Bamberger Ranch Research
Scimitar-horned Oryx Endangered Species Survival Program
Bamberger Ranch Survival Program founded in 1980
Status: Critically
Endangered
Native Range: African Sahara / Niger and Chad
In the late 1970’s David Bamberger was on the board of the San Antonio Zoo. Zoos at that time were experiencing problems with survival of endangered species due to inbreeding and lack of genetic diversity. David approached the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) with an offer to dedicate land for a species survival program. This land would be set aside for exclusive use in a captive breeding program. Here they could monitor and maintain diverse genetic material in one place. David reserved one square mile (640 acres) for the Species Survival Program and the AZA chose the Scimitar-horned Oryx as the best candidate.
Meticulous records of bloodlines must be kept to maintain genetic diversity. All known written records of Oryx that left Africa were traced and 31 animals were discovered. Of those 31 bloodlines they found 29 animals still alive and in 1980, 24 animals representing 29 bloodlines were brought to Bamberger Ranch. The initial goal was to raise the world population to 400 animals and this has been accomplished. Now if the San Diego Zoo, for example, needs a breeding male that is not related to their female and they find that Bamberger Ranch has the right animal with the right genes, we can ship an animal to them. We will ship an animal anywhere in the world that participates in this breeding program.
The Scimitar-horned Oryx has been extinct in the wild for over 20 years. The ultimate goal is to reintroduce them back into their native habitat. David has made two trips to Western Africa to see about releasing a herd there but as of yet, without high fences and protection, the animals would be eaten or hunted before they could develop a viable herd. Extensive human population growth and declining habitat are serious limiting factors for release of these animals in the near future.
Bamberger
Ranch continues to actively cooperate with the AZA and the Species Survival
Program. Though costly this program is vital to the survival of the Oryx.
Currently there are 60 Oryx on the ranch and there have been as many as 120.
In 2005, animals from our herd were sent to the Smithsonians National Zoo to be a part of a new captive breeding program initiative in Africa. The Oryx can be seen at the ranch on the Public
Ranch Tour in the spring or you can book a Private
Tour.
Artist Kathleen Marie has created a Limited Edition fine art print of the Oryx and 50% of the profits from the purchase of this print go to help fund the Species Survival Program.