Oman takes steps to preserve Arabian Oryx and other species in Al Wusta

The Sultanate of Oman has taken steps to preserve environmental diversity, including the reintroduction project of Arabian Oryx in the Al Wusta Governorate. According to reports, the Arabian Oryx Reserve in Al Wusta Governorate, which is an important symbol of Oman's unique natural history, received about 1,200 visitors in 2023. The preservation steps began in the seventies and included multiple stages of reproduction and healthcare until they were released into the wild, according to reports. 

Sultan bin Muhammad Al Balushi, Director of the Arabian Oryx Department, said: “The Arabian Oryx Reserve is the first natural reserve in the Sultanate of Oman. It is surrounded by diverse wildlife and its area is about 2,824 square kilometers, making it one of the largest natural reserves in the Sultanate of Oman. The number of Arabian Oryx in the reserve is approximately 900. It also includes 1,140 sand gazelle, 140 Arabian Gazelle, Nubian ibex, sand fox, striped hyena, wild rabbits, and honey badger, in addition to ostrich and llama. Also, 53 Reem gazelles were released last November in the reserve with the aim of enriching it with Omani wildlife and improving the surrounding ecosystem. The environmental team monitors and protects herds of Arabian oryx, Arabian gazelle, sand gazelle, and other species.

The reserve has documented steps of natural migration of oryx by installing tracking collars on them to know the coordinates of their presence and the extent of distribution throughout the region. The months of January and February of each year are the breeding season for the Arabian Oryx in the reserve.
Besides, the implementation of a project to plant 80,000 wild trees such as Samar, Sidr and Al-Faf began two months ago. 

Source