The scimitar-horned oryx was once extinct in the African wild and was reintroduced thanks to a collaboration of partners, including The Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF), Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), the government of Chad, along with advisors from U.S. zoos.

The EAD reached out and acquired animals from a number of facilities, including The Wilds. Dan Beetem, Director of Animal Management at The Wilds, was invited to be a part of the Sahara Conservation Fund team for the on-site release in 2017 in Chad. In addition to helping the team radio collar the more than 40 animals, he witnessed their release. 

The Wilds consistently demonstrates its commitment to secure populations of endangered species for assurance and reintroductions.

The facility is home to more than 500 animals representing 28 species from across the world, 12 of which are endangered. Some examples of the rare species that live at The Wilds include Père David’s deer, Sichuan takin, cheetahs, white rhinos, Bactrian camels, Asiatic wild dogs, Masai giraffes, and Przewalski’s wild horses.