How did the Arabian Oryx get its name?

The Arabian Oryx is a magnificent animal that has been well-known to the Middle East region for centuries. The name "Oryx" originated from the Greek word "orux", which means "pickaxe" due to the long, pointed horns of the animal. The Arabian Oryx was once widespread in the Arabian Peninsula but due to habitat loss and hunting, it was nearly extinct by the mid-20th century.

In 1961, the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona launched a breeding program for Arabian Oryx, and by the early 1980s, the first reintroduction of captive-bred Arabian Oryx was made in Oman. A few years later, Saudi Arabia and Israel followed suit, and today the population is slowly increasing and is no longer considered extinct in the wild.

The Arabian Oryx's name is also quite significant in Arabic culture. In ancient Arabic, the Oryx was known as "Al Maha" which literally means "the one who cannot be caught". Due to its elegant nature, it is considered a symbol of beauty, pride, and resilience.