Protected (By Permit Only)
<h3>Scimitar Oryx</h3>
Scimitar-horned oryx are mostly white with reddish brown necks and marks on the face and a long, dark, tufted tail. The white coat helps reflect the heat of the desert. These desert antelope stand up to 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) tall at the shoulder, and their
head and body length is between 1.5 and 2.3 meters (4.9 to 7.5 feet), plus a long tail. They weigh between 100 and 210 kilograms (220 to 460 pounds).
The World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species lists scimitar-horned oryx as extinct in the wild. Now extinct in the wild, scimitar-horned oryx once lived in northern African countries of Egypt, Senegal, and Chad. They have been reintroduced in Tunisia.
These oryx once lived in arid plains and deserts, and, to a lesser extent, rocky hillsides and thick brush. Scimitar-horned oryx eat grasses, herbs, juicy roots, and buds.
About eight to eight and a half months after mating, females give birth to a single calf weighing about ten kilograms. Some scientists belive scimitar-horned oryx live up to 20 years in the wild. Historically, these oryx lived in herds of 20 to 40 individuals, led by a single male. During migrations and times of plentiful water, herds of 1,000 or more were seen.
A few causes that contributed to the extinction of scimitar-horned oryx in the wild include climate change, human encroachment on their habitat for agriculture, hunting, and excessive domestic livestock grazing on limited vegetation. Zoo populations of these desert antelope are thriving because of cooperation between North American and European zoos. One of the projects in which the Zoo participates is the establishment of a "world herd" genome resource bank.
Scimitar-horned oryx have an interesting way of coping with a shortage of water. They are able to raise their body temperature by several degrees, up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit, to conserve water by avoiding sweating.
<hr />
<h3>Barasingha</h3>
This handsome member of the deer family is also one that was closest to extinction a few decades ago. Although their numbers have now revived, it is still an endangered species and is spread across central and northern India only in small congregations.
It is a medium size member of the deer family. Smaller than the Sambar Deer, it weighs in at approximately 180 kgs once fully grown with a height nearing 130 cms . Their famous antlers , by the time they attain adulthood, develop more than 12 points and attain lengths up to 75 cms . Their life expectancy ranges between 20 - 30 years .
Although quite similar in appearance, there are three species with their own unique traits. The antlers of the species found in northern India have a shinier and lighter appearance.