The Oryx is a threatened species that the Qatari government places exceptional effort to conserve. For instance, it instituted a captive breeding program to reduce the threat that the animal faced. It is necessary to investigate the efforts of the Qatari government to make conservation efforts successful. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their efforts can help in the conservation of other animals and the efforts of neighbouring countries that also actively engage in conservation efforts.
The research question guiding this research is, “What are the cultural and political issues that define the conservation of the Oryx?” Other guiding questions include, “What are the socio-political challenges faced by conservationists in keeping the Oryx from extinction?” and “To what extent has anthropocentrism shaped conservation efforts?” Finally, it is important to investigate the effectiveness of collaborative efforts of other agencies involved in the conservation of the Oryx.
The topic is interesting to the environmental humanities because it discusses the conservation efforts of an animal that has undergone the phases of extinction, endangerment, and vulnerability. Environmental humanities explore the ways of life of fauna and the ways in which the state (macro-level) or the individual (micro level), affect the relationship. A research on an important animal in Qatar can help understand the tenets of environmental humanities and its application in today’s society. Finally, it is important to assess to what degree the state or agencies associated with conservation efforts, encourage people to engage with nonhuman species and life. In the case of Qatar, there has not been much discussion amongst the common people in terms of the value of the Oryx or the value of it in terms of nature vs human settlement or engagement. One analysis that stems from this could be the relationship of capitalism and luxury to the average Qatari person. The creations that could be made out of Oryx skin and horns may seem more important to the general public than the conservation and utmost respect to the wildlife.
In this context, the theory of the Anthropocene arises. Humans influenced the near extinction of the oryx and continue to influence their conservation efforts. The Anthropocene characterizes the complexities that exist in nature in today’s human-influenced age (Clark 17). The human society are in desperate attempt to adapt to planetary geology through activities such as the conservation of the Oryx. The Anthropocene is quite complex because it not only examines geological aspects, but also historical and political elements. Cultural and political issues emanate because of the importance of the Oryx in Qatar. For that reason, it is essential to provide an analysis of the relationship and entanglement of the Oryx with culture and politics. There are social and political issues that emerge during conservation efforts, based on the tenets of Environmental Humanities, such as the general idea of the society of the inherit value of nature and politically, what it could possibly mean for different states, specifically neighbouring states, to all be engaged in conservation efforts. Could it be led by competition? Or international recognition? Or is it an internal and local affair and effort? If so, why has there not been much effort from the state to induce the value of the Oryx? Or of all of nature’s wildlife? Or maybe there has, but not to the extent that the matter deserves. Through the previous points, it is possible to understand the threats and opportunities to environmental humanities that emerge during conservation efforts.
The Al Maha Sanctuary (Arabian Oryx Sanctuary) is one of the areas where the Oryx escapes extinction. The sanctuary has saved the animal from extinction because it helps in the reproduction of approximately 90 calves per year (Paramo 1). Apart from the Oryxes, they also keep small gazelles, which affirm that conservation efforts also include other animals. The sanctuary allows visitors to the area, but often under special arrangements because it is a protected area. Still, there seems to be only a few sources online, produced by local agencies, which praise the efforts of the state for bringing back a once extinct animal. Not much discussion revolves around why it led to extinction in the first place (from a human to animal relationship concept) and how we can, in today’s society, encourage and truly understand the sanctity of nature and how to co-exist.
Works Cited
Clark, Timothy. The ‘Anthropocene’? Nature and Complexity.
Paramo, Adriana. Al Maha Sanctuary. AFAR. Available at https://www.afar.com/places/al-maha-sanctuary-al-rayyan
Qatar E-Nature. Arabian Oryx, White Oryx. 2020. Available at https://www.enature.qa/specie/arabian-oryx-white-oryx/
