by JT | May 24,2012 | 23:56

AMMAN — The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority on Wednesday introduced 20 heads of Arabian oryx to Wadi Rum.

This is the second group of Arabian oryx to be brought to the area under the Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan project to reintroduce the endangered animal to their natural habitat in the Kingdom.

The number of Arabian oryx in the Wadi Rum has reached 55 heads since the launch of the project two years ago, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Arabian oryx is a medium-sized white antelope, with black patches on its face and dark legs. It stands about one metre high and has two gently curving horns, which are about 50 centimetres in length, according to web sources.

The population of this desert animal began to decline due to over-hunting in the mid-19th century and by 1914, few survived outside Saudi Arabia.

http://jordantimes.com/20-arabian-oryx-introduced-to-wadi-rum