Contents - Marwell Zoo

Legislation
Scimitar-horned oryx are listed under appendix one of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (CITES, 2004), and
appendix one of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild
Animals, otherwise known as the Convention on Migratory Species or CMS (CMS, 2004).
Under the framework of CMS, an Action Plan was developed to address the issues facing
scimitar-horned oryx and other Sahelo-Saharan antelope and gazelle (Devillers &
Devillers-Terschuren, 2004).
The scimitar-horned oryx is totally protected in Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Mali and
Niger, and partially protected in Sudan (Devillers & Devillers-Terschuren, 2004).
Several countries have taken the concepts in the CMS Action Plan further and have
developed, or are in the process of developing, their own national strategies on the
conservation of Sahelo-Saharan antelopes.
In addition to formal international programmes and national efforts to protect desert
antelope and gazelles, there are informal groups and non-government organisations (NGO)
working to promote and protect Sahelo-Saharan wildlife in-situ. The Sahelo-Saharan
Interest Group (SSIG) was formed in 2000 to work towards the implementation of aridland
antelope restoration by coordinating efforts with range state governments (Monfort, 2000).
More recently the Sahelo Conservation Fund (SCF) was established as an international
NGO to work with governments, the world zoo community, NGOs, foundations and aid
agencies with the aim of conserving and restoring desert ecosystems (Newby, pers.
comm.).
References
Anon (1987): Scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammah. WCMC. IUCN. Unpublished report.
Barzdo, J. (1982): New hope for the scimitar. Country Life May 27: 1552 - 1553
CITES (2004): Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and
flora. www.cites.org.uk. Downloaded on 10/12/2004.
CMS (2004): Convention on migratory species. www.cms.int. Downloaded on 10/12/2004.
Devillers, P. & Devillers-Terschuren, J. (2003): Report on the status and perspectives of a
species Oryx dammah. In: Convention on Migratory Species: Status reports Sahelo-
Saharan antelopes. Working document. CMS. Unpublished report.
Dittrich, L. (1972): Gestation periods and age of sexual maturity of some African
antelopes. International Zoo Yearbook 12: 184 – 187.
Dolan, J. M. (1966): Notes on the scimitar-horned horned oryx Oryx dammah
(Cretzschmar, 1826). International Zoo Yearbook 6: 219 – 229.
Dolan, J. M. (1973): The return of the unicorn. Zoonooz 46 (2): 6 – 10.
Engel, J. (2004a): Taxonomy and nomenclature. In: The biology, husbandry and
conservation of scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) (T. Gilbert & T. Woodfine, Eds.).
Marwell Preservation Trust, UK: 1 - 2
Engel, J. (2004b): Reproduction. In: The biology, husbandry and conservation of scimitarhorned
oryx (Oryx dammah) (T. Gilbert & T. Woodfine, Eds.). Marwell Preservation
Trust, UK: 10 – 11.
Engel, J. (2004c): Behavioural ecology. In: The biology, husbandry and conservation of
scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) (T. Gilbert & T. Woodfine, Eds.). Marwell
Preservation Trust, UK: 4 – 5.
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