acquired by another unrelated male.
Animal Care
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Hay · Herbivore Pellets · Fruit and Salt Licks | |
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FEEDING STATIONS | |
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FOOD ENRICHMENT |
HABITAT ENRICHMENT |
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Trivia
Zoopedia Facts[]
- Scimitar-horned oryxes are comfortable at temperatures of up to 116.6°F.
- Scimitar-horned oryxes are adapted to living in the desert and as such, rarely need to drink.
- Some hypothesize that the scimitar-horned oryx is the origin of the unicorn myth, as they can easily lose one of their horns; or appear as only having one horn when viewed from the side.
- The horns of the scimitar-horned oryx are thin, hollow and made of bone. If an oryx loses one, it will not grow back.
- In ancient Egypt and Rome, the scimitar-horned oryx was domesticated and likely used as religious offerings, game animals or food source.
Other Trivia[]
- The Scimitar-Horned Oryx was the first extinct-in-the-wild animal to be added to Planet Zoo. Its IUCN status was updated in December of 2023 and changed in-game in the 1.16.2 update.
- It was also the only Extinct-in-the-Wild animal in the game.
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