It is currently estimated that the Arabian oryx population (one of four species in the Oryx genus, the other three being found only in Africa) stands at 1,200 wild individuals in Saudi Arabia, with 6,000–7,000 in captivity. The Arabian oryx is the first animal species to have its classification changed from "extinct in the wild" to "vulnerable".

The appearance of the Arabian oryx has made it a symbol of nature in the Middle East over time. Unfortunately, this beauty has not been everlasting, and for centuries the animals were pursued and hunted in their natural habitats.

Active work on the conservation and breeding of the species began in 1986, when there were no longer any representatives of the species living in the wild...