ABU DHABI // Forty Arabian oryx have arrived from the United States as part of a programme to repopulate the species.
The 15 males and 25 females have been taken to the Delaika Conservation and Breeding facility managed by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
It is hoped they will breed with oryx native to Abu Dhabi, reported the state news agency Wam.
The project is aiming to strengthen the gene pool for the Arabian oryx in the emirate and produce a more diverse, healthy and resilient population.
The founding President, Sheikh Zayed, played a pivotal role in conserving the species, which have a distinctive white coat and long black horns.
After noticing a drastic decline in the wild oryx population, Sheikh Zayed kept two breeding pairs on a reserve.
Continuing this legacy, Abu Dhabi is now home to 3,000 Arabian oryx, bringing the number in the UAE to 4,000 – the largest population in the world.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, the executive director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at the environment agency, said genetic diversity was critical to ensuring the sustainability of any animal population.
“There are a variety of threats that any wildlife population can face,” she said. “Having a small gene pool means that each individual shares many similarities with the rest of the population.
“If there was a disease that affected one individual it has the potential to affect many more within that population. Genetically diverse groups will naturally have better chances of survival.
“By introducing this new herd into our breeding programme, we will now further safeguard our Arabian oryx population against the negative impact of long-term inbreeding.”
Once the breeding process is successful, the agency is to release some of the oryx into the wild.
The Delaika Conservation and Breeding facility was set up in 2010 and is in Al Khazna in the southern part of Abu Dhabi emirate.
It covers about 3.5 million square metres and is home to 5,000 animals comprising three species – the Arabian Oryx, mountain gazelles and sand gazelles.
jbell@thenational.ae
