Contents - Marwell Zoo

Studbook Disclaimer
Copyright 2008 Marwell Preservation Trust. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced in hard copy, machine-readable or other forms without advance written
permission from Marwell Preservation Trust. Zoological institutions may copy this
information for their own use as needed. The information contained in this studbook has
been obtained from numerous sources and is believed to be reliable. However, given the
nature of institutional records Marwell Preservation Trust cannot guarantee the accuracy,
adequacy, or completeness of any information.
Marwell Preservation Trust make no warranties or representations of any kind, express or
implied including but not limited to warranties of merchantability of fitness for particular
purpose. Marwell Preservation Trust disclaim all liability for errors or omissions that may
exist and shall not be liable for any incidental, consequential, or other damages (whether
resulting from negligence or otherwise) including, without limitation, exemplary damages
or lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use of this publication. The technical
information provided in the studbook can easily be misread or misinterpreted unless
properly analysed, as such Marwell Preservation Trust strongly recommend that users of
this information consult with the Studbook Keeper in all matters related to data analysis
and interpretation.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all those institutions and individuals who have responded to various
requests for information. Thanks also go to the previous studbook keepers Simon
Wakefield and Alan Rost for their contributions to this database, and regional studbook
keepers and breeding co-ordinators Ed Spevak, Tsunenori Tsujimoto and Ros Wilkins for
their assistance in compiling this studbook. Finally, this publication would not have been
possible if it were not for the tremendous help and support offered by Laurie Bingaman
Lackey of ISIS.
Introduction and Explanations
This is the fourth edition of the international studbook for scimitar-horned oryx and aims to
provide information on the global captive population. This information ranges from
demographics and genetics to husbandry, natural history and conservation.
All individuals in the studbook have been assigned permanent international studbook
numbers and all institutional registrars are requested to add these numbers to the individual
animal records, especially if ARKS is being used.
If no information has been provided for a specimen for eight or more consecutive years, it
will be listed as ‘lost-to-follow-up’. Should anyone have any information on the history of
these animals, I would greatly appreciate it if they could contact me. Animals with
unknown parentage or incomplete pedigrees may be excluded from the captive breeding
programme as their genetic contribution cannot be analysed.
The current level of unknown parentage within the scimitar-horned studbook, and EEP in
particular, is unacceptably high. The regional captive breeding programmes cannot operate
effectively when pedigrees are incomplete or unknown. In reviewing the situation in
Europe, it is clear that this is occurring due to the inability to identify individuals as
2