According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are hundreds
of animal species on the endangered species list. Some
of the reasons these animals are endangered include the
destruction of natural habitats, pollution and climate
change. Most of us are aware that the gorilla, the tiger and
the giant panda are slowly disappearing, but there are some
lesser-known creatures that are also likely to die out soon.
One example is the Arabian Oryx, an amazing antelope
which has the ability to survive in very difficult
environmental conditions. The Arabian Oryx are uniquely
beautiful, may weigh between 55 and 70 kilograms, while
their horns measure up to 68 centimetres in length. In the
1970s, illegal hunting caused this creature, once found
throughout the Middle East, to slowly become extinct in
the wild. In order to save the species, Saudi Arabia started
breeding Oryx in protected areas and at present, more
than 100 Arabian Oryx live in the wild, while over 600
live in captivity in the Arabian Peninsula and other parts
of the world.