The Arabian Oryx (White Oryx) is a desert animal that has survived extinction in several instances. Locally known as Wudhaihi (Al Maha), the Oryx has survived the titles of ‘extinct’, ‘endangered’, and ‘vulnerable’ over the decades (Qatar E-Nature, 1). Qatar considers it as the national animal and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha used it as the official games mascot. In addition, the Middle Eastern airline Qatar Airways shows the Oryx on its tailfins. Certainly, the animal is important to Qataris and has a cultural significance. Qatar considers the Oryx as the country’s national emblem, which highlights the need to investigate the efforts of the Qatari government to engage in conservation measures.

The anatomy and morphology of the Oryx is quite spectacular. It has an average height of 1 meter and weighs approximately 70 kilograms. Most of them have long horns that might be as long as 75 centimetres. They are often a luminous white colour with brown undersides and brownish legs. Distinctively, they have a black stripe on the intersection of the neck and head, on the nose, and on the forehead. They often show little aggression to each other, which means they pose no internal threat. Through this, they can herd in their hundreds or thousands without any supremacy battles concerning the dominant male. They prefer feeding in the evening and resting during the day because of the heat conditions in the Qatari deserts. Humans are the main predators of the Oryx, usually in search of horns and their skin. They often engaged in hunting activities that reduced the numbers of the Oryx significantly in the early 1900s. Its only other known predator is wolves. Apart from predators, Oryxes endure the threat of drought, which causes dehydration and malnutrition. Besides, drought conditions introduce the threat of snakes and intermittent flash floods that cause their death or reduce their lifespan. When placed in a safe condition, such as a sanctuary, they average twenty years.

Although the Oryx has largely existed over the centuries in the Middle East, they are most popular in Qatar and gained national status. As mentioned above, sport hunting was the major threat to the Oryx in the early 1900s and significantly reduced their population. What endangered them more was their choice of habitat, which is gravel desert or hard sand, which made it easier for hunters because they were often exposed in the wild. Despite their speed and endurance, they were no match to the automobiles and rifles that Arabian princes and oil company clerks used.

The reintroduction of the Arabian Oryx in large semi-managed populations at several sites in Qatar has increased their numbers significantly. The conservation efforts, including in the UAE and other Middle East countries, have made their numbers rise to approximately one thousand. Effectively, this means that they are now a vulnerable population, and not necessarily extinct.