The Arabian oryx has a truly remarkable story. In the 1970s, every single wild oryx had disappeared – they had been hunted to extinction in the wild. But zoos and wildlife centres around the world kept small groups of oryx safe. After careful breeding programmes, oryx were released back into the wild. Today there are thousands living in Arabian deserts again.
An oryx can survive in temperatures above 45°C – hotter than most ovens! Their white coats reflect the fierce sun. When it is very hot, they slow down their body processes so they need less water. At night, when it is cooler, they graze on desert grasses and shrubs.
In Qatar, oryx roam in protected reserves where they are looked after and studied. The oryx appears on Qatar's coat of arms, on bank notes, and even on the tail fins of Qatar Airways planes – a reminder of how much this animal means to the country.