Hey 
Wild Fact Fans, Seth here with the new Friday Feature creature. Don’t forget to please like 
, share and comment 
questions 
down below 
If you have any on this weeks animal ^^ or any creature you’d like me to do a post on in the future
This weeks feature creature is a desert 
nomad who not only survives in some of the harshest conditions on the planet 
; but is one who has held on & thru human help, is starting to make a comeback in the wild. once almost wiped into extinction 
thru the sport of game hunting for its prized curved horns; we have been able to save this species and return it to the beautiful sea of sand that is the mighty Sahara; where this beautiful hoofed creature with its gorgeous tannish red and white coat and beautiful horns can grace the desolate landscape once again
This weeks feature creature is the Scimitar Horned Oryx
1. Measuring 4 to 8ft , standing 3 to 4 ft at the shoulder, and weighing in at 308 to 462 lbs (with females weighing at 198 to 308lbs, being slightly smaller), it is a well recognized & once widespread antelope species that called the deserts of North Africa & the Sahara home; until it was declared extinct in the wild at the beginning of 21st century 
2. In ancient Egypt 
and Rome, these beautiful antelope were domesticated and likely used as religious offerings, game animals or food source. This along with the loss of habitat was the beginning of what would lead to their near extinction. If it werent for nature reserves & breeding programs ; they wouldve been completely wiped out
3. They mainly live in herds of up to 10 to 40 individuals; led by a dominant male. Young males leave the herd at 4 years old to join bachelor herds or challenge males for leadership
4. The horns of the scimitar-horned oryx are thin, hollow & made of bone 
; shaped like a scimitar sword 
which lead to their name. If an oryx loses one, it will not grow back. These horns can grow to be 3.3ft long and are mainly used in battles against males during the breeding season & against predators like lions 
, hyenas , wild dogs 
, cheetahs 
& leopards
5. While they can fight back when they need to; they often run away at speeds of 37mph to escape predators. They also great endurance to handle traveling long distances whether walking 
or running 
6. Both males and females have horns ; but females have more slender ones compared to males
7. Many hypothesize that the scimitar-horned oryx along with other oryx species are the origin of the unicorn 
myth, as they can easily lose one of their horns; or appear as only having one horn when viewed from the side.
8. Scimitar-horned oryxes are adapted to living in the desert, and rarely need to drink 
. They can go months without drinking; mainly getting what they need from the grass, fruit 
, leaves 
, roots and brush it can find. Theyre nomadic animals that travel 
long distances in the morning, evening, & night 
to keep cool and find food.
9. With their light thin-fur that helps deflect the sunlight 
& allows more air flow to get close to the skin; they can survive in temps of 116 degrees 
!they often rest in scrapes they dig out in the shade (if any is around) during the heat of the day to keep cool.
10. They also have broad flat hooves that help them stay on top of the sand, long eyelashes to help keep sand out of their eyes 
, and even a special blood 
vessel network in their head to help cool 
their brain 
down!
11. After a pregnancy of 9 months, a mother oryx will leave the herd to give birth to a single calf; although twins can happen on rare occasions. Calves hide in brush while the mother feeds to keep safe from predators like Jackals until they’re 3 weeks to a month old. They start off yellow in color and grow their white and tannish mixed color after 3 months to a year
Next weeks feature creature hint 
: this rare creature has scales instead of short fur, and a long thin snout full of sharp pointy teeth instead of long slender horns. It roams the rivers of india 
