The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced that there has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of Arabian Oryx in protected areas.
An aerial survey taken showcased an increase in comparison to a previous study.
The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Arabian Oryx Reintroduction Programme was launched in 2007 and relocated the Arabian Oryx in order to protect them was successful as the herd previously consisted of 160 and are now at 946.
The study will be conducted every three years to assess the herd and to update the studies and statistical comparisons.
Periodic veterinary surveillance of the Arabian Oryx herd will also be done in order to intervene in cases of the Oryx's health, which is in line with international standard requirements for the reintroduction programme.
Khaldoun Al Omari, Section Manager-TPA Management and Infrastructure and Maintenance in EAD said, "The method of aerial surveys has been adopted to count the Arabian Oryx within the reserve to ensure the largest possible coverage of the Arabian Oryx Protected Area, within the shortest time possible, and to ensure that the results are accurate. Additionally, the reserve was divided into five different parts due to the size of the study area. The study consisted of two phases, a preparatory phase, which included the preparation of the study design and the training of the participating team, and the field phase, which lasted for four days. The field phase involved carrying out 8 flights at the rate of one and a half hours per flight."
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